GolfEx Dubai gets Jumeirah Golf Estates backing

Featuring representatives of all golf's major tours as well as commercial golfing industry heavyweights, the two-day golfing showcase is set to build on the overwhelming success of the inaugural show in 2006.

And Jumeirah Golf Estates Chief Executive David Spencer believes the associated conference boasts a line-up that is even better than last year.

'GolfEx Dubai has quickly established itself as a key date on the industry's calendar, a fact emphasised by the quality of the speakers,' he said. 'It plays an integral role in the promotion of golf in the region and is a great curtain raiser for a fantastic week of golf in Dubai. Jumeirah Golf Estates is proud to be part of such a prestigious golfing occasion.'

As well as representatives from the PGA European Tour, the Sunshine Tour and the Asian Tour, the two-day event has also attracted key figures from the Ladies European Tour and the USPGA for the second staging of a global golfing summit that continues to grow in popularity among golf industry insiders.

GolfEx Dubai 2007 comes in the middle of what has become known as the 'Desert Swing' - a series of three consecutive PGA European Tour-sanctioned events in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai - with the event teeing off on the same day as the final round gets underway at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters in Doha and just days before the Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club.

'It has always been our intention to bring the best in the golfing world to Dubai,' said Neil Hamp-Adams, Managing Director of event promoters and organisers, the Dubai-based Driving Force. 'I think we have certainly done that in terms of speakers - and in Jumeirah Golf Estates we have a main sponsor that also embodies those qualities of excellence and professionalism.'

Among those confirmed for the second staging of an event that generated over $10 million of business in its first year are former PGA European Tour chief Ken Schofield, a powerful delegation from sporting management powerhouse IMG, eight-time Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie and Thierry Pascal, the USPGA Tour's International TV Director.

Although primarily a conference, GolfEx Dubai 2007 will also host a trade exhibition at the Madinat and dinner at the Emirates Golf Club to enable the golfing world to share knowledge, broker business deals, network with the leading figures and experts in the industry in order to drive the game into the future.