Gary Player flies to Abu Dhabi to sign off eight final holes on Saadiyat Beach Golf Course

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Player toured the course, which is the first in the region to have beachfront holes, and spoke of how the island's natural environment is being leveraged to deliver a facility 'at one with nature.'

'The course delivers a real sense of drama by contrasting natural features with bold design statements,' said the man regarded as the most successful international golfer of all time with three Masters Wins, three British Open titles, two PGA championships and the US Open title to complete the Grand Slam.

'Saadiyat Island is truly breathtaking and the sensory elements of the landscape along with the sweeping Arabian coastline and deep green fairways give the course a real edge. It is a gift to nature,' Player added.

Player was quick to identify the effectively blank Saadiyat Island canvas as being an integral factor in helping him design, mould and shape a course which loops in and out of surrounding developments, exposing open tees to the magnificent waterfront. The course has also been designed to accommodate golf professionals as well as amateurs, adhering to one of Player's personal missions of ensuring the course has maximum playability.

'I have designed over 300 courses but there's something unique about this one which excites me. Set alongside the world's largest cluster of renowned cultural institutions, such as the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi museum and the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum, this course will raise the bar and set a new standard for golf courses across the Arab region, if not the world,' said Player.

Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), the master developer of Saadiyat Island, plans to open the course next September. 'It is clear this will be a premier, world-class golfing facility,' said Lee Tabler, CEO, TDIC. 'Gary's unique architectural vision has been translated at every stage of this project, giving the course the absolute prestige to attract world-renowned golfing excellence to Abu Dhabi.'