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The Els Club Charity Challenge saw nine amateur golfers, each representing a local sponsor, challenging Ernie Els over one hole on The Els Club course at Dubai Sports City. On each hole, a $10,000 charity donation from the sponsor was the prize for one of the designated charities - Ernie's Autisms Charity or the Sheikh Maktoum Foundation - depending on whether Els or the amateur won the challenge, with the amateur benefiting from a full handicap allowance.
Butch Harmon, widely acknowledged as the world's leading golf instructor and who yesterday inaugurated his own Butch Harmon School of Golf at Dubai Sports City, also attended the event and provided tuition to the amateurs.
The results were as follows:
- Ernie Els beat: Lee Tabler (representing Troon Golf), Jim Muldoon (representing Arcapita), Duleep George (representing Gulf News) and Ronnie Corbett (representing Golf in Dubai).
- Ernie Els lost to: Rodney Marsh (representing Emirates Airlines), Nic Bruwer (representing Dubai Duty Free), Surender Kandhari (representing Dubai Sports City, Al Dobowi Group, First Group, Ten Sports, BMG Middle East Development), Farbod Dowlatshahi (representing Delwood) and Colin Baxter (representing Hydroturf).
U. Balasubramaniam, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Sport City, said:
"We are delighted to work with Golf in Dubai and local companies on this great initiative which is so important to Ernie. We would like to thank Ernie Els, Butch Harmon, Golf in Dubai and all the companies who have supported us in making this event possible. Dubai Sport City is proud to support such a worthy cause for one of our key ambassadors and business partners."
Supporting companies of The Els Club Charity Challenge were: Al Dobowi Group, Arcapita, BMG Middle East Development, Delwood, Dubai Duty Free Dubai Sports City, Golf in Dubai, Emirates Airlines, First Group, Gulf News, Troon Golf, and Ten Sports.
Mohamed Juma Bu Amim, the Vice-Chairman and CEO of Golf in Dubai, said: "We are delighted to support this charitable initiative for such a good cause. The Sheikh Maktoum Foundation will be giving the funds won by the amateurs today to Dubai Autism, which we feel is the most appropriate use of these charitable funds."
Golf legend Ernie Els was delighted with the inaugural event: "It's been good fun today. I really appreciate the support that both Dubai Sports City and Golf in Dubai have given autism today. It means a lot to me. I am sure that the funds will be put to good use and I would like to thank all companies here in Dubai who supported today's event."
Posted by Siba Sami Ammari
