Worldwide Golf

AFTER four weeks of operations Yas Links Abu Dhabi, the latest gem by Aldar Properties, will host its inaugural Men's Open on Saturday May 1, 2010.

Currently only the front nine of the Kyle Phillips designed layout is open for play so the Yas Links Open will be played over two loops of those nine holes playing from two different teeing grounds. 

Prizes will be awarded to the winners in both gross and net divisions.  The tournament has been oversubscribed with over 100 entries so a handicap ballot was taken to get the field down to the desired 60 and one thing for certain is that the region's first true links course will be a unique challenge for all participating.

Nick Oakley, Director of Golf at Yas Links said: "We are very excited to host the Yas Links Open, the course is in great condition considering its maturity and we are sure the guys will enjoy it.  This is a very special course and when we launch the full 18 in June there is no doubt this will be regarded as one of the best in the region."

Yas Links needed to host the tournament over the nine holes in order to qualify for the Order of Merit events in 2011. Nick went on to say: "Obviously we would have loved to host the event over the full 18 holes but due to deadlines within the EGF calendar we had to host it this way.  The back nine holes are developing very quickly and will be ready by June 1^st".

The Yas Links Ladies open will take place on the 11^th May while golfers can experience the full 18 holes by signing up for the WWG Desert Island Double taking place June 10-11, 2010. See the May issue of Worldwide Golf, out now, for details or read all about it here on www.wwgolf.biz.