Daniel Lobel’s Dubai Golf Journey
At 31, Daniel Lobel has lived a life of contrasts. Born in Australia, raised between London and New York, educated in astronomy at a Colorado university, and now calling Dubai home, his journey has been anything but conventional. But perhaps the most surprising twist in his story is how quickly he’s fallen for golf—and excelled at it.
“I’m not that sporty,” Daniel admits with refreshing honesty. “I’ve done some gym stuff and played hockey as a youngster until I broke my leg.” That leg break might have been the best thing that happened to his golf game, though he didn’t know it at the time.
A Modest Beginning
Three years ago, Daniel took his first tentative swings on the Par 3 course at Emirates Golf Club with a few friends. After some basic lessons, he was handed a 28 handicap—a perfectly respectable starting point for any beginner. What happened next, however, was far from typical.
Today, Daniel plays off 2.6. Yes, you read that correctly. From 28 to 2.6 in three years.
“I’m hugely proud of how I have improved so quickly,” he says, though he’s quick to add: “I have ambitions to get lower—but let’s see how it goes. It is essentially hard work and practice that has got me where I am now.”
That kind of improvement doesn’t happen by accident. Playing three times a week and recently investing in professional coaching at Golf Kraft in Al Quoz, Daniel has approached golf with the same analytical mindset that once drew him to astronomy. The pros at Golf Kraft custom-fitted him with a new set of clubs, and he’s never looked back.
“I feel as I have got better, I need to have a bit more direction and professional advice to get to the next level,” he explains. “Especially with my putting, which is important to get right as you reduce your handicap. A good putting round can avoid a poor score.”
A Golfer’s Paradise
Working for The Brain & Performance Centre has its perks. The company’s corporate membership with Dubai Golf gives Daniel access to three world-class courses: Emirates Golf Club (conveniently next to his clinic in JLT), Jumeirah Golf Estates, and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. The company also maintains a partnership with the Tommy Fleetwood Academy at Jumeirah Golf Estates, where they have an office.
But Daniel’s golf obsession doesn’t end at the traditional courses. He’s a regular at Five Iron Golf at The Westin Dubai, Mina Seyahi, where simulator golf meets social scene. “I love to check my numbers and play simulator golf there,” he says enthusiastically. “I like to hang out there with my friends and I really enjoy the vibe—a few drinks with food and music as well as golf simulators and so much more. It was a hidden gem, but now it’s very popular.”
The competitive spirit is alive and well too. Daniel recently won his first-round Fourball Matchplay match at Emirates Golf Club with his partner. Last year they fell in the quarter-finals, but this year they’re determined to go further. He also plays in EGC Medals, the Indian Golf Society, and has his eye on the upcoming Ultimate Golf Challenge.
“It is excellent to get out of the office, network with both existing and potential clients,” Daniel notes. “Golf is the perfect hobby in Dubai to meet new people—it’s fun and I enjoy it, plus it’s an important part of my job.”
The Dinner He’ll Never Live Down
Ask Daniel about his most memorable moments in Dubai, and two stories emerge. The first involves a logistical feat that sounds like something from a heist movie: closing Sheikh Zayed Road to crane massive hyperbaric chambers through an open wall into the clinic. “I’m not sure that could be done these days,” he laughs.
The second story is one his parents will “never let him forget.” Shortly after arriving in Dubai—well before taking up golf—Daniel joined his parents for dinner with Tommy Fleetwood and his wife Clare.
“I had no clue who Tommy was,” he confesses.
Fast forward to today, and Daniel is “one of Tommy’s biggest fans.” Watching the DP World Ambassador climb to number four in the Official World Golf Ranking and dominate on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, including his Ryder Cup heroics, has been thrilling. “He must be one of the most in-form golfers in the world,” Daniel says. “I just hope I did not embarrass myself at that dinner!”
Looking Ahead
Daniel’s ambitions extend beyond the golf course. He’s keen to expand his role at The Brain & Performance Centre during what he calls “exciting times” for the clinic. Real estate in Dubai has also caught his attention as a potential business venture.
But his immediate bucket-list item? Playing in a Pro-Am in Dubai or the UAE. Having already competed in his first Pro-Am in Northern Ireland, he’s eager for a home-soil experience. After attending the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates as a guest of DP World—watching Matt Fitzpatrick claim the title and Rory McIlroy win the Race to Dubai—Daniel’s appetite for top-level golf has only intensified.
“Playing in a Pro-Am in Dubai is now on my bucket-list,” he says. “That would be a treat! I cannot wait!”
For someone who started golf just three years ago, Daniel Lobel has come remarkably far. From astronomy to fund analysis to healthcare operations, and now to a 2.6 handicap, his trajectory has been nothing short of stellar. In a city that celebrates ambition and rapid progress, Daniel’s golf journey is quintessentially Dubai—proof that with hard work, practice, and the right environment, anything is possible.
