When you think of Augusta National, you think azaleas, razor-sharp fairways and greens so slick they’d make a snooker table jealous. But for Matt Perry, the revered turf of the Masters wasn’t just a television marvel this year — it was his temporary office.
Perry, the long-serving Superintendent at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai, was invited to volunteer at Augusta as part of the preparation team for the 2025 Masters. It was a rare honour — and a bucket-list moment for someone who’s spent his life fine-tuning some of the Middle East’s most iconic fairways.
“I was part of the morning shift looking after the fairways, making sure every blade was perfect — and then stationed at the third green in case anything needed immediate attention. In the evenings, we were out divoting. It was amazing just to be part of it,” says Perry with a grin.
What he brought back with him wasn’t just a greenkeeping badge of honour — but a wealth of inspiration for shaping the future of the Majlis, especially with the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic and the upcoming Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship on the calendar.
The big takeaway? “The attention to detail is beyond anything I’ve seen. Every single person there, from full-time staff to volunteers like me, was laser-focused on the end goal. Nothing was left to chance.”
It’s not the kind of behind-the-scenes magic you see on the TV broadcast. “What people don’t realise is how big the operation is at Augusta. There’s this army of people, all aligned with one vision, and they treat the volunteers incredibly well. It’s a real lesson in team culture. You leave thinking, ‘Right, how do I build that kind of buy-in with my own crew in Dubai?’”
Back on home soil, Perry is already putting those ideas to work.
That journey to one of golf’s most prestigious maintenance teams didn’t begin with a mower or rake. Perry’s passion for golf started on the playing side — until he realised his true calling might be underfoot rather than over par.
“I was never quite good enough to go pro, but I loved the game so much that I knew I had to find a way to stay in it,” he says. That path led him to Cannington College in Somerset, where he studied golf course management — a three-year course that quickly became more than a plan B.
“I completely fell in love with the science and the challenge of looking after golf courses. It just clicked.”
What followed was a globetrotting turf adventure. After cutting his teeth in the UK, Perry headed for the Gulf in 2006, starting in Bahrain before landing at Emirates Golf Club in 2009. A brief stint at Dubai Creek followed — where he was promoted to Superintendent — and even a spell managing Jumeirah Golf Estates. Now, more than 15 years after first arriving in the region, he’s back at the Majlis — and thriving.
Still, there’s more to Perry than perfectly mown greens. “I’ve played golf since I was 10 — still haven’t mastered it,” he laughs. “But I also play football and paddle tennis, and I swim regularly. It’s great for clearing the head.”
One thing he doesn’t do these days? Cut his own lawn. “I used to, when I had a villa. Now I’m in an apartment, so I’ve retired the mower.”
When it comes to keeping the Majlis tournament-ready in Dubai’s punishing climate, Perry and his team rely on a combination of technology and timing. Moisture probes are constantly in use, tracking the hydration levels of greens to avoid over- or under-watering — a crucial balancing act during the scorching summer months.
“The summer is our quieter period in terms of golfers, but it’s our busiest for renovation and recovery work,” Perry explains. “We’re scarifying, hollow coring, feeding the turf — all so we can hit the ground running when the season starts.”
But even with all the planning, Mother Nature is still the wild card. Climate change has already started throwing curveballs.
“This past winter, we had the worst storm the UAE’s ever seen. Then this year, no rain at all. That unpredictability makes it really tough to plan. You’ve got to stay flexible and adapt.”
The biggest challenge remains simple: keeping the course playing tough but fair — especially as the pros continue to hit the ball further than ever. While Augusta can stretch its tees, the Majlis is already maxed out.
“We just don’t have the space to go longer,” says Perry. “So our defence is different. We grow the rough longer — a lot longer than Augusta’s, actually — and we keep the fairways and greens firm and fast. That’s how we keep the scoring under control.”
So what really grinds a superintendent’s gears? Perry doesn’t hesitate.
“I think a lot of golfers don’t realise why we do things like needle tining or top dressing. They think it’s just annoying, but all those little procedures help keep the grass healthy and playable.”
There’s always a method behind the maintenance, he insists. “It’s never just for show or just to ‘do something.’ Every pass we make has a purpose. Disease prevention, root strength, drainage — it’s all part of keeping the course in the best shape possible. If we didn’t do it, they’d really notice a few weeks down the line.”
If you ask him which part of the course is the most pressure-packed to maintain, he doesn’t even blink. “Eight and eighteen. No question.”
Why? “Because they’re iconic. Everyone takes photos on the eighth, and 18 is the finishing hole with the clubhouse backdrop. They’ve got to look perfect — but they’ve also got to play great. The visual has to match the experience.”
But it’s the greens that bring Perry the most pride. “We rebuilt them in 2021 and it’s taken time for them to settle. But over the last 12 months, they’ve matured beautifully. The feedback’s been brilliant from members and visitors alike. They’re rolling pure.”
And his team? “They’re fantastic. They understand how important this place is. Emirates Golf Club is on a global stage, and the crew here put in the work every day to make sure it looks and plays like it belongs there.”
As the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic looms on the horizon, and with the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship just months away, Perry’s focus is fixed firmly forward — inspired by his time in Georgia, motivated by the challenge of the desert, and armed with a lawnmower-less apartment and a killer top-dressing game plan.
“The goal is always the same — present a course that’s beautiful, challenging, and fair. And maybe make a few players sweat on the greens,” he says with a grin.
Now, if only someone could sort out his golf swing.
