Whisper it quietly, keeping fingers and toes crossed, but the signs are good that, in the UAE at least, we’re transitioning into a post Covid world.
That’s not to say that we’ve eradicated the virus or that the risks are no longer there, but we’re getting back to some semblance of normality, all be it with a heightened sense of caution and responsibility. For golf clubs in Abu Dhabi, that’s great news indeed. The UAE’s capital was hit particularly hard by the pandemic with border and travel restrictions meant the emirate’s golf clubs were somewhat starved of business from outside Abu Dhabi. With the border now open and travel restrictions easing, it’s all systems go again.
Aside from the pandemic, Abu Dhabi Golf Club has undergone a period of great change with a new owner, Khalfan Al Kaabi and a new Club Operations Manager Andrea Faldella and the pair are putting into action an exciting vision for the future that places the club at the heart of the community while continuing to expand its world-class golf offering. We caught up with Faldella to hear about the new developments in the pipeline.
Worldwide Golf: What has Khalfan Al Kaabi brought to the club in terms of the direction and vision for the future?
Andrea Faldella: Most people would assume that the new ownership has brought investments and a fresh new life to the Club, but that’s not the only reality. His presence at the Club provides all staff members, including myself, with a strong drive to grow on a daily basis, while his leadership, enthusiasm, and wide experience as a successful entrepreneur complement his role not only as the owner, but also as an active Chairman. Further to this, thanks to the support of Troon Golf we adopt the highest industry standards we strive to deliver the best golfing experience
WWG: You’re striving to enhance the club’s positioning as a community hub which includes a new Kids Club, tell us about that?
AF: The concept for a kid’s club arose from my prior experience in Europe, when family members were visiting the club on the weekend and wanted to play some golf while providing the kids something to do, whether they were golf-related, swimming-related, or simply for fun. Along with the idea of providing a service to our own members on weekends, we thought this could become a unique feature of the club, which will eventually complement our country club amenities offering, which currently includes swimming pools, gym, sauna, jacuzzi, steam room, and will soon see the construction of four padel tennis courts. The project will be developed in collaboration with a partner that has been in the industry for 17 years, and we feel that it will draw more families to the club and make us more inclusive when approaching the local community.
WWG:You’re also looking at installing a TrackMan range – can you explain a bit more about that?
AF: Yes, as part of our vision to engage more with the local community and eventually grow the game of golf, we would like to create a new “destination” within the club that will offer a different approach to the game, one that is more fun, driven by the entrainment component, and includes music and food experiences. We are now working with Trackman and are investigating all of the new features that they are introducing to the market, which will help us understand how to tailor the product to the local golfing and non-golfing communities. The target to complete this project is the start of the new season.
WWG: Your academy has been doing pretty well, tell us about your strategy with that and the different nationalities you have?
AF: Since the beginning of the season, we have worked hard to establish an Academy that would not only serve avid golfers, but would also focus on developing the game and interacting with new communities. Two of the most successful stories have been related to ladies’ golf, with one side a strong participation from the Abu Dhabi Ladies Golf Society and the other, the launch of the “Chicks with Sticks Abu Dhabi” (following the successful launch in Dubai in 2020). In this sense, we are proud to be considered their home club and it is a privilege to feel the positive vibe they bring when playing.
We are also excited to collaborate with the Emirates Golf Federation to develop new talent and expand the game, and we appreciate their efforts to make golf more accessible to all. Last but not least, we have now six teaching professionals which can provide classes in French and German in addition to English. In preparation for the upcoming season, we intend to grow our pool of instructors in order to cater to more nationalities and provide customized tuition packages for visitors.
WWG: Summer is around the corner – do you have any special offers or summer memberships planned?
AF: With amenities ranging from a championship course to night golf, a swimming pool, and fantastic F&B outlets, we plan to offer a Summer Pass that will allow nomad golfers to experience Abu Dhabi Golf Club as their home for the summer, and perhaps consider one of our membership options in the future.
WWG: Was it strange not hosting the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship this year and what was the reason for not continuing with that?
AF: It was a shame not to host the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after 16 successful editions and a legacy developed on our greens and beneath the magnificent Falcon clubhouse. However, Yas has been a terrific venue, providing the world with a glimpse of Abu Dhabi’s gorgeous beaches, which I am confident will help drive tourism in the future. With more freedom, we took advantage of the opportunity and began working toward the realization of our club’s vision, which has included not only the new Falcon Terrace (with a capacity of 300 people and a view of the golf course), but also many other projects such as the new Falcon Performance Institute (including a professional fitting studio, swing and putt studios), a starter’s hut with a coffee shop, along with many other improvements to the golf course itself.
WWG: Have you got any plans to host a Tour event again in the future?
AF: Abu Dhabi Golf Club is a major championship venue, and we are open and willing to consider hosting tournaments that represent and fit with our history and vision.
WWG: How important is the stay and play element of ADGC and what in your opinion makes the club stand out from others in the UAE?
AF: Stay & Play is unquestionably important for a location like Abu Dhabi Golf Club, both in terms of foreign guests and in terms of the local market. In this regard, as a golf resort, we provide a highly unique offering that is nearly unheard of in the rest of the UAE. The Westin Abu Dhabi provides 172 rooms with views of the two golf courses, as well as the highest industry and hospitality standards. You may wake up in your room and be on the first tee in less than 5 minutes, while after your round, you can relax in one of the three swimming pools or visit the SPA. In the evening, there are six different outlets to choose from between the Club and the Hotel. With all this considered, the Abu Dhabi Golf Club and the Westin, in my opinion, are golfing havens.
WWG: To what extent does a golf club these days need to be ‘more than just a golf club’?
AF: Everything we’ve said so far underlines this point: we can’t simply be golf clubs anymore; we need to look at the worldwide community and cater to them. This is not only to promote and develop the business, but also to design and offer better and more inclusive experiences. In this sense, I believe we are privileged to have an ownership which understand, shares and supports the same vision.
WWG:Tell us about your own career and how you came to be in your current role?
AF: Like many others, I began working in the business after years of playing amateur golf, but I have always been attracted by the managerial and financial aspects of the industry. So, after many years in one of Italy’s finest facilities, I continued my study with the Club Manager Association of Europe and finished the curriculum that led to my being a Certified Club Manager before moving to the UAE. Since moving to Dubai in 2015, I’ve worked with Troon Golf in various roles at The Els Club and, as of August 2021, I’ve relocated to Abu Dhabi Golf Club to embark on this new and exciting journey. My next goal is to further my education, and in this sense I am about to begin a Real Estate and Asset Management degree, which I believe will help me grow professionally while also developing as a modern General Manager capable of assisting Clubs in managing various investments and assets, as I believe is the industry trend.
