Saadiyat Beach's #WomenOnCourse Campaign Inspires

Saadiyat Beach Golf Club's mission to inspire more women golfers to enter the game reached its next chapter after rolling out the #WomenOnCourse campaign for the second consecutive year during the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open, ably assisted by many of the world's finest golfers.

With 2016’s defending champion, Beth Allen, and Sweden’s Camilla Lennarth, who finished in third place this year, at the front of the campaign, #WomenOnCourse has already reached tens of thousands of people worldwide.

Championing the club’s position as a pioneer of women’s golf, in line with the FBMLO, the club ran a host of activities celebrating both the great game of golf and the lessons it teaches – all with #WomenOnCourse at its heart. 

#WomenOnCourse, began with the start of the tournament week, as Saadiyat Beach Golf Club held a clinic with members of Fatima Bint Mubarak’s Ladies Sports Academy (FBMA), where participants received tips from Beth and Camilla, as well as insight into the life lessons the game of golf has afforded them.

Academy member, Fatima Al Ali, who took up the game after watching the LET stars at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in 2016, was among the guests at the clinic, and gained more tips from the defending champion as her golf game continues to go from strength-to-strength.    

Listen to some of the stars of the @LETgolf tell us about what the game of golf has taught them @FBMLadiesOpen @adfbma #WomenOnCourse pic.twitter.com/inbDh8Hslk

— Saadiyat Beach GC? (@SaadiyatBeachGC) November 4, 2017

Beth Allen, said: “One of the most important parts of being a professional golfer is to grow the game and to see women starting golf here in the UAE is really special. It’s great to see Fatima playing because it’s a product of the event and I think Abu Dhabi Sports Council does a great job of putting it on and inspiring young ladies.”

Exploring the mental and physical benefits of golf further, the campaign engaged with several of the world’s best players over the Gary Player-designed course, including Solheim Cup, Captain Catriona Matthew, who indicated that golf had taught her what it takes to be a leader.

Participants contributed their learnings, which also included virtues like patience and friendship, to the #WomenOnCourse signing wall, which will be donated to the Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy as a tribute to FBMA and as encouragement for its young members.

A celebration of the great game of golf with @camillalennarth, @BethAllenGolf & @ADFBMA #WomenOnCourse @FBMLadiesOpen @abudhabisc @LETGolf pic.twitter.com/WTVpa58n9r

— Saadiyat Beach GC? (@SaadiyatBeachGC) November 2, 2017

Ed Edwards, General Manager, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, said: “We are overwhelmed at the support our #WomenOnCourse campaign has received from the Ladies European Tour players and spectators that have visited our course throughout the tournament week. It has been an honour to work with the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council for a second year, alongside Troon Golf and TDIC in helping promote the game to the local community.

“#WomenOnCourse, as a campaign, exists to encourage more girls and ladies, especially here in the UAE but also worldwide, to participate in this great game, and we have some amazing examples of how it has already helped us to achieve this goal. With the support of the LET, spectators and thousands of golfers globally via social media during the 2017 Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open and beyond, its impact is sure to grow.”