Emirates Golf Club's Superintendent Shares Insights on Preparing the Iconic Majlis Course Ahead of the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic
Tuesday 14th January 2025; Dubai, United Arab Emirates: As the Hero Dubai Desert Classic continues to captivate golf enthusiasts globally, Matthew Perry, the seasoned Superintendent of Emirates Golf Club, delves into the meticulous preparations of the Majlis Course for this flagship event of the DP World Tour.
What are your primary responsibilities in preparing the Majlis Course for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic?
We work closely with the DP World Tour team, with planning starting as soon as the last event concludes. We evaluate different areas for improvement, tackling major projects during the summer to minimize disruption and lessen impact during the peak season for our members and guests.
I work closely with two exceptional assistants, Mario and Jordan, who manage specific responsibilities across our golf courses. My role involves overseeing the necessary projects post-tournament, empowering our teams to make decisions and take ownership. Our Golf Course Maintenance team, with up to 30 years of experience, collaborates effectively to address the projects needed in time for the next event.
What unique challenges did you and your agronomy team face during this year's preparations, and how were they overcome?
This year, we faced significant climate variability. A few years back, we didn't see rain for 18 months, but more recently, we had to manage through the worst storm in UAE’s history. Rain complicates our scheduling and softens the course, which isn't ideal for tournament play. We've adapted by adjusting our maintenance schedules and intensifying our efforts on drainage and turf resilience to maintain firm playing surfaces, ensuring the course remains tournament-ready despite the weather challenges.
The Hero Dubai Desert Classic is a highlight on the DP World Tour. What does this event personally mean to you and the team?
It’s an incredible privilege for both myself and the team. The event has a rich history with legendary players like Seve Ballesteros, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy having competed here. Notably, it has become a Rolex Series event in recent years. The tournament offers us as greenkeepers a global stage to showcase our work, providing a thrilling opportunity to contribute to such a major event. This keeps us motivated to deliver the best possible conditions year-on-year.
Can you describe a typical day for you and your team in the lead-up to the tournament?
Throughout the year, the team commits to intensive hours, which intensify further as the tournament approaches. Once the Faldo Course is prepared in the morning during the weeks leading up to the event, we shift all our resources to the Majlis Course. This allows us to concentrate on detailed tasks such as edging desert areas, trimming trees, and preparing bunkers—regular maintenance activities that are condensed into a short timeframe before the event.
During the tournament, standards are elevated with extensive cutting and rolling to ensure the greens are fast and firm—quite different from routine maintenance, as the course must meet the stringent requirements of the DP World Tour to provide a fair yet challenging test for the world's best players.
The team expands to over 100 colleagues, including staff seconded from Yas Links, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, and Jumeirah Golf Estates. I work closely with the Superintendents across Dubai Golf and Viya Golf to collaborate and support one another, ensuring all course needs are met ahead of the event.
From hand-mowing greens to perfecting every blade of grass, each team member plays a vital role.
Sustainability in golf course management is increasingly important. What initiatives have you implemented at the Majlis Course to promote environmental stewardship?
We collaborate closely with Falcon and Associates, who are GEO-certified, to ensure our year-round preparations minimize environmental impact. We work hard toward sustainability, having recently won the Sustainable Venue Award at the European Tour Group’s Sustainability Awards. Our sustainability initiatives include installing solar panels, converting to LED lighting, and implementing rigorous recycling programs during tournaments. These measures help us reduce our environmental footprint while maintaining the course's aesthetic and playability.
The Majlis Course is famed for its pristine conditions during the tournament. What are some behind-the-scenes efforts that go into maintaining such high standards?
We prepare for all possible scenarios. Managing Dubai’s unique climate presents several challenges, but we do everything possible to meet tournament standards. As the tournament nears, our efforts concentrate on refining the greens to achieve the desired speed, and with early tee times, much of the work is completed in the dark.
My team and I start our day from 3am, focusing on inspecting completed tasks and planning and scheduling to advance our preparations and ensure the golf course performs to the highest standards.
We conduct detailed soil and plant analyses to tailor our nutrient applications with precision. Regular aeration and top-dressing are critical to maintaining the health and appearance of the greens and fairways under tournament conditions.
How do you ensure that the course challenges the world's best players yet remains enjoyable for spectators and other golfers throughout the year?
Majlis is a very special golf course, and we strive to ensure our members and guests enjoy this iconic experience during their rounds throughout the year. When preparing for the tournament, we push the course to its limits to make it both exciting for spectators and challenging for the world’s best players.
For instance, we have significantly modified the second hole to improve the pace of play for the tournament. We moved the tee back and extended the rough on the left side, increasing the challenge for players attempting to drive the green.
Additionally, we've softened some desert areas to make them less predictable to play from. Our goal is to strike a balance between challenging the players and delivering an exhilarating spectator experience.
This year, we aim to have the greens running at an average of 13.3 on the stimpmeter, and we've significantly increased the thickness of the rough compared to general play to penalise wayward shots and encourage a more precision-based game.
What’s truly special is that our members and other golfers can enjoy these enhancements during the weeks leading up to and following the event, adding a unique dimension to their experience.
And lastly, looking back at this year's tournament, what moment stands out to you as particularly memorable or rewarding?
A few years ago, we had a massive storm during the tournament, which was initially quite devastating. However, it's incredible to see our team's dedication to adapt to such challenges. Each year, the team does an incredible job, and it's always special to hear the positive responses from golfers and teams to their hard work. The feedback is overwhelmingly positive, guiding our preparations and helping us continually improve the course for future events.