Al Zorah Golf Club has confirmed its reputation as one of the premier golf venues in the Middle East after winning two of the leading honours at the 5th 59club Middle East & Africa Service Excellence Awards, including being named as a Gold Flag Property for the first time in its history.
The acclaimed club in Al Zorah City, United Arab Emirates, enjoyed a night to remember when this year’s winners were announced at a glittering prize-giving ceremony on board the iconic Queen Elizabeth 2 in Dubai Maritime City on March 7.
As well as receiving the coveted Gold Flag accolade – given to properties which consistently deliver the finest facilities and outstanding customer experience to members and guests – Al Zorah won the award for Golf Retail Team of the Year, led by golf operations manager Stephen Payne.
In addition, Al Zorah was shortlisted in three other categories – Golf Membership Sales Team of the Year, Golf Operations Team of the Year and My59 Ultimate Service Excellence Award – deserved recognition for Al Zorah’s team and the effort and focus they give to ensure a smooth journey for golfers across all areas of the club.
59club’s prestigious Service Excellence Awards recognise the outstanding teams and managers within the golf industry which consistently deliver the finest customer experiences for their members and guests – covering all aspects of golf and hospitality operations.
All venues nominated were assessed and scored through a detailed and objective mystery shopping programme that covered a 12-month period throughout 2023, with properties evaluated by the experience afforded to guests, members and prospective members against objective benchmarking criteria.
Philip Henderson, general manager of Al Zorah Golf Club, said: “Like every golf club aspiring to be the best, we pride ourselves on the customer experience that we deliver to all our guests, so to receive recognition of this nature from 59club’s industry-leading mystery shopping programme is a fantastic achievement.
“To win two of the top awards and be shortlisted for another three is amazing, and I’d like to personally congratulate our golf operations team, led by Stephen Payne, for their continued hard work in making all our guests feel as special as possible – no matter whether you are a long-term member or someone who is visiting the club for the first time.”
Managed by Troon under the Troon Golf brand, Al Zorah Golf Club features the first Nicklaus Design layout in the UAE, which opened for play in 2015 and is already regarded as one of the best courses in the Middle East. Measuring 7,169 yards from the back tees, the breathtaking par-72 layout meanders around a natural mangrove landscape and two spectacular lakes, providing a distinctive and enjoyable challenge for golfers of all skill levels.
A 350-metre-long driving range and extensive practice facilities all complement the luxury golfing experience, while the status of the club – which is in the process of being rebranded as Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club – is set to be raised further with the opening of a new clubhouse this autumn. When fully complete, the luxury golf and leisure amenities will include a purpose-built gymnasium, golf shop, tennis courts, three restaurants and two outdoor swimming pools.