The UAE Challenge takes place this week at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club, in the first of back-to-back HotelPlanner Tour events in the Emirates.
The Jack Nicklaus-designed course implements several initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting environmental stewardship, with many of those initiatives in place during tournament week.
As part of the European Tour group’s overarching Green Drive strategy, the HotelPlanner Tour continues to integrate sustainability measures at its tournaments.
These efforts involve close collaboration with host venues and stakeholders to minimise the environmental impact of professional golf events with the ultimate goal being to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2040.
Key initiatives include waste reduction, energy efficiency improvements, and community-driven environmental projects.
These environment-friendly principles align well with those at Al Zorah, with the club undertaking a significant mangrove restoration project that not only enhances biodiversity and supports local ecosystems but also plays a crucial role in helping offset emissions associated with running golf tournaments.
Philip Henderson, General Manager, Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club, said: “Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club is proud to be a leader in sustainability within the UAE’s golf industry.
“Our mangrove restoration initiative is a testament to our commitment to protecting and enhancing the natural environment while providing world-class golfing experiences.
“As a proud host venue of the HotelPlanner Tour, it's a fantastic opportunity for us to share the importance of sustainable practices to a wider audience.”
HotelPlanner Tour players, Adri Arnaus and Quim Vidal, got to experience Al Zorah’s mangrove project in-person at the start of the tournament week.
The Spanish duo planted a mangrove as part of the on-going focus on sustainability at the Ajman venue, with Arnaus, who relocated to Dubai in 2020, pleased to learn more about the work taking place close to where he lives.
“It's been quite cool to be involved in planting a mangrove, which was a first for me,” he said. “We got to learn what it's all about, behind these beautiful trees that are helping the ecosystem and the whole environment.
“It's really peaceful to be around the water and this amazing scenery.
“You can see the mangroves from the golf course, but then you realise how big this is and how important this is for the ecosystem. Travelling around the world, you get to know the golf courses, but you have to enjoy yourself away from it. Living here in Dubai, that's something I haven't done in the past, so I'm really glad I got to do this here.”
