Golfers go into charity overdrive in Dubai’s ‘other’ golf challenge

by Dermot Davitt |

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The Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup may have grabbed the industry sporting headlines in November, but the emirate welcomed another international golfing field last month, to the Al Badia Pinkie Pairs golf tournament.

 

The event – played under the rules of the International Order of the Pink Tee – began life as a warm-up for the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup. In truth, it turned out more like a fancy dress party on the golf course. From the accounts we’ve been given, the eight team captains proved more creative in the selection of their team uniforms than most of them do in promotions planning for their own businesses.

 

 

Under rules that bore only a passing resemblance to those of the Royal & Ancient Golf Association, golfers were fined for various “infractions” which ranged from lost balls to gloating. Each infraction was duly recorded by tournament referee and Pinkie Pairs Chairman Martyn Westbury.

The fines – totalling an impressive AED2,000 (US$550) – were audited and collected by Christine Martin. The money is to be donated to Breast Cancer Research.

 

The awards dinner was held at Dubai’s Aviation Club, managed by Dubai Duty Free. The winner of travel retail’s least coveted golf prize – the inaugural Pink Jacket – was Valora Trading’s Dan Kongsted, who ended up holding the pink tee with 27 infractions. Other winners included the team of Art Miller and Kevin Walsh with an incomprehensible 18 under par net score of 54 (the committee is currently reviewing this card). Brian Venables and Ray Martin were placed second, with 51 points.

 

The International Order of the Pink Tee thanks all participants

  • Hi Dermot

    Great story. I aim to meet with the charity in the Uk in January to hand over the money along with Kevin Walsh … we will get a photo for you!

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