Scratch League History

Dubai Creek win 2022 – 2023 UAE Scratch Golf League for seventh time The 36-hole home and away fixture with 18-holes played on both days, saw Dubai Creek take a 3-1 home advantage after day one. The second day saw Dubai Creek win by 2½ to 1½ at Trump International to win overall 5½ to 2½. Results (Dubai Creek Names First) Day One (Dubai Creek) M. Burrow & B. Lakdawala Beat D. Morton & T. Hoban 3&2. M. McGinley & JP Fitzgerald Lost to C. Vance & D. Guinee 3&1. M. Mirza & E. Galleppini Beat S. Kelbrick & H. Yadav 3&1. O. Ayton & B. Belaib Beat W. Platts & N. Slater 5&3. Day One Score: Dubai Creek 3, Trump International 1. Day Two (Trump International) M. Burrow & B. Lakdawala Beat C. Vance & D. Morton 2&1. E. Gallippini & M. Mirza Lost to S. Kelbrick & H. Yadav 4&3. O. Ayton & B. Belaib Beat W. Platts & D. Guinee 2&1. M. McGinley & JP Fitzgerald Halved with N. Slater & T. Hoban. Day Two Score: Dubai Creek 2½, Trump International 1½.

Trump International Golf Club, Dubai was crowned the 2021/22 UAE Scratch League champions.  In the final, Trump International played The Els Club and again, a two-leg match, halving 2 – 2 away, before beating them at home 2 ½ – 1 ½ to take the title. It’s been a great season and we’re very proud of our achievements, for introducing female golfers into the League, where Natalii Gupta represented the club and for the fantastic support we have had for every game. The supporters are our ninth player and really create a brilliant atmosphere to play in and the team really appreciate their support. Unfortunately, we also experienced the tragedy of Viggo Sorensen passing away, which devastated the Trump Scratch Team, the club, and the entire golfing community. Viggo only joined the team this year, but he fitted in immediately and made an impact on us all with his sense of humour and fighting spirit so we have dedicated this victory to Viggo. Graeme Eglintine, Scratch Team Captain for Trump International.

Creek win the 2020 Scratch League with a 2-2 score in the away second leg, having won 3-1 against Trump at home. More to follow…

2018/19 – SGSC faced the Creek in the semi finals and lost 4-0 at the Creek and came back to win the home leg 2.5-1.5. Creek advanced with a 5.5-1.5 victory.  EGC faced JGE in the other Semi where EGC narrowly defeated JGE. The Final was won by the Creek ______

2017/18 Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club beat JGE 3-1 and 2.5-1.5 in the semi final and Emirates Golf club captained by Mike Mezei defeated the Creek in the Semi Finals ____ In the Final SGSC and EGC tied both legs 2-2 and went into a playoff at SGSC where Mike Mezei and Kenny Babcock played against William Zu and Nathan Fisher and Nathan Fisher birdied the 4th playoff hole by hitting the par 5 in two and 2 putting for birdie. First time in the clubs history that SGSC won the Scratch League.

2016/2017 season saw JGE vs Ranches and Creek vs YAS?. In the final Creek won vs JGE 3-1 and 2.5-1.5

2015-16 saw the Creek in the Semis vs   _____ and JGE in the Semis vs ______ and the final saw Creek vs JGE.  Creek won the 2015/16 season with 3-1, 3-1 victory over the JGE team captained by Martin Fernandez.

12/10/2014 – Chris White confirmed that the EGF would run the Invitational Golf Scratch League for the 2014 – 2015 season. 2014-2015 season was taken over by Luke Plumb, one of the local professionals.  No data was covered or updated since and in 2017 and 2018 – Chris Alderman and Mike Mezei agreed to form a committee to help manage the regulations, updates, promotions etc.  Since then we have developed an Instagram/Facebook page for tracking matches and formed a two-tier league with ‘The Players’ division and ‘The Scratch League’ division with relegation and promotion. (All details and rules have been added to the Rules Spreadsheet. In 2019 the UAE Golf Federation has been involved in supporting the league and we have agreed to have a captains meeting representing each club and its captain to attend for any feedback, improvements and suggestions.  The committee decided to elect new committee members every two years for any suitable volunteers. Much debate around players representing more than one club in a given year. We agreed to keep the league in its original rules and players are cup tied once they have represented another club. (Rules sheet updated) Special exemptions may be granted.  Barnaby Crompton notably holed out a wedge from 110 yards on 18 to send a playoff with Monty and Els, where Charlie Simpson and Chris Alderman faced Paul Moir and john Doe in the play off. Paul Moir birdied the first hole. 2014-15 Season saw JGE / Creek in the semi finals and Arabian Ranches / Els. JGE became a notable team and tied the creek 2-2 at the Creek, only to suffer a 1-3 loss to Creek on the Fire Course.  Creek won the final against Arabian Ranches 3-1, 3-1. Rayaan Thomas notable player representing the Creek.

The 2013 – 2014 Scratch league comprised of the same clubs as the previous season plus the introduction of  Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club  and Jumeirah Golf Estates, with Al Ghazal joining forces with the City Golf Club, Abu Dhabi as one combined team which meant that there would be two leagues of four clubs and two leagues of three as below: League A: Al Ghazal/City Golf Club, The Address Montgomerie, Al Ain Equestrian, Golf and Shooting Club League B: Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, Emirates Golf Club, Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club, Jumeirah Golf Estates. League C: Yas Links, Tower Links/Al Hamra RAK, Sharjah Wanderers Golf Club, Al Badia Golf Club League D: Arabian Ranches, The Els Club, Abu Dhabi Golf Club Following the league stage the first semi final between the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and the Yas Links was held at The Address Montgomerie course with the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club prevailing 3 matches to 1 matches. The second semi final between The Address Montgomerie and The Els Club was held on the Jumeirah Golf Estates Fire course and resulted in a 2 – 2 tie, the resultant sudden death play off  was won by Paul Moir & Dean Cheesley representing The Els Club with a birdie on the first hole against Charlie Simpson & Chris Alderman. The final again was held over two legs, the first being played at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club course with the home club convincingly winning the tie 4 – 0. The second leg at The Els Club was again convincingly won by Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club 3 ½ – ½ thus ensuring that the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club were crowned champions for the first time in the leagues history. RAD issued his resignation as coordinator on 4/9/14.

The 2012 – 2013 Scratch league comprised the same clubs as the previous season with the exception of  Sharjah Wanderers Golf Club reverting back to sole representation which unfortunately meant that Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club  were excluded, with the leagues again being “seeded” as below: League A: Arabian Ranches, Tower Links/Al Hamra, Al Ghazal League B: Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, Yas Links, Abu Dhabi Golf Club League C: The Address Montgomerie, Al Badia, The Els Club League D: Emirates Golf Club, Sharjah Wanderers Golf Club, Al Ain Following the league stage the first semi final between the Arabian Ranches and the Emirates Golf Club was held at The Address Montgomerie course with the Emirates Golf Club prevailing 2 ½ matches to 1 ½ matches. The second semi final between The Address Montgomerie and Yas Links was held on the Arabian Ranches course and resulted in a 2 – 2 tie, the resultant sudden death play off was won by Chris Alderman & Charlie Simpson representing The Address Montgomerie on the first hole. The final again was held over two legs, the first being played over the Majlis Course at the Emirates Golf Club with the home club convincingly winning the first three matches to take a 3 – 1 advantage to the The Address Montgomerie for the second leg. The result in the second leg of the final again produced a 3 -1 scoreline but in this case in favour of The Address Montgomerie thus leaving the match tied       4 – 4 which resulted in a sudden death play off taking place. The Emirates Golf Club was represented in the play off by Ewan Cameron & Ross Hopwood, with Charlie Simpson & Chris Alderman representing The Address Montgomerie. Simpson & Alderman prevailed on the second extra hole giving a first victory to The Address Mongomerie in the Invitational Golf Scratch League.

The 2011 – 2012 Scratch league comprised of the same clubs as the previous season with the exception of Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club joining Sharjah Wanderers Golf Club as the “Sharjah Team” with the leagues again being “seeded” as below: League A: Emirates Golf Club, The Els Club & Palm Resort, Al Ain League B: Arabian Ranches, Sharjah & Ras Al Khaimah League C: Al Badia, Al Ghazal & the Address Montgomerie League D: Dubai Creek, Yas Links & Abu Dhabi Following the league stage the first semi final between the Arabian Ranches and the Emirates Golf Club was held at the Al Badia Course. Following a 2 – 2 tied match, a sudden death play-off took place with Gary Swan & Max Burrow defeating Robert Watts & Connor Keagan on the first extra hole to send the Arabian Ranches through to the final. The second semi final again finished in a 2 – 2 tie between Al Badia and Yas Links played on the Faldo Course at the Emirates. Again the play-off was won by James Cook & David Domanski on the first extra hole sending Yas Links through to the final. Following the agreement between the two competing clubs it was agreed that the final would be played over two legs home and away. The first leg was played on the Arabian Ranches course with the home side winning three matches to one, the second leg held at Yas Links course was again won by the Arabian Ranches three matches to one, making the Arabian Ranches the champions for the second time in the leagues history.

The 2010 – 2011 Scratch League has now evolved even further with The Montgomerie and Abu Dhabi rejoining and Yas Links and the Palm Resort Al Ain participating for the first time. The format will now see four leagues of three clubs playing each other on a home and away basis with the winner of each league moving into the semi final stage. The leagues have been seeded to a degree by placing each of the last year’s semi finalists in a different league with the balance two teams being selected as far as possible on a geographic basis. The make up of the four leagues are as follows: League A: Emirates Golf Club, The Mongomerie & Yas Island League B: Arabian Ranches, Abu Dhabi & Al Ghazal League C: Sharjah Wanderers, Tower Links & Al Badia League D: Dubai Creek, The Els Club & Palm Resort  Following the league stage, the semi finals took place between Emirates Golf Club and the Arabian Ranches at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club course with the Emirates G.C. running out as easy winners four matches to nil. In the second semi final Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club overcame Al Badia three matches to one on the Faldo Course at the Emirates Golf Club. The final between Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club was staged at the Al Badia Course with the Emirates Golf Club again being crowned as champions after a three matches to one victory.

The 2009 -2010 season saw the make up of the leagues changing with the exclusion of the Abu Dhabi Golf Club and The Montgomerie Dubai for failing to complete their league fixtures the previous season, these two clubs being replaced by The Els Club and Al Badia Golf Club. The semi finals saw Sharjah Wanderers being soundly beaten 4 – 0 by the Emirates Golf Club on the Arabian Ranches Course and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club defeating the Arabian Ranches 3 -1 at the Sharjah Wanderers Course. The final took place on the 21st May at The Els course with the Emirates Golf Clubretaining the title for the third consecutive year after a 2 hole sudden death play off featuring Joel Neale & Khalid Yousuf  for the Emirates and Paul King & Miki Mirza for the Creek.

The 2008 – 2009 league was contested by the same clubs as the season previously, following an agreement between all of the clubs the semi finals would be hosted by the team coming second in their league hosting the semi that they were not involved in,  thus Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club played Al Ghazal at the Emirates Golf Club and lost 3 ½ to ½ and the Emirates Golf Club played the Arabian Ranches at the Ranches by mutual consent as neither club wished to travel to Abu Dhabi and play on the sand !  The match was won by the Emirates Golf Club. The final thus saw the Emirates Golf Club playing Al Ghazal Golf Club at the Arabian Ranches course, with the Emirates winning the title by 3 matches to 1.

The 2007 – 2008 saw the inclusion of the Emirates Golf Club replacing Nad Al Sheba due to it’s closure. Following the league stages the semi finals were hosted by the Arabian Ranches Golf Club on the 13th June 2008 with Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club defeating The Montgomerie 4 matches to 0, and the Emirates Golf Club defeating Abu Dhabi by 2 ½ to 1 ½. The final then took place the next day at the Al Hamra Golf Course in Ras Al Khaimah with the Emirates Golf Club being victorious 3 matches to 1.

Prior to the 2006 – 2007 season the Scratch League was organized by the U.G.A., however at the first UGA Tournament Committee meeting of that season Adrian Flaherty, General Manager of the U.G.A. at the time announced that the league would not operate in future due to “the inability (of the U.G.A.) to secure dates at the weekends at all participating venues”. After this meeting a letter was sent to all clubs seeking support for an Invitational Golf Scratch League, with complimentary tee times being made available to hold the league. Confirmation was received from all invited clubs and the league commenced on the 27th January 2007 with the following clubs participating: Tower Links RAK, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai Country Club/Sharjah Wanderers combined, Arabian Ranches, The Montgomerie, Al Ghazal and Abu Dhabi by Sheraton. The semi finals were played on The Faldo Course on the 8th June 2007, with Arabian Ranches beating the Creek 3 matches to 1, and Abu Dhabi defeating DCC/SWGC by the same margin. The final took place the next day on the Majlis Course with the Arabian Ranches being victorious after a play off between Johann Wasserman & John Mills (ARGC) and Alex Charawani & Alistair Crombie (ADGC) which was won by the ARGC pairing on the first hole with a conceded par.