Gary Player's new beach course at Saadiyat Island played host to the cream of the UAE's golfers for the first time yesterday with Ghantoot Polo Club's Alan Johnson claiming local bragging rights by posting the only sub-par round of the UAE PGA Championship.
Johnson, previously operations manager at Abu Dhabi National, playing a key role in the staging of the European Tour event there, forecast a tremendous future for the picturesque course.
"It is a completely different venue to the National course, which is essentially parkland but it has just as much to offer," he said.
"I reckon it is inevitable that the Tour event will move there soon ? possibly in two more years."
Johnson believes Saadiyat will test the touring professionals just as much as it did the cluster of club professionals who did battle with the 7,100 yards of undulating seaside terrain yesterday.
"Any score below par here is something to be proud of, even for the very best players," he declared. "I'm delighted with my 70."
Johnson conceded that he was at an advantage over most of the other members of the UAE PGA in this latest Order of Merit tournament.
"I have been lucky enough to play here quite a few times already," he pointed out.
"Course management is a big factor here because if you don't know the course very well you can be penalised heavily for what you think is going to be a good shot. You have to know where to place the ball. Get your ball on the right side of the hole and you can score well."
He did just that, converting two birdie chances on the outward nine to make up for the disappointment of a bogey on the third and then doing the same coming home to compensate for another dropped shot on the 16th.
"Those four birdies [on five, eight, 13 and 14] were the key because they were all tough holes," he said.
Johnson's two-stroke victory over Simon Payne and Calum Nicoll, the joint runners-up, improved his chances of making the season-ending Dubai Golf Trophy which involves the country's top 16 professionals taking on their amateur counterparts in a format similar to the Ryder Cup.
"Everybody wants to play in that," said Johnson, who began the day in 14th place. "This win is going to improve my prospects enormously."
Payne's second place virtually guarantees the Tower Links professional another Order of Merit title.
He arrived at Saadiyat with a commanding lead over his nearest pursuer Malcolm Young, of Arabian Ranches, and increased that advantage when Young could manage only a three-over-par 75.
"I can still be caught," said the Australian unconvincingly after his level par round of 72.
"You should never take anything for granted.
"But I have played well this season and I'm confident of finishing the job. I have been very steady this year. No fireworks, just grinding out a score. I was a bit disappointed not to have won after getting it to two under on the outward nine."
Nicoll, who at 28 has a bright future ahead of him, was overjoyed at tying Payne for second place.
"That was great," said the Scotsman who is in his first year at the Els Club after learning his trade at Turnberry and Prestwick.
"This was my first round here and I loved it. It reminds me of a lot of courses back home.
"I haven't played Abu Dhabi National but this place looks ideal for staging European Tour golf." Stephen Hubner, of Dubai Creek, who acted as tournament adjudicator, forecast an exciting end to the season for himself and his fellow UAE professionals.
"There is so much to play for," he said.
"Not only are we all competing for places in the Dubai Golf Trophy but the top three in our Order of Merit will represent this country in the European team championships. That is an honour we are all seeking."
@Email:wjohnson@thenational.ae
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Sweet%20Tooth
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No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
MATCH INFO
Aston Villa 1 (Konsa 63')
Sheffield United 0
Red card: Jon Egan (Sheffield United)
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
