Icon for 2006 Desert Rock Festival held at Dubai Country Club
Dubai Country Club as it used to be - but is no more!
The Beginning
DCC was established on the traditional "British Club" model by a small group of Expatriates. In the beginning DCC was "exclusive" and relatively difficult to join - prospective members needed recommending by an existing member i.e. you had to "know" someone. Need for income to support the Club soon led to "The Rules" being relaxed as more expatriates were encouraged to join.
The Legacy
30 plus years after its opening, DCC is leaving Dubai with a remarkable legacy.
Golf in Dubai grew out of DCC's sand course not just the game but also the events the game of golf generates. The Desert Classic and DP World's Race to Dubai are descendants of DCC's 1979 first Dubai Open Golf Championship and British Caledonian Pro Am Series. 1979 Dubai Open Golf attracted golfers from the Gulf Countries, Africa, UK and Pakistan and became a regular event on the golfing calendar. British Caledonian Lions brought professional golfers to Dubai for the first time in the 1970s. Top players such as Brian Barnes, Tommy Horton (both Ryder Cup Team Members) and Ewen Murray (now a Golf Commentator) played golf on DCC's sand course and continued to do so until around 1990. They took away a favourable impression of Dubai and spread the message. Soon more professional golfers were willing to play golf in Dubai.
Tiger Woods tees off from Burj Al Arab's Helipad
There are several stories about how Dubai's first grass golf course at Emirates Golf Club came into being but there is no doubt DCC's sand golf course was instrumental in establishing golf in Dubai by showing the level of interest and its potential for Dubai. DCC introduced many non golfers to the game of golf, providing training and education programmes.
Dubai's Squash grew in stature through DCC's support for the game. Its international standard squash court attracted World Champions Jonah Barrington and Geoff Hunt to Dubai for several exhibition tours. DCC introduced the Dubai International 3s Squash Tournament attracting sponsored Squash Teams from around the World. Tennis, badminton, snooker were all sports played at DCC that brought international players to Dubai. DCC's 1970's foray into live entertainment with professional performers such as Billy Connolly and Cannon and Ball expanded over the years into hosting a variety of events.
The End
DCC's end came as result of Dubai's growing ambitions, some of which may not not now be realised post Dubai's financial crisis. Dubai's development plans meant DCC had to close. Arguements that Sheikh Rashid gave the land to DCC were rejected. This was not unusual. Even Government entities found Sheikh Rashid had sometimes not recorded his decisions or issued conflicting intructions. That did not matter in Dubai's early days but as Dubai expanded and Planners and Surveyors began to do their work these anomalies were found and new decisions made. DCC closed on November 30th 2007.
The New Beginning
The Club was offered land in a different location including building a new Clubhouse. The offer was accepted. Planning is in progress to build the new Clubhouse. The facility will not include a golf course but the new DCC is coming to an arrangement with Arabian Ranches Golf Club to make their course available to DCC Members.
Details of the new Dubai Country Club can be found at HERE >>>>
Next DCC Story: The Beginning >>>>
