Distinguished Excellence Takes Centre Stage as Winners Unveiled at prestigious 59club
Middle East & Africa Service Excellence Awards.
The golf industry witnessed a spectacular evening of accomplishment, as the winners of 59club
MEA Service Excellence Awards, were unveiled at an illustrious awards event hosted at the iconic
Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, on Wednesday 12th February 2025, with the support of 59club’s
global partner, Turtleson & event title sponsor Luxury Carts Group.
The awards event brought together the very best of the industry, starting with a signature golf day.
As night fell, the glittering celebrations unfolded in the adjacent grounds of Park Hyatt Dubai as
the spotlight began to shine over 59club MEA’s partner properties in recognition of their
outstanding achievements, remarkable dedication, and unparalleled commitment to service
excellence.
Amidst the anticipation and excitement, the ceremony commenced with the presentation of 6
‘Team of the Year’ titles that represent each facet of the golf visitor experience – Golf Operations,
Golf Retail, Food & Beverage, Golf Membership and two accolades in Agronomy, equally
representing both 9 & 18 hole facilities, with winners determined as a result of scores collected
from 59club’s impartial mystery shopper program. An additional accolade recognized the leading
venue for their commitment to measure and advance customer satisfaction using an array of
59club survey tools.
The highest prized accolade of the night; the Ultimate Service Excellence Award was presented
to Jumeirah Golf Estates in recognition of their leading performance over and above 14 other
Gold Flag Designation venues that were honored on the night. In addition, the DP World Tour
Championship host venue saw their Golf Operations department recognized as Team of the Year.
Franco Botha, Director of Golf, commented on their success “At Jumeirah Golf Estates, we
recognize the invaluable insights provided by 59club, which empower us to navigate an
increasingly competitive market. It was a pleasure to spend the day with our peers, and an honor
to accept these awards on behalf of the entire team in recognition of our collective efforts. The
bar is set very high, and we are excited to continue enhancing the experience we afford our
Members and Guests while defending our titles against other clubs. A big thank you to Mark and
Sally from 59club MEA, and the entire team at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club for hosting such a
fantastic event!”
Multiple celebrations unfolded for the host venue Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, with David
Taggart – Club Manager of Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club adding; “We are delighted to receive
recognition from 59club with both our Gold Flag Designation and for claiming the Membership
Sales Team of the Year title. As the host venue for this prestigious event, the timing of this
recognition is extra special for us. The 59club awards are greatly deserved by each and every
member of the team who worked tirelessly throughout the year to exceed our member and guest’s
expectations”
Trump International Golf Club, Dubai once again secured the my59 Ultimate Service Excellence
Award, having consistently demonstrated their commitment to regularly analyse and advance
their customer service levels using a breadth of satisfaction surveys. Rounding off their
celebrations with a Gold Flag Designation.
The award that recognizes the industry’s finest Agronomy Teams was split for the first time, to
represent both 9- & 18-hole facilities for their supreme standards in golf course presentation. The
winning venues celebrating this success were; Abu Dhabi City Golf Club (9) & Emirates Golf
Club (18) respectively who were also both recognised with a Gold Flag Designation.
The evening also saw Al Hamra Golf Club & eGolf megastore clinch the prestigious Retail Team
of the Year accolade for their unparalleled excellence within their customer service offering and
sales process, also claiming a Gold Flag Designation.
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club also enjoyed their time in the spotlight celebrating a Gold Flag
Designation and having fought off stiff competition for the closely contested Food & Beverage
Team of the Year Award. On winning the award for the first time, Karl Whitehead Cluster Club
Manager Viya Golf Venues said “The team at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, alongside the wider Viya
Golf Abu Dhabi team, is proud to be recognised as Food & Beverage Team of the Year at the 2025
59club Service Excellence Awards. Receiving recognition for outstanding service at Hawksbill
Restaurant reflects our team’s dedication to providing our members and guests with outstanding
memorable experiences. Additionally, achieving Gold Flag status across all three of our Abu
Dhabi clubs is an honour, and we remain committed to maintaining this recognition across our
operations.”
During the ceremony 59club’s coveted Gold, Silver and Bronze Flag Designations were presented
to seventeen properties across the Middle East & Africa, each having achieved the required
standard of customer service, as well as providing the finest facilities and services for their
guest’s enjoyment, as independently adjudicated by 59club’s comprehensive benchmarking
system.
15 Gold Flag Designations were presented to properties that included; Abu Dhabi City Golf Club;
Al Hamra Golf Club; Al Zorah Golf Club; Arabian Ranches Golf Club; Dubai Creek Golf &
Yacht Club; Dubai Hills Golf Club; Els Club, Dubai; Emirates Golf Club; JA Resort Golf
Course; Jumeirah Golf Estates; Montgomerie Golf Club, Dubai; Saadiyat Beach Golf Club;
Trump International Golf Club; Yas Acres Golf & Country Club; and Yas Links, Abu Dhabi.
With both The Track, Meydan Golf and Mont Choisy Resort, Mauritius, claiming Bronze Flag
Designations on the night.
Mark Bull, Director 59club MEA said of the event “We are ecstatic to acknowledge the outstanding
teams and managers who shone brightly throughout the evening. Heartfelt congratulations to all
the deserving winners! A huge thanks extends to our title sponsors, Luxury Carts Group and
Turtleson, and to both Dubai Creek and Park Hyatt for their hospitality and a tremendous night of
celebration. Special thanks also to my colleague Tom Lynch, from the 59club Global Team, who
provided a captivating overview of 59club’s remarkable journey covering the past 17 years and a
preview of a number exciting developments that lie ahead”.
Responding, Tom added “It was a real pleasure to be in Dubai again and join the celebrations of
what is an incredibly vibrant region. Clubs in this part of the world are continuing to move the dial
year after year in regard to the service levels they provide to their members & guests. Whilst
fiercely competitive, there’s a wonderful sense of camaraderie too and the event was such a great
testament to that. Huge congratulations to each and every nominee & winner across the evening”.
59club’s awards season is in full swing – having hosted 59club USA’s Awards Ceremony last
month in Orlando, before those celebrations swiftly passed over to 59club MEA. Four more
ceremonies will be staged by 59club’s regional teams in Canada, the UK, Europe and Asia, before
finally arriving with 59club Australia & New Zealand in May – as each region crowns their finest
individuals, teams and properties responsible for delivering the very best customer experiences.
The pinnacle for these deserving properties will see Gold Flag Venues and select regional winners
invited to the UK to compete at 59club’s Inaugural Global Awards Event in August 2025.
The honour of hosting this inaugural celebration falls to the World-Class; Belfry Hotel & Resort –
having hosted The Ryder Cup more than any other venue in the world, and host to this years
Betfred British Masters – who will welcome the very best global golf providers from 59clubs
network to the Resort, in what can only be described as a spectacle of glory.
Full list of 2025 Service Excellence Awards winners featured below:
Ultimate Service Excellence: Jumeirah Golf Estates
Gold Flag Designations: Abu Dhabi City Golf Club; Al Hamra Golf Club; Al Zorah Golf Club;
Arabian Ranches Golf Club; Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club; Dubai Hills Golf Club; Els Club,
Dubai; Emirates Golf Club; JA Resort Golf Course; Jumeirah Golf Estates; Montgomerie Golf Club,
Dubai; Saadiyat Beach Golf Club; Trump International Golf Club; Yas Acres Golf & Country Club;
and Yas Links, Abu Dhabi.
Bronze Flag Designations: The Track, Meydan Golf: Mont Choisy Resort, Mauritius,
Golf Operations Team of the Year: Jumeirah Golf Estates – led by Franco Botha
Agronomy Team of the Year (18 Holes): Emirates Golf Club – led by Matthew Perry
Agronomy Team of the Year (9 Holes): Abu Dhabi City Golf Club – led by Gustav Pieterse
Retail Team of the Year: Al Hamra Golf Club & eGolf – led by Sumit Pariyar
Food & Beverage Team of the Year: Saadiyat Beach Golf Club – led by Santos Castillo & Prasath
Rajendran
Golf Membership Team of the Year: Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club – led by Romana Fernandez
My59 Ultimate Service Excellence: Trump International Golf Club, Dubai – led by Martin
McDonagh
As 59club MEA and their award-winning properties enjoy their time in the spotlight – 59club the
global Customer Service Management Specialists, are on course to continue uniting the world of
golf & hospitality around their commitment to deliver service excellence.