Working on the European Golf Tour for the Race to Dubai, during Covid.

I've been volunteering with the Golf in the UAE for 3 years now and have had some amazing opportunities from working with the anti drug testing, marshalling, as a spotter and working with the TV Production team with scoring and recording sound, which you can read about here.

However it's all been very different during covid, no crowds, just minimal hospitality, coaches, a few partners of the golfers and caddies plus agents and sponsors around the course, meaning it's been quieter than usual and with few distractions, I'm really getting to enjoy the experience a bit more.

An empty Village, normally full of food vendors, tv screens and bean bags.

Usually this space is open for viewing the 1st tee from the stands which aren't here this year.

There are two bubbles, one for the golfers, caddies, European Tour Team and everyone who has flown in for the event, which is called the inner bubble are all staying in the Atlantis Hotel. Us volunteers, who live locally are in the outer bubble. We have separate toilets on the course to use and restricted access to certain areas, our lanyard colours give indication as to who is inner and outer bubbles. We're also temperature checked every morning and have daily online forms to fill in, we can't travel on the golf carts and have a separate bus between the TV compound and the course.

The Race to Dubai has the World's top golfers playing for a share of $8,000,000 and is part of the Rolex Series. I'm walking round with the top players with a live TV crew recording the sound of the caddies speaking to the golfers, up close and personal on the tee's, fairway and edge of the greens. It's hard work, the kit weighs around 3kg with the battery packs, I have an ear piece to get instructions and to be able to radio back in for a ref etc, head phones so I can hear what sound I'm picking up, then add a mask, back pack with food and drink, sunglasses and a hat and I'm my own game of buckaroo or if you're older, I could try balancing a cabbage for my own episode of Crackerjack.

For the regular readers of my blog posts I know a lot of you don't follow the golf, so have no idea who I'm talking about, well I don't play golf either and I rarely follow it the rest of the year due to lack of access to the golf channels here in Dubai and the UK, but I'm learning fast. the rules, the players and even matching up family members and caddies now to the players.

A list for the day helps.

I know who plays the greens slowly and who takes their time with the tee shots. I know which players get a little upset when they hit a bad shot and those who like to have a laugh with their team mates when they're walking down the fairways. But it's a serious game, with a lot of money at stake.

There is little interaction from the players towards us, minimal conversation from them and barely a thank you at the end of 18 holes. I'm not sure many of them are aware most of us are volunteers though.

Recording sound is great fun, you get to walk right up close and personal with the players, it's rare to be within 2 meters of them anyway as you have to keep out the way of the cameras and quite often there can be 3-4 per hole. Trying to find your position to record the sound on the green, away from the cameras, out of the sight line of the golfers without walking on the green is tricky and I'm often having to sprint ahead to get into position, then they over hit and you have to just stay completely still and watch your shadows at the end of the day.

The worse thing that can actually happen is for a golfer or a caddy to ask you to move as you know you've got it wrong, thankfully that hasn't happened to me yet.

Some of the golfers and caddies don't actually realise how much you can hear with the mic. Quite often I'll laugh out loud and they'll ask 'did she hear that?' 'Yes I did'. I've heard some great stories as I've walked alongside, behind and even in front if the wind is blowing in the right direction. The sound is fed back to the studio, I point at their faces when they're lining up for a shot, the ground when they hit the ball, then the crowd for the applause.

I also pick up comments, personal stories, breaking wind and sometimes comments aimed at me in an attempt to knock me off balance and make me blush. (I'm the mother of 4 adult males, they must try harder) Some will deliberately swear so they know the sound won't be used and try to encourage me to walk with the other golfer. 

I won't be repeating the stories on here or social media, no one has ever told me I can't but ethically I know it would be wrong.

Week 50 - One Daily Positive. The Race to Dubai with The European Tour

Our tree went up on Saturday, half the decorations are in boxes in the UK and I figure you can never have too much at Christmas anyway so I bought a new tree topper and another set of lights. I'm seeing many of my friends are having issues with which family they see over Christmas. For the past 10 years since we've been abroad, family haven't included us in their plans anyway and prior to that the kids would always go to their other parents for Christmas Eve and return Boxing Day night. However our kids are grown up now, with partners, married and child of their own, living close to their in laws, so even without covid on the scene, I don't think much will change for us. 

We're looking at booking a hotel stay for the Christmas period, usually we go out for a brunch, but a few nights away will do us both some good and we'll unwrap presents when we get back for the New Year.

341 Sunday I spent the day at home, I finished decorating the tree and tidied up and hoovered all the glitter and stray bits of tinsel.

342 Monday Off to the Drs for my pneumonia jab, meds and a blood test, then onto the hair dressers and nail bar.

343 Tuesday Festival City Mall in the morning to do some shopping, sent emails to all involved in regards to the shipping but everyone passing the buck and blaming each other, I collected accreditation ready for the golf on Thursday and in the evening we went to Global Village for dinner. It's all outside, but we left at 7.30pm as it was getting too busy for us.

344 Wednesday I spent the day at home, getting no where with the shipping. I swept and mopped the patio and garden and in the evening we went to the Polo club for quiz night and dinner, which we won (again) We were outside all evening, this is the beauty of Dubai at this time of the year.

345 Thursday First day of the golf and with the TV again. The Race to Dubai has the World's top golfers playing for a share of $8,000,000 and is part of the Rolex Series. I'm walking round with the top players with a live TV crew recording the sound of the caddies speaking to the golfers, up close and personal on the tee's, fairway and edge of the greens. It's hard work, the kit weighs around 3kg with the battery packs, I have an ear piece to get instructions and to be able to radio back in for a ref etc, head phones so I can hear what sound I'm picking up, then add a mask, back pack with food and drink, sunglasses and a hat and I'm my own game of buckaroo or if you're older, I could try balancing a cabbage for my own episode of Crackerjack. Today I walked round with Victor Perez and Christian Bezuidenhout.

346 Friday Golf again and out with Tyrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood, ranked 10th and 15th in the world. I caught too much sun and had a headache, we spent the evening watching the Queen's Gambit, it's really good.

347 Saturday Golf and out with Lee Westwood and Branden Grace, evening spent in front of the TV. Last day of the golf tomorrow. 

On the blog this week:

I think TV shows should be doing more to represent the current situation with Covid, some soaps aren't even referencing it. What's your thoughts on it?

Construction Photography - The pods are on the World's Tallest Ferris Wheel in Dubai

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Marshalling on the European Tour. The Race to Dubai 2019.

I'll start by declaring I don't play golf, know much about the players or even the game, but I do love being out and about, meeting people and volunteering.

Living as an expat restricts my ability to work. We've chosen for Peter to work and for me to support him and the family. This means taking on a permanent job is impossible, so instead I blog, write, have regular weekly activities in Dubai I take part in and volunteer when I can.

I've always volunteered, from school PTA, to the kids sporting and after school activities, to education projects in South Africa and more recently in the last 12 months at the golf on the European Tour in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Part of the European Tour is the Race to Dubai, which starts next week in Malelane in South Africa, there are points awarded for finishing and they accumulate to the final event in Dubai at the DP World Tour Championship. With a prize fund of $8,000,000 it's the biggest win available in golf.

The European Tour takes place over 48 events in Europe, Africa, America, Asia, Australasia. There are also 8 tournaments that are part of the Rolex series. As well as the prize fund for the tournament, the winner is also presented with a Rolex watch.

We started watching the European Tour when we lived in South Africa and visited Sun City in the event prior to attending the DPWTC, we added the HSBC Abu Dhabi tournament and the Omega Desert Classic to our list of events to attend and from there I discovered the marshalling.

On tournament days this is as close as you get really to the players, they don't talk or interact and a successful marshal is one who the player and caddie say hello to and thank you at the end of the round, anything else usually means you've done something wrong and I'm pleased to say I only got shouted at by one caddie for kids screeching and running around in the presence of their parents, I think he understood it was out of my control, he was just frustrated., so was I.

My view of Rory McIlory and Mike Lorenzo Vera, the leaders on Day 3 from my position on the 17th green.

Rory up close on the 9th green, we do get some time off to watch the golf, but as we're in uniform we're expected to help so taking photo's has to be quick and definitely not when we're marshalling.

There are so many roles that can be taken at the tournament from being static (manning a crossing) or travelling (walking the course with the players) I've done both. Walking with Sergio Garcia last week on the ProAm day to spotting the ball on the 17th green. walking with a group. All I had to do with raise a red flag if the ball landed in the water behind the green and inform the player if it went straight in or bounced first, so they knew they had to take a second shot. All the balls landed on, near the green and the two water shots were in the front so the players knew they had to take a second shot from the drop zone and not from the tee. I got to watch that hole up close and personal.

I don't actually get to see much golf as the static positions at the crossings, or manning the first tee or covering the 18th green mean I'm there to manage the crowds so my back is to the players and I rely on the crowds expressions to know how well the hole went.

On the last hole, as Marshals we sit on the green and get to enjoy the final hole, made even more exciting by Jon Rahm, winning the Race to Dubai, the DPWTC title and the Rolex series on his final putt.

You also get fab views like this of the Presentation.

The winner posing for photos with the marshals.

Next up is the HSBC Tournament in Abu Dhabi and the Omega Desert Classic back in Dubai, so if you like golf or just seeing if you can spot me on the TV, tune in. I'll be there.

One daily Positive - Week 47 The European Golf Tour

The Race to Dubai is on. In terms of golf anyway with the European Golf Tour at the final tournament the DP World Tour Championships, part of the Rolex series with a prize fund of $8,000,000. I don't play, but I do watch and know the rules. Last year I volunteered as a marshal for the first time. I then went on to volunteer at The HSBC Championships in Abu Dhabi and the Omega Desert Classic back in Dubai. I'm back working all 3 events again this year and early January.

I've worked as a static marshal, a travelling marshal, manned the 1st tee, been a spotter, done crowd control and worked with the anti doping team.

I really enjoy it, it's long days and gets hot out there stood in the full sun and my arm aches from holding up a 'quiet please' sign and my voice gets croaky saying 'stand still' between tee times for up to 5 hours at a time.

321 Sunday Pet relocation company came out to measure Bob for a new crate, I went to the Marina Mall for a walk, then swimming in the afternoon. We spent the evening outdoors.

322 Monday Out for coffee and gel nails, home to get ready for the golf tomorrow and finish packing my case for the UK next week.

I'm not a big Costa fan, but I couldn't resist this view.

323 Tuesday Pro am day, early start at 6.15am. I marshalled for Sergio Garcia, he was really nice and posed for photos. Met a lot of interesting people during the day. Home at 4pm really tired from all the walking.

324 Wednesday Day off from the golf which was a good job as we had heavy rain and lightening. All the schools were closed in advance of the weather. Spent the morning sorting out our finances, paying rent and deposits for relocating the cat and dog and our furniture. Popped out to do a bit of shopping in between the rain. Peter and I met a friend in the evening for dinner who is over here on Business.

325 Thursday An early start at the golf on the first tee. I don't get to see much golf as I have my back to the players and marshal the spectators. Went round the course after the last player tee'd off and helped out on the 16th crossing from the green to the 17th tee. Home around 5pm, walked Bob, dinner, bath and bed. We had more rain today and throughout the night.

326 Friday Left home again at 7am to man the first tee. Peter and two of his friends came and found me then they wandered off round the course. After lunch I was on the 17th green which is an island. My job was to raise a red flag if the ball landed in the water behind the green so the players new to take a second shot from the tee. I got to see most of the players, tee off, I had to spot their ball, then make sure I was out of their eye line for their putt. Chaos getting out the car park at 6pm, home, walked the dog, watched the Crown, bath, glass of wine and bed.

327 Saturday I'm shattered. Been standing on my feet, smiling, raising a 'quiet please' sign every 10 minutes and requesting spectators stand still when the golfers too off or putt. Yes I know, the irony of me telling other to be quiet (Mary). Out at 7am, home at 7pm after marshalling the 18th green in the afternoon. Bumped into the team from Abu Dhabi HSBC organisers, they remembered me from last year. Always a good sign. Home, wine, chocolate, bath and bed.

On the blog this week:

To relocate to the UK without paying tax or duty I am required to Transfer my Residency and complete a ToR.

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My Week on the European Tour, DP World Tour Championship and the Race to Dubai.

I volunteered to spend a week working as a marshal on the final event of the European Golf Tour and the Race to Dubai. On Monday I had no idea what it would entail and on Tuesday I was walking round the Jumeriah Golf Estate with Andrea Pavan in the pro am.

On Wednesday and Thursday I was chaperoning players, waiting with them while they had lunch in the players lounge, accompanying them onto the driving range and putting green and hanging around the men's locker room as well as sitting in the studio with Dougie Donnelly and Sam Torrence. We're not allowed to take pictures when we're on the course, but this was away from the golf course and as you can see they more than willing to have them taken.

Sam Torrence and Dougie Donnelley in the background.

Thomas Detry from Belgium and certainly a player to look out for.

I like watching golf, we've attended this event many times and also been to Abu Dhabi and Sun City. But I'm not very knowledgeable on the players, I do know the big names and the older golfers on the tour. It was quite interesting to go looking for a player and not knowing what they looked like and waiting for the caddie to turn round so I could spot the name on the bib as they came off the 18th, it caused a bit of a laugh. 'Hi I'm Suzanne and you are?' These are some of the world's top golfers.

I knew who Sergio Garcia was.

Saturday was spent marshalling the 1st Tee from 7.40am till the last player tee's off at 12.40pm. This was my view.

The afternoon was spent on the approach to the 18th. I had to 'spot' a ball in the water hazard and whilst I was watching over Danny Willett's ball that went into the crowd, Matt Wallace's ball clattered into the stand. He gave me the ball afterwards and kindly posed for a selfie. I was a bit startled when he put his hand on my shoulder as you can probably tell.

I'm back at the golf today marshalling the 1st tee in the morning and covering the same spot on the 18th where the prize money for the DP World Tour Championship is a staggering $8 million and the Race Dubai's purse is $5 million shared between the top ten ranking players.

As I head off today Danny Willett from England and Patrick Reed from the US lead the tour at -14 under par.

I've met some amazing people this week from players, their wives, children and parents to those who run the events and work on the European Tour as well as the 200+ other volunteers who keep the event running from scoring, marshalling, welcoming guests, working with the media and probably a million and 1 other jobs I don't know about.

This is how the week finished

One Daily Positive - Week 46 A week on the European Golf Tour

A great week for activities for me, throughly enjoyed my day at the Pro Am Golf in Dubai. I love watching golf as well as football, but I've never played either. I'd be tempted to take up golf, but it's so expensive here in Dubai and just too hot. I met a guy who works in the film industry and he suggested I sent my photo and number to a casting crew for a Ryan Reynolds Netflix Action Movie 6 Underground. I got a reply and was invited for a costume fitting and to the filming as an extra. However I was needed 2 days and wasn't available on the Tuesday, who knows? Maybe next time.

We had a massive storm on Monday night, the windows are covered in sand as are the cars, balconies, patio and garden furniture again.

315 Sunday Up early to take Peter to the airport as he's off to Saudi for the night. Got home at 5.30am and walked Bob and spent the next couple of hours sitting in the garden, blogging. I had to shut the cat in her room as the weather was gorgeous and had all the doors and windows open. We had the air conditioning units serviced, I paid some bills, then visited my friend for a couple of hours before going for a MRI scan. The afternoon I sorted through the Christmas decorations and watched the football before bed. I've a bulging disc and trapped nerves which are causing the leg pain on the left side.

Tis is the darkest it gets here in Dubai

316 Monday Slept till 8am and just pottered around, pooped out for coffee and get a 'fail safe' salad for dinner. Peter arrived home at 4pm and we just watched Netflix, ate and drank wine.

Window cleaning after the rain

317 Tuesday A very early start for the golf, had an amazing day, had to google the players lol, walked 11.5km, felt broken, have golfers tan and had to google nearly all the players.

318 Wednesday Spent the morning at my friends house with Bob and used their pool. Friends are on holiday we were just checking all was OK.

319 Thursday Back at the golf. had the most amazing experiences. Met some of the world's top golfers and spent time with them in the players lounge, on the driving range and chaperoning them from place to place.

This was the only photo I took all day, not allowed to take pictures of the players when you're working. It's the way abck to the car park at the end of the day

320 Friday Golf again and loving it even more. Spent an hour in the TV studios. Everyone is laughing at me as a golfer walks by and I have no idea who it is or when I introduce myself and then ask their name, however I did know who Sam Torrence was but only when he spoke. Got a little upset when I got home to share my day with Peter, as my dad would've loved to have heard my stories and seen my pictures.

321 Saturday Golf for 7am, I get a time sheet the night before, no idea what I'm actually doing until I arrive. Previous role has ended and I've no idea what I'll be doing tomorrow either.
I took this picture yesterday before I started work, I have no idea what time I'll finish this evening and I'm straight to bed when I get in.

Ian Poulter teeing off from the 1st.

On the blog this week:

How to marshal at the European Tour. 

Building with bamboo

How to marshal a golf tournament? DPWTC.

I'll let you know how I got on next week after the European Tour concludes in Dubai on Sunday along with the Race to Dubai at the DP World Tour Championship

For now I have my golf shirt and tournament cap. I've purchased sturdy trainers and golfing skorts. I've read the marshals handbook and have plenty of water and suncream for the day.

My role is to ensure no one disturbs the golfers when they tee off and putt and to keep the crowd safe, provide information on crossing fairways and give directions for toilets, food, tee's and greens.

I'm one of 270 volunteers out on the course and on Tuesday I'm attending the pro am to familiarise myself with the course and my role.

The caddies will let me know if I've been successful at marshalling on not. Apparently, if a caddie has to speak to me, it means I'm doing something wrong and will have failed in my role.

Peter and I have watched golf at various venues in the UAE and South Africa, we used to live on a golf estate in Centurion, South Africa, which is part of the Sunshine Tour. Peter plays golf, I've only ever been to the driving range. I know the rules to some extent and can name most of the golfers, which will help for sure. But I'm more comfortable outside the ropes and prefer the 19th hole.