Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
GOLFING enthusiast Bill Scarth, who only took up the sport three years ago, has been appointed Captain of Awali Golf Club (AGC) which boasts the oldest course in the Middle East.
He started out having lessons from the club’s professional Matt Chalmers and got his first handicap nine months later. Security consultant Scarth, 56, now plays off a handicap of 15, and aims to attract more newcomers to follow in his footsteps and pick up clubs for the first time during his year in office.
“I’m just a beginner really,” he said. “Only three years, so I’m a little bemused as to how I became the Captain. The Captain traditionally ‘comes up through the ranks’ of the committee and that was my route.
“I believe AGC mirrors all that is best about Bahrain. We are open-minded and multi-cultural, we are warm and welcoming, we are generous and we have time for people, a case of ‘Business Friendly Bahrain, Golf Friendly AGC!’
“In my first year at the club I volunteered to do ‘publicity’, but within a month or so I was also running competitions as ‘handicaps and competitions’ member – a great way to learn about administering golf and the club.
“The following year I was Vice-Captain, who basically runs everything and traditionally the VC goes on to be the Captain although formally it’s done by vote at the AGM.
“I think being captain of a warship prepared me for the role rather well, actually there are, surprisingly, many similarities!”
Scarth arrived in the kingdom seven years ago as the UK Defence Attaché working in the embassy. “But I’ve now left the Royal Navy and settled on this wonderful island,” he explained.
Born in the English East Midlands city of Leicester, he has two daughters, Anekka, 32, who works in Doha and Jessica, 30, in Muscat. He is currently head of security for Schlumberger in Bahrain, the world’s leading oilfield services’ company supplying technology, information solutions and integrated project management.
On the sporting front he has ambitious plans for Awali. “First I want to deliver a strong competition season for our handicapped players,” he said. “From October to April we have a competition every Friday and normally about 100 players compete. We vary the format: medals, stablefords, pairs, bogey etc. This fixture list is supported by our fantastic sponsors and is the central pillar of much of the club activity.
“Secondly, golf is about having fun, so we are aiming to have a very strong social competition season as well. Our social competitions are open to all players, handicapped or not, and indeed visitors can also join in.
“Finally, I want AGC to be even more welcoming for people taking up the sport. For those new to the island or new to golf it can be intimidating walking into a strange place. I want AGC to welcome everyone into our club and make them feel right at home.”
He also hopes to improve his playing prowess on the sandy challenges of the course. “I like to set goals and am targeting a handicap of 12 as that is the qualification level for the Bahrain Open,” said Scarth. “However, having got below 18 last season, the reductions seem to become ever harder. I guess I will just need to play even more golf!”
And, the more you play, the more you learn it appears, as he recounted one of his funniest golfing stories. “Well, it’s rather cruel really,” he admitted, “but golf is a cruel sport as all players know!
“I was playing with a good friend in the monthly medal. He was having an excellent round and was clearly going to be amongst the winners. My score was decidedly average.
“With only a few holes left to play I trudged up the long climb to the tee box on the par 3 ‘Cardiac’. My friend’s step was considerably more spritely. As he had the honour he promptly tee’d off, but was dismayed to see his ball sail down into the dreaded gully.
“As he was, until then, playing so beautifully he decided to play the ball from the gully rather than taking ‘3 off the tee’. Twenty-one shots later his card, game and any hopes of a prize had all disappeared – the joys and perils of medal play. I might add that my friend did, eventually, see the funny side of his increasingly desperate swishing!”
It helps to fall in love with the sport too, he added, like ‘when you hit a monster drive … but miss a two-foot putt!’
“Well, firstly golf is a fantastic social sport, so I like to play the full 19 holes!” he explained. “I’m rather competitive but more frantic sports such as football and squash are now beyond my creaking knees.
“Golf lets me continue to compete, and at least walking around for four or five hours whacking a little white ball gives me some exercise. And, finally, I believe the handicap system in golf is unique and allows players of all abilities to participate on a pretty level playing field.
“In most sports a really good player would struggle to enjoy a match against a relative beginner. But in golf, handicapping allows us all to enjoy playing together.
The Captain can also nominate a charity to support and raise awareness of throughout the year. He said: “As golfers we are blessed with a combination of sufficient health, wealth and time to enjoy our pastime. Others are much less fortunate which is why I am keen we raise as much money as possible for charity this year.
“I haven’t yet chosen a charity as I want our members to have a say. So a final decision will be made once everyone is back and playing.”
Just two years ago Awali Golf Club celebrated its 75th anniversary and hosted the 50th anniversary Bahrain Open Golf Championship and the 25th anniversary Bahrain Ladies Open Golf Championship all in the same season.
“Awali Golf Club is unique,” said new Captain Bill Scarth. “This desert course offers an amazing golfing experience at an unbelievably reasonable price. Whether you are a seasoned campaigner or a total beginner you will find the club ready to welcome you.
“Our PGA Teaching Pro can help anyone improve their game. We have formal competitions, social competitions and a wonderfully friendly clubhouse. At the fantastic price of just BD8.5 for 18 holes it has got to be worth giving it a go surely?
“Come along and say ‘hello’, ask for a famous ‘Awali Half’ and you will find we are not ‘glasses half full’, at Awali our glasses overfloweth!”
