Dubai Creek Resort | Vol. 1 | 2022

Welcome to TopGolf Dubai If 18 holes at Emirates Golf Club isn’t on the cards, perfect your swing at Topgolf, a three-level entertainment venue overlooking the world-famous courses but offering an entirely different golf experience. Interactive golf games, live music, delicious dining and chilled beverages are all on the menu with 96 climate-controlled hitting bays, the setting for a next-level driving range experience. And once you’re done hitting the microchipped balls, Topgolf’s three restaurants are the perfect place to unwind with friends, catch a game on the big screen TVs or listen to some live music. Find out more at topgolfdubai.ae Jumeirah Golf Estates Play the elements at this Greg Norman designed club with a choice of not one, but two state-of-the-art courses. The DP World Tour Championship Earth Course is inspired by the great parklands of Europe and North America and delivers an exceptional mixed terrain that cunningly incorporates any number of thought-provoking angles and changing perspectives from each tee. Its sister Fire Course presents a challenging 18 holes set amid a landscape that was designed to exist in harmony with the natural desert setting. A tough but thrilling course, its unique character makes it a must-play for Dubai residents and visitors alike. Find out more at dubaigolf.com/jumeirah-golf-estates Did you know? Host of the annual DP World Tour Championship until 2020, Jumeirah Golf Estates is also home to the Middle East’s only European Tour Performance Institute. / 101

GREEN FINGERS “Originally from a small coastal community in “Compared to the UK or US, where I also southeast England, I made the decision to worked, irrigation is obviously a key challenge relocate to the Middle East purely by chance. in this part of the world. If the system fails, it On a particularly wet and dreary day, while can take weeks for the course to recover so our working at a golf course in North Yorkshire, I team is tasked to monitor and maintain it 24 responded to an advertisement looking for an hours a day. intern for the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain, got the job and haven’t looked back since. A move to “Maintenance is also a costly business, not Dubai followed with a role at The Montgomerie just because of the climate but also because it Golf Club, and then I joined Dubai Creek in is a five-star destination that is increasingly December 2020. becoming a 365-day operation. Many people choose to play through the summer, which is “Golf is something of a family business. My traditionally our low season. father is head professional at my home club and I literally grew up in the back of his shop. “Irrigation is the biggest expense, and we My uncle is also a golf course superintendent work diligently to apply as little water as and my brother is a greenkeeper in London. possible in order to achieve the conditions our So, you can only imagine the dinner table guests demand. conversation at Christmas! A chance job application took David Taggart from the rugged beauty of North Yorkshire, England to the manmade greens of the Arabian Gulf where his role as Golf Course Superintendent is a 24/7 commitment – and passion. 102 /

“In a city as dynamic as Dubai it’s rare to find institutions with as rich a history as Dubai Creek. The club and course have a unique ambience that newer clubs in the region are simply not able to replicate. “For that reason, we hold a special place in hearts of residents and regular visitors to Dubai, and we want the condition of the golf course to live up to the memories people have of the course in its early days. “Following our successful hosting of the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) in late 2021, tournament golf is rightfully back at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. Hosting AAC, which was televised globally to 160 countries, put us firmly in the spotlight as a world-class golfing destination and we hope to be able to host other high-profile tournaments in the future. “A legacy course, we are constantly looking at ways to improve the facility and elevate the golfing experience. In the last year or so we have rebuilt all our tees, including the member practice area, which has been a welcome facelift. “Our irrigation system is also under redesign and in the coming three years will be upgraded using the latest technology. “It’s always a pleasure to play the course and we want our loyal members, visiting amateur players and professional golfers to enjoy a challenging and rewarding 18 holes with us, every time.” / 103

WELCOMING THE WBEOSRTLD’S When club manager Julian Danby got the call to say that the 2021 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship was heading to Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, he knew the team – and the course – would be thrust into the global spotlight.

“In early July 2021 I picked up the phone to hear Chris May, our CEO, say: ‘What do you think about hosting the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) in early November?’… and to say I had mixed emotions was a huge understatement. The AAC is arguably the world’s number one amateur golf championship, particularly when you consider the tournament infrastructure required to host it and the global media coverage it receives - including three hours of daily live broadcasting. Many people have asked why I had mixed emotions at being named host venue for this world-leading tournament? To give some context, the preparations on the golf course alone usually need to get underway a full 12 months prior to the event, just to ensure that the playing surfaces are at world-class tournament level. And here, we were just under four months away from tee-off! An unprecedented challenge The Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club team relish a challenge, but we were also about to embark on a major redevelopment of our tee complexes, which involved excavating and doubling the surface size of 15 tee boxes. That meant an expected six week-long construction site scenario followed by a further eight weeks needed to repair the damage caused by heavy vehicle traffic, grow the turf in and prepare the surfaces for a major globally televised event. It wasn’t just the tee project that we needed to work through as we also had the annual championship course summer transition to consider. This is the period where the winter grass dies off due to the extreme summer temperatures, allowing the underlying summer Bermuda to recover from its dormant state. Certain areas of the course invariably need to be re-turfed, and the process also comes with the risk that further re-turfing may be required. On top of this, summer is always a time when we undertake major renovations of the greens and green surrounds, which involves heavy coring and top dressing to combat the effects of year-round grey watering with its high salt content. This is a fairly abrasive practice and so the greens need time to recover ahead of the high traffic winter season that kicks off in late October. / 105

We are, thankfully, blessed with a world-class From construction site to dream greens golf course superintendent, David Taggart, who leads a team of exceptionally experienced As tournament week dawned, the golf course looked incredible. David, his greenkeepers and landscapers. If there was assistant Harry Wells and the entire golf course maintenance team - with the anybody who could pull this off, it was David. help of Orient Irrigation who handled the tee complex works – pulled out all the stops to produce a literal miracle. Anyone walking the course would not So, after a couple of very strong coffees and a long chat, we knew that we have guessed that, just seven weeks prior, the majority of tees were devoid would pull together as team to do whatever was needed to get the course of grass and the entire area was a construction site. ready to host this game-changing international tournament in the first week of November. With the greens rolling at 11.5 on the Stimpmeter and a line-up of some of Asia’s best amateur A world-class championship with star status golfers raring to test their mettle in Dubai, as the four-round championship teed off we were An incredible event, AAC dates back to 2009. The idea was brought to life thrilled to welcome the world’s top ranked by a trio of founding partners: the Masters Tournament, The R&A and the amateur, Japan’s Keita Nakajima. Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, and launched with the dual aim of developing the game in Asia and to discover future star players. There was early excitement on day one from one of our local Emirati players, Ahmad Skaik, who was representing the UAE Golf Federation. What also makes it unique is that it offers the most coveted prize in amateur Following a dropped shot on the iconic but tricky 18th hole, Ahmad still golf, with the winner receiving an invitation to play in not one but two of the closed out his round with a two under par 69, to lie just inside the top 10. At game’s four major championships - the Masters Tournament and The Open. the end of round one, there was a seven-way tie for the lead at -4, which ominously included Nakajima, the world number one. The event’s decade-long legacy was realised when Hideyki Matsuyama, who won the AAC in 2010 and 2011, went on to win the Masters Tournament The scoring improved on day two with low rounds including a pair of 64’s in 2020. In doing so, he became not only the first Japanese winner of the shot by Bo Jin of China - who went on to finish in a tie for third place - and Masters Tournament, but also the first ACC champion to win a major. Thailand’s Puwit Anupansuebsai, who finished in a tie for 13th spot. On day three, Hong Kong national, Taichi Cho, made a move up the leaderboard Due to the pandemic, AAC’s 20th edition, which was due to be played in with a tournament-equalling low round of the week, at seven under 64. Melbourne at the historic Royal Melbourne Golf Club, was cancelled. The event was subsequently moved to Singapore, but yet again fell victim to Covid-19 when Singapore shut its borders. As a last-ditch attempt to ensure the championship wasn’t abandoned for another year, the phone call was made to the Dubai Golf CEO and the rest is history. 106 /

It was, however, former AAC Champion and one of the tournament favourites, Yuxin Lin, with rounds of 67, 71 and a fine 65, along with world number one Nakajima who, after respective rounds of 67 68 and 67, both tied for the lead on -10. With two former AAC champions leading the way going into day four, the stage was set for an intense battle. The first to fall by the wayside was Lin who, after initially fighting back well with five birdies following an early triple bogey seven on hole number two, fell out of contention with a double bogey on hole 15. After a fantastic run of five birdies in six holes from the ninth, it was Taichi Cho that looked like he had the momentum and confidence to finish on top, but Nakajima had other ideas. Taking a double bogey six on hole nine while leading by three at the same time, it initially looked like the pressure had got to him. But, with three birdies and no dropped shots on the back nine holes, Nakajima regained his composure to force a playoff with Cho. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be for the Hong Kong national who, after missing a 20-foot putt on the first extra playoff hole to win the championship, left the door open on the second extra hole after visiting the water on his approach from the sand. In the end it wouldn’t have mattered, as Nakajima - in true world-class form - rolled in a 25-foot putt for birdie to finish in style and to book his place in two major championships. High-profile hosting Televised in over 160 countries, as well as live-streamed through the championship website, the 20th edition once again earned its stripes as the most-viewed amateur golf event in the world – and also helped put Dubai Creek firmly back on the map as a tremendous world-class destination for top level golf. The club was extremely honoured to host the event and for the opportunity to reassert our place on the global tournament stage. A one-of-a-kind experience that I thoroughly enjoyed, even during our most challenging moments, it was a personal privilege to be able to work alongside some of the world’s best operators. A big thanks goes out to the Emirates Golf Federation for their unwavering support as country hosts; to the AAC tournament committee aptly led by Matthew Williams and David Benne of Augusta National Golf Club; The R&A for the rules administration and course set-up; and European Tour Productions for the way they portrayed the course, the tournament, the resort and Dubai as a golf destination. Last, but by no means least, we applaud the many volunteers and our own club members who gave up their time to help run the tournament and, without whom, the event wouldn’t have taken place. / 107

FOR THE LOVE OF TEA Founded in London at the turn of the millennium, the story behind Newby teas is one best enjoyed with a cup of your favourite blend.

In the late 1950s, a chance encounter in London set a young Newby employees a tea of world-renowned tea tasters who each evaluate Nirmal Sethia on a path towards a lifetime’s passion for the thousands of cups from an exclusive selection of gardens, and who tea leaf. From humble beginnings as an eager 14-year-old choose only the season’s best harvests to send to Nirmal for final tasting apprentice tea taster, the youthful entrepreneur started his approval. Only then, and only after rigorous lab testing, are they permitted own Kolkata based tea buying business a mere two years later. to bear the Newby name. After buying a tea garden in Assam, where he devoted his time to learning every Nirmal’s lifelong passion for tea and his success with the Newby brand aspect of the craft. This was the spark that ignited a passion for producing quality has also given him an opportunity to give back to different causes and teas that eventually inspired him to establish Newby teas, a company that truly communities through the N Sethia Foundation, which works to support values centuries of tea culture, with an unwavering goal – to reintroduce quality life-changing global initiatives, including female education, medical tea and revive the world’s love for it. research and community welfare. More than simply a commodity available on every supermarket shelf, in every home and at every corner café, Newby celebrates provenance, and quickly fulfilled untapped consumer demand for the finest quality blends that delivered on flavour and experience. From an initial collection of 100 teas, today, Newby spans 800 hand-selected blends, each one personally tasted and approved by Nirmal. The traditional hallmark of a fine tea is one produced using two leaves and a bud but over the decades, mass market demand, and industry greed, saw quality sidelined in favour of volume. An anecdotal note that will intrigue any tea drinker is the belief among many that milk and sugar were introduced to help make lower grade teas more palatable. Enjoy a cup of Newby Tea at Park Hyatt Dubai by visiting the dedicated ground floor boutique, the afternoon tea experience at our Lobby Lounge or after your next Amara Spa session. / 109

CURATED BY THE CALIFORNIA COAST MEET PARK HYATT AVIARA Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa is a Forbes Five-Star Resort and coastal enclave for those who seek the ideal blend of casual and chic — along with that unmistakable feeling of carefree California living. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean between San Diego and Los Angeles, and set among 200 lush acres of rolling hills and botanical wetlands, it’s a year-round escape where nature is the architect and tranquility is the focus. Here, after an extensive $50+ million reimagination, the relaxed yet refined vibe offers a sense of effortless style and comfort, from expansive guestrooms to our signature dining experiences. And with championship golf, a renowned spa and a wealth of wellness offerings, the opportunities for adventure and discovery abound. Learn more at parkhyattaviara.com | +1 760 448 1234

FAcomMwehILf eIES The luxury of time spent with family is a precious commodity. Dubai Creek Resort understands the need to create a fine balance between luxury experiences and fun activities with tailored opportunities for guests of every age. MINI CHEFS If you have a little chef in the making, give them a taste of life in the kitchen with a one-on-one pizza making lesson courtesy of the super friendly chefs at Boardwalk. We’ll kit them out with a chef’s hat, apron and all the ingredients to make their first wood-fired pizza – all they need is plenty of enthusiasm and a little imagination. TEE FOR TWO KIDS’ CLUB Younger family members can still swing a Three to 12-year-olds have their own club with a mini golf course experience dedicated leisure destination at The Cave specifically designed to be a fun challenge Kids Club. An action-packed calendar of for golfers of all ages and abilities. edutainment is on offer, featuring arts and crafts, origami, a STEM wall with gemstone Fun fact: Several holes are adaptated blocks, robot dancing sessions, electronic versions of the club’s internationally games, board games, and much more. renowned championship course. Are you up for the challenge? / 111 Alternatively, test your talent on the fairways and greens of the 9-hole par 3 course; an ideal entry point for novice golfers, more experienced players keen to improve their short game, or for a relaxed social round after sunset.

THE GOLDEN HOUR Discover the resort’s most inspiring sunset spots as the day draws to a close and time slows down in perfect synchronicity with the setting of the sun. A cinematic moment guaranteed to make the heart skip a beat, evoke a sigh of quiet appreciation, and bring a smile to the face of every onlooker, nature’s daily dusk ritual is one of life’s most sacred. Dubai Creek Resort is blessed with an abundance of sunset-worthy locations where the dying embers of the day become iconic moments. 112 /

/ 113

Head to NOÉPE and drink in the Photo credit: @glauberjuh marina vista and twinkling city skyline with a signature cocktail in hand. As the sun sinks beyond the horizon, pause for a minute or two to take in the scene before the after-dark vibe picks up pace and the moment is lost… until tomorrow. 114 /

The romance of France’s Côte d’Azur is reimagined at Twiggy by La Cantine, the neighbouring waterfront venue where the setting sun casts its red and golden warming glow across the resort’s stunning blue lagoon and rippling creek. Be enveloped in the buzz of lively chatter and enjoy the moment with friends. A family-friendly destination, the Boardwalk has been a late afternoon hotspot for two generations of Dubai residents and visitors with an infinite number of special occasions celebrated against a sunset backdrop. Photo credit: @glauberjuh / 115

DIVE IN Photo credit: @anyuta_rai & @igorwinogradowww Dip your toes into ambient azure waters, and immerse yourself in the resort’s incomparable aquatic experience. Pool days at Dubai Creek Resort are the epitome of temperature-chilled relaxation. The family friendly 25-metre swimming pool at Park Hyatt Dubai is tucked away amid lush and tropical gardens with its exquisitely landscaped cool blue waters dotted with inset palm trees and impressively boast four individual whirlpools. Over at Dubai Creek Golf Club, members and day guests can swap golf clubs for swim trunks with the temperature-controlled pool set around a sunken bar, providing an excuse to sip, socialise and swim. Infinity… and beyond Why have just an infinity pool when you can have a 100-metre infinity lagoon that laps onto a private white sand beach? Lagoon Beach by Twiggy is a true hidden gem that sets new standards for beachfront tranquillity complete with daybeds, private cabanas and our signature exceptional service. 116 /

/ 117

Luis Cobo, Hotel Manager, Park Hyatt Dubai and Rosemarie Tacorda, Director of Marketing & Communication, Dubai Creek Resort take us behind the scenes and share their thoughts on what makes the destination so special. TEt AkM In Dubai’s highly competitive hospitality For many people, we were viewed as a Engaging with our guests doesn’t only happen marketplace, it’s obviously advantageous to preferred business hotel, due to our proximity when they check in. In today’s digital world we have the best facilities and latest technology, to Dubai International, but with the integration need to make sure that we are communicating but we wouldn’t be successful if we didn’t have of the golf club, new sports facilities, the across social media platforms as well as using a sense of ‘family’. addition of our 100-metre infinity lagoon and a more traditional channels. Everyone is a content raft of openings including Twiggy, Cinnamon creator these days, and we love the challenge of It may be a cliché but it is our team members’ Bazaar and the Rossano Ferretti Hair Spa, we taking our communications a step further to fire connection with our guests that brings them are becoming the leisure destination of choice. the imagination, tickle with our sense of humour, back time and time again. This comes from and share our unique personality. the top down, led by the innovative approach to We also listen to our guests and take their business championed by Stephan Schupbach, feedback on board. Wellness and nutrition One of our most popular campaigns – and a Dubai Creek Resort Managing Director, right trends, for example, are hot topics and so we first for the market - was during the 2021 festive through to our newest joiners. have adapted our leisure offering (have you season when we developed a CGI reindeer tried the padel tennis?), restaurant menus and called Milo, whose hotel antics captured hearts As part of Dubai Creek Resort, which is a spa therapies to reflect changing guest needs and social media fans alike. legacy destination with a 30-year history, we’ve and desires. got a lot to live up to! The merger of Dubai We thrive on being idea people, and this is Creek Golf & Yacht Club with Park Hyatt Dubai Emerging from the pandemic amid a shifting what drives us. Stephan’s energy, passion and has expanded and consolidated the sense of business landscape, we also answered our sense of humour are contagious, and our daily community that both locations enjoy. corporate guests’ calls for more working morning briefings are always full of laughter – spaces within the hotel. and inspiration. 118 /

Q. What inspires you every day? Q. Any memorable guest experiences AWARDS you can share? A. Luis: The endless array of colours that TimeOut Restaurant Awards 2022 light up the resort in various locations at A. Luis: A famous artist staying with us Best Outdoor Restaurant different times of day. I also never tire of said they had a surprise for me. When I Twiggy by La Cantine having the privilege to work with 54 entered the $5,000-per-night suite, they nationalities under one roof and inspire the had decorated the entire room with graffiti. TimeOut Restaurant Awards 2022 next generation to pursue a career in Luckily, our owners were impressed rather Highly Commended European Restaurant hospitality. than angry, and decided to retain some of Twiggy by La Cantine the elements for posterity. The funny part is A. Rosemarie: In my role I get to create that the artist asked me how much we were Condé Nast Traveller Middle East communication materials in a collaborative going to pay them for the art! Readers Choice Awards 2021 environment, which indirectly lets me Favourite Hotel in the UAE express myself through bringing different Park Hyatt Dubai ideas to life. Condé Nast Traveller International Q. Your favourite hidden resort gem? Readers’ Choice Awards 2021 Top 5 Best Hotel in the Middle East A. Luis: The padel courts at 6.30am; it’s Park Hyatt Dubai my favourite time to play as the sun rises and the birds begin to sing. World Travel Awards 2021 World’s Leading Corporate Resort A. Rosemarie: The love seat that we Park Hyatt Dubai created under one of our oldest trees. It’s a place of peace and serenity, and always World Travel Awards 2021 evokes memories of home. Our guests love it! Middle East’s Most Romantic Resort Park Hyatt Dubai Q. Which hotel award means the most to you? World Traveller Middle East Readers’ Award 2021 A. Luis: Being named the World's Leading Best Romantic Hotel in the Middle East Resort 2019 at the World Travel Awards Park Hyatt Dubai was especially important as it followed the hard work we’d all put in on the merger. World Travel Awards 2021 World’s Leading Corporate Resort A. Rosemarie: The Condé Nast Traveller Park Hyatt Dubai Middle East Readers’ Choice recognition as Best Hotel in the UAE 2021 was extra World Travel Awards 2021 special and really reflects the personalised Middle East’s Leading Corporate Resort service that we pride ourselves on. Park Hyatt Dubai The Park Hyatt Dubai Team with their Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Readers Choice Award World Golf Awards 2021 for Favourite Hotel in the UAE 2021. Middle East’s Best Golf Hotel Park Hyatt Dubai Photo credit: Condé Nast Traveller Middle East World Golf Awards 2021 UAE’s Best Golf Hotel Park Hyatt Dubai World Golf Awards 2021 Dubai’s Best Golf Course Dubai Creek Golf Club World Spa Awards 2021 Middle East’s Best Day Spa Amara Spa What’s On Awards 2021 Best Beach Club Twiggy by La Cantine TimeOut Nightlife Awards 2021 Beach Club of the Year Twiggy by La Cantine TimeOut Restaurant Awards 2021 Best Brunch in Dubai Traiteur Brunch / 119

Lifestyle Villas Amara Spa Family Lagoon Beach Royal Villa Ballroom Lifestyle Villa Pool 120 / Family Lagoon Beach

Park Hyatt Suite Residential Project Lobby Lounge Lifestyle Villa Lobby Lounge Lifestyle Villa Hotel Room Corridor Onze Restaurant Onze Restaurant Park Hyatt Suite Bathroom Royal Villa / 121

\"EACH TODAY, WELL-LIVED, MAKES YESTERDAY A DREAM OF HAPPINESS AND EACH TOMORROW A VISION OF HOPE. LOOK THEREFORE, TO THIS ONE DAY, FOR IT AND IT ALONE IS LIFE.' Sanskrit poem

LUXURY IS PERSONAL Hyatt® and Park Hyatt® and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its af liates. © 2022 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved. Situated directly across the street from Carnegie Hall, one block from Central Park and a short distance to MoMA and Lincoln Center, the 210-room Park Hyatt New York is a five-star hotel offering close proximity to global icons of both culture and industry. Along with striking interior architectural design and museum quality art, the award-winning property features spacious guestrooms and suites inspired by New York’s most well-appointed homes with an abundance of natural light and luxurious spa-like bathrooms. Located on the hotel’s 25th floor, Spa Nalai provides magnificent amenities and personalized services for optimal wellness and relaxation, such as an indoor saltwater swimming pool, eucalyptus steam room, oversized hot tub, 24-hour fitness center, and the newly-opened Rossano Ferretti Hairspa boasting awe-inspiring views of the Manhattan skyline. Discover more at parkhyattnewyork.com