Star-Studded Event Concludes Historic Fortnight of Golf for Abu Dhabi
The Saadiyat Beach Classic charity gala dinner - organised by Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), the master developer of major cultural, residential and tourism destinations in Abu Dhabi - certainly lived up to its billing as the must-attend event of the new year as local and international philanthropists, celebrities and top decision-makers gave generously to support numerous charities, raising more than AED 1.2 million.
The funds went to the Classic’s five charity partners: the Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs, Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, Red Crescent UAE, Future Centre for Special Needs and the Gary Player Foundation.
The charity dinner kicked off with an emphatic speech by the world’s most successful golfer of all time and event host, Gary Player, which prompted the 350 guests to begin bidding for more than 65 big ticket items available in both the main and silent auctions.
Taking Haiti’s recent catastrophic earthquake into light, a one-of-a-kind classic 1976 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow with the body hand-painted by Emirati artist Abdul Qader Al Rays was donated by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) for the auction. This stunning masterpiece in motion raised AED 155,000 to aid Haiti victims and assist with growing relief efforts.
A number of exclusive items were also up for grabs including a stay at the Gary Player House during the Open Championship at St. Andrews in Scotland, a 3-D section of the Louvre Abu Dhabi architectural model signed by the museum’s architect Jean Nouvel, a wealth of historic Gary Player memorabilia and prominent pieces of artworks such as a ‘Black Figs’ painting by Reza Derakshani, which fetched AED 110,000.
Speaking about the funds raised, Gary Player, who designed TDIC’s Saadiyat Beach Golf Course, which opened on 28th January, 2010 - was proud that the event had gone a long way to supporting those most in need globally.
“This is what it is all about. It is great to bring people together on a great golf course, although what really makes the difference is raising money for charity. We are very fortunate to play golf for a living and as such it is important to give back to those less fortunate. It is very satisfying to be the catalyst to bring all these people together, and to have done it for a worthwhile cause is the icing on the cake,” said 18-time Major winner, Player.
Taking place at the stunning Emirates Palace Hotel in the UAE capital, the star-studded event concluded a historic fortnight of golf for the emirate, which saw the launch of Saadiyat Beach Golf Club – the Arabian Gulf’s first beachfront course – the news that world-renowned architect, Frank Gehry, would design its 18,000sqm clubhouse and the staging of the European Tour-backed 5th annual Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.
Ahmed Hussein, Chief Operating Officer of TDIC and Deputy Director General of ADTA, was optimistic about the emirate’s emergence as a world-class golf and leisure centre of excellence.
“The last week has been an important and significant step forward for Abu Dhabi’s golfing ambitions and has gone a long way to establish the emirate as a highly-sought after sports and leisure destination – a fact made even more pertinent with the funds we have raised for charity,” said Ahmed Hussein.
With a wealth of big names from golf and the world of sport in attendance, after tackling the lush green fairways of Saadiyat Beach Golf Club for the Classic, the bidding was always going to be intense.
Northern Ireland’s 20-year-old golfing prodigy, Rory McIlroy, who led his team to victory in the Saadiyat Beach Classic, made an impressive bid for a nine-night tour of Anantara Resorts in the Maldives and Thailand to set the tone for the evening.
“We are very fortunate to do what we do for a living, so it is massive to give back,” said McIlroy, who finished third in the 2010 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, which took place 21-24 January 2010.
Meanwhile, European Tour regular, Darren Clarke, was not to be outdone by his younger counterpart, after tabling a strong bid for a ‘Play and Stay’ at Turnberry in Scotland.
“Gary Player is a figurehead for golf and what he does for the sport and charity is fantastic. To be able to give so much back to the people who need it most is so important,” said Clarke, who famously beat Tiger Woods in the 2000 WGC-Andersen Consulting Match Play Championship.
It wasn’t just the stars of the evening which were involved. Adrian Creed from Abu Dhabi took home a one-of-a-kind Guggenheim Abu Dhabi sketch by Frank Gehry after an intensive bidding display.
“It is a fantastic vision for the future of Abu Dhabi, made all the more worthwhile given it is for charity,” he said.
In one of the single biggest bids of the evening, Edward Borgerding took with him the majestic ‘Black Figs’ painting by Reza Derakshani.
“I believe it is extremely important to support what TDIC, Gary Player and Abu Dhabi is doing for charity,” he added.
While the bidding would have entertainment enough, the evening also boasted a diverse line-up of performers.
More than a dozen children from the Future Centre for Special Needs gave a compelling performance entitled, ‘The Stick Dance’. This was followed by a live sand painting dramatically executed by dynamic French artist Luc Sandman, whose mastery of creating sand into art is unparalleled and thus left the crowd mesmerised for several minutes.
The evening concluded with a performance from the UK’s Frank Sinatra-inspired artist, Peter Grant and his band. The young English crooner was also in the charity spirit and offered a private performance anywhere in the world to the highest bidder.
The Saadiyat Beach Classic attracted a strong line-up of corporate partners which included: Emirates Palace and Emirates Airline as Platinum sponsors; Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Al Habtoor Leighton, Al Jaber LEGT Engineering & Contracting, HILALCO, Jan De Nul Group, National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Parsons and Saif Bin Darwish as Gold Sponsors; and Abu Dhabi Media Company, Motivate Publishing and Gulf News Broadcasting as media partners.
In addition, a number of key companies sponsored the Gala Dinner, which included Action Impact, ADNH Compass, AECOM, Allied Investment Partners, BNP Paribas, Mirage Mille, Multiplex, Standard Chartered Bank and Ed Zublin AG.
IMG, The Black Knight Group and Troon Golf supported with the organisation of the Saadiyat Beach Classic.
Managed by Troon Golf, the world’s largest golf management company, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club is the latest world-class golf destination in Abu Dhabi. Saadiyat Beach Golf Club is the flagship sports facility on Saadiyat Beach, a future magnet for high-end visitors and residents with its host of exclusive 5-star resorts that will create one of the world’s most premium and stylish destinations.
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