This Week at WorldGolf.com: Oct. 19, 2005

Europeans make news with
United Arab Emirates swing

With most of the European and Asian media over here to watch Michelle Wie get disqualified in her professional debut, you might think the only golf-related news is here in the U.S.

Not so. The European Tour has announced the first four months of its schedule for the 2006 season, and it includes an unprecedented three weeks in the United Arab Emirates during January and February. The Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, one of two new events, will be played from January 19-22 before the Qatar Masters in Doha from January 26-29, and the prestigious Dubai Desert Classic, from February 2-5.

The Desert Classic, again being staged at the Emirates Golf Club, will offer a prize fund of $2.4 million, the richest in the tournament's 17-year history. Next up will be the Johnnie Walker Classic at the Vines Resort and Country Club in Perth, Australia from February 9-12, an event which returns to the schedule after an absence of three years.

Europe's elite players will take on the best of Asia in a Ryder Cup-style competition in Thailand in January, the inaugural Royal Trophy at Bangkok's Amata Spring Country Club. The competition, which will be an annual event comprising eight players on each team, has been sanctioned by the European, Asian and Japanese tours.

As always, WorldGolf.com welcomes your comments.

Golfers take note: Kauai no
longer just for the honeymoon set

Maui and the Big Island may get all the press for their fine golf courses, but Kauai has closed the gap and may have passed the two popular islands. Conde Nast Traveler readers recently named three of Kauai's courses among their "Top 100 Golf Resorts" so the secret is out. "Here, you can get away and have top-quality golf. You just can't get that feeling at other places," said Princeville head pro Steve Murphy.

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UST debuts new putter
shaft that speaks to golfers

United Sports Technologies have come up with what they say is the first true innovation in putter shafts in more than 70 years. At UST, they compare the new shaft to a sound system that will give you a clearer feel of how the ball strikes the putter and giving you feedback on your putting stroke. Will it catch on like other UST shafts have in the past? GolfPublisher.com's Mike Bailey finds out.

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Kilkee Golf Club: A little pot o'
gold in County Clare, Ireland

More than 110 years ago, Ireland's Kilkee Golf Club was criticized for being apathetic. Fast forward to the present, and a little Irish apathy doesn't sound so bad. Kilkee, however, is a short but active course, destined to give visitors the shock and awe of playing along a picturesque stretch of cliff-side holes that put the Atlantic into play. And with a price tag stunted in time, Kilkee will charm golfers of all experience levels.

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