It was a very low scoring weekend as the January Stableford was played over the East course. The winner in Division One was Gordon Hedley with 43pts with Jack Smelt taking runner-up spot with 40pts. Third place was Malcolm Stonehill with 38pts on countback from Steve Edwards who shot the same score.

In Division Two Bob Hare took the top spot from Upin Datani on countback both having shot 41pts. Countback also decided third and fourth place with Will Edmonds just pipping Nick Clode both having shot 40pts.




It's the final leg of the European Tour's "Desert Swing" this week as Masters champion Danny Willett defends the Omega Dubai Desert Classic against a strong field featuring Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Rafa Cabrera-Bello and the winners of the events held over the last two weeks in Abu Dhabi and Qatar - Tommy Fleetwood and Jeunghun Wang.

This will be the 28th running of the Dubai Desert Classic. The history of the event goes back to 1986 when His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum approved the construction of a golf course in the desert. The Emirates Club opened two years later and the next season Mark James was winner of the inaugural Karl Litten Desert Classic (the competition was originally named after the designer of the course).

Since then, there have been some great champions. Seve Ballesteros, Ernie Els, Fred Couples, Colin Montgomerie, Jose Maria Olazabal, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have all lifted the trophy. Last year Danny Willett birdied the final hole to finish one clear of Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Andy Sullivan.

The Majlis Course at the Emirates Club was the first all-grass layout in the Gulf and it's still recognised as one of the finest tracks in the Middle East. Travelling through the desert dunes, fairways pass seven lakes, desert areas, indigenous flora and the "Majlis" themselves. Arabic for meeting place, these tent-like structures are a distinctive feature sitting between the 8th and 9th holes.

Unusually for Dubai, the weather looks like being a little unsettled. There could be some strong winds to contend with.

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