Golden Visa for top coach Cowen
‘I PROUDLY CONSIDER DUBAI MY SECOND HOME’
I have been back to almost every Dubai Desert Classic since, as my career transitioned from player to coach.” Peter Cowen » Distinguished golf coach
Peter Cowen, arguably the world’s No 1 golf coach, has received the prestigious Dubai Golden Visa. The 70 year-old from Yorkshire has been in Dubai on holiday with his family this week at JA The Resort, Jebel Ali and Gulf News caught up with him.
‘‘I am delighted to receive this honour from the government of Dubai and to join the many famous sportsmen and sportswomen as well as entertainers and those from the world of business on the list. Thank you to all who made it happen.
‘‘My first visit to Dubai was in 1989 when I played in the inaugural Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on the Majlis Course won by Mark James. How the city, buildings, infrastructure and golf have all changed since then must be one the great stories of the modern world and now we are here with Expo 2020 Dubai which we are hopefully going to visit before our holidays are over.
Regular visitor
‘‘I have been back to almost every Dubai Desert Classic since, as my career transitioned from player to coach. Now I come every year to Dubai in January for the Desert Swing and then at the end of the year for the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and usually manage a family holiday visit somewhere in the middle,” he says.
He adds: “I proudly consider Dubai my second home and my family and myself love coming here.’’ His Peter Cowen signature academies are based at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, Emirates Golf Club and Jumeirah Golf Estates - as well as his Headquarters in Rotherham, England.
Destination of choice
‘‘Dubai is the destination of choice for so many of the European Tour players for tournaments, practice and warming up for tournaments in the four corners of the world, which suits me,’’ said Cowen.
A list of current and past players Cowen has coached certainly earns him a place in the shortlist for the best golf coach in the world. Cowen has a CV that includes winning 10 majors and over 250 wins on the international golf Tours around the world, coaching seven Ryder Cup captains and is a Global Ambassador for Callaway Golf.
His current stable of players includes: Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, DP World Ambassador Ian Poulter, Gary Woodland, last week’s winner of the Alfred Dunhill Championship Danny Willett, Henrik Stenson, Jazz Janewattananond, Graeme McDowell, Thomas Pieters, Victor Perez, Sean Crocker, Padraig Harrington, Matt Fitzpatrick and Dubai resident Adri Arnaus (both along with Mike Walker).
Virtual who’s who
Over the years, Cowen has coached the Who’s Who of European and world golf, including Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke who started Cowen’s coaching career off whilst still Club Professional at Lindrick Golf Club in Yorkshire as well as the following; Martin Kaymer, Luke Donald, Colin Montgomerie, Louis Oosthuizen, Thomas Bjorn, Paul McGinley, Sergio Garcia, David Howell, Alex Noren, Robert Karlsson, David Lipsky and so many more.
Commenting on Cowen receiving the Dubai Golden Visa, Chris May, CEO of Dubai Golf said: ‘‘On behalf of Dubai Golf I would like to congratulate Peter on being awarded the Dubai Golden Visa.”
He added: ‘‘Peter is always supportive of all the Teaching Professionals in Dubai Golf, our Club initiatives and we are proud to call him an Ambassador of Dubai Golf, all three golf clubs in our family, as well as now officially for Dubai.’’