A new season of golf kicks off with a lingering summery feel for the Ladies on 28th September 2011 with the first match of the Ladies Inter-Club Challenge which are taking place at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

The Inter-Club Challenge has grown into one of the most popular events on the local Golf Calendar over the past few years. Jean Iggo, who was the Lady Captain of Abu Dhabi Golf Club at the time, initiated the idea of an Inter-Club match with the aim to create a fun golf tournament between four clubs, Abu Dhabi Golf Club, The Address Montgomerie, Arabian Ranches and Al Hamra. This event proved to be so popular that it now involves 12 Golf Clubs from the UAE (Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai). The purpose was not only to create a “match type” league but also to promote more interaction between the ladies section of each club, which welcome players from all handicap levels to participate.

The format is simple, 10 lady golfers in each team from each participating club, playing from a full handicap allowance in an Individual Stableford event with the top eight individual scores selected out of the 10 players. During the league matches, points from each round are carried forward from match to match to reach an overall total from the four rounds with the most points being the winner of that specific league. The winner of each league will take part in a final playoff on Wednesday 25th April 2012 for the championship trophy. The final will also include all 12 clubs that participated and additional prizes will be awarded for the minor team placements, as well as individual achievements on the day.

This year the ICC will be made up of three leagues, with four clubs drawn into each league. The Clubs participating are: League 1: Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club/Al Hamra Golf Club, The Els Club. League 2: The Address Montgomerie, Yas Links, Al Badia Golf Club, Al Ain Shooting & Golf Club. League 3: Saadiyat Golf Club, Emirates Golf Club, Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.
 
Jane Gray, organiser of the ICC (ex-Lady Captain of The Address Montgomerie and founder player) has expressed her gratitude to all the Golf Clubs participating in this seasons’ event. With the growth of the event over the past years, the ICC Committee are looking forward to seeing this event grow from strength to strength and hope that club participation will not only range within the UAE but will also include clubs within the GCC.

Golf Club Lady Members that are interested in participating in this seasons’ Ladies Inter-Club Challenge should get in contact with their respective Club Captains to ensure a place in their Club Team.

More and more women are taking up the game of golf each year as it gets easier and easier to get into the game. This should not come as much of a surprise. After all, with beautiful rolling green fairways amidst a backdrop of breathtaking nature blended in with the pure fun of playing the game and the tremendous social opportunities that go along with it, women have developed a true love for golf.