When someone asks ‘How did you spend your winter?’, how will you respond? Perhaps you would love to answer that you did the maximum for your golf development. If you head for the heat and enjoy a proper golf practice on the perfect courses under the supervision of David Carter, you can stay calm.

The English coach and mentor likes travelling to the Emirates in winter and in November last year a group of golf enthusiasts, who wanted to improve under his supervision, joined him for the very first time. The idea caught on and a second training camp was held in February this year and was very successful. All the participants praised the week of intensive training led by David Carter and spoke highly of the fact that this experience shifted their golf performance significantly ahead. According to some participants, the camp was even more “nutritious” than all the previous years of training. After two test camp sessions, David Carter firmly incorporated the golf camps in the Emirates into his winter golf itinerary. This year, five camps will be organised.

Golf, golf and golf again

According to the English coach and mentor, the preparatory training camp can be described as follows – golf, golf and golf again. So simple is the weekly schedule – you have golf here literally for breakfast, lunch and dinner. That is thanks to the perfect accommodation in the comfortable villas of the private Al Hamra Village resort, which is a stone’s throw from the local great 18-hole golf course and outstanding golf facilities.

The first day of the camp is reserved for transportation to the Emirates. The flight from Dubai to Prague takes about six hours, then taxi transfer has to be arranged to get to Ras al-Khaimah. The journey by state taxi from one of the busiest airports in the world takes about an hour.

The golf programme begins the second day by a group morning run at seven o’clock. The run leads along the closed residential area, not only along the streets between houses, but also along a sandy beach. The breakfast is scheduled for eight o’clock, and at nine the camp participants are all ready to train on the driving range. At ten o’clock, after an hour of training under the supervision of their coach, they go to the course where the 9-hole awaits them.

Then lunchtime follows. From 2pm to 4pm the training continues in the hinterland of the Al Hamra Golf Club and between four and six o’clock in the evening, the players again head for a 9-hole course. The first day concludes with a discussion about effective training. And so it goes, day after day.

Not only a 9-hole, but also an 18-hole course

The third day starts again with a voluntary group run and breakfast. From nine to eleven, the players train and after lunch they head for the 9-hole course. In the evening, after another training session, a discussion about nutrition in golf follows and concludes the day. On the fourth day an 18-hole course is planned for the morning and after an afternoon siesta, a four-hour training block is on the programme.

A day later, the nine holes are played, which frame the two two-hour training blocks and an evening debate on mental training. On the sixth day, players can look forward to an 18-hole round. The penultimate day copies most of the previous ones – a morning run, breakfast, training block, 9-hole and again training block. David Carter dedicates to players at least four hours a day during the whole week, and, in addition to this time, he passes on his experiences to participants in long discussions during breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Although the eighth day is the last, golf practice or a quick game on the 9-hole course is still possible in the morning. However, a lot of participants spend this time by packing and absorbing all their experiences. Departure depends on the time of your flight. At the previous camps, the entire group had travelled together in one plane. Taxi to Dubai costs around 200 dirhams. Splitting the taxi expenses is therefore preferable to arrange. Additionally, there is more fun along the way, if the group travels together.

Certainly, the programme can be rearranged on the spot during the week. Why not set out on a tour of Dubai in the middle of the week? Dubai offers a lot of places of interests, such as Burj Khalifa, the highest skyscraper on the planet, gold souk, markets selling wide variety of spices and souvenirs, huge shopping centres with ice skating rinks or slopes inside, or the majestic Burj Al Arab Hotel, reminiscent of sailboat on shore.

Are you interested in such an intense golf camp? Then you have to act quickly because the number of places is limited. For more information, please contact Michaela Carter at michaela@cartersgolfclub.cz. At this address your place at the camp can also be booked.