Al Zorah Golf Club in the UAE has further strengthened its senior staff with the appointment of two highly regarded industry names to its golf team.
Austin Cahill has been named as new head of golf at the club in Ajman, Al Zorah City, while Freddie Price has been appointed as Al Zorah’s new golf professional.
A respected figure in the Middle East, Cahill has a wealth of experience of the golf industry in the region having previously worked at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and, prior to that, at the internationally acclaimed Yas Links.
As head of golf, he will play a pivotal role in elevating the member and guest experience, overseeing all aspects of the golf operations department. This role includes leading the golf operations team and ensuring that service standards within the club’s facilities – including the state-of-the-art new clubhouse which will open this autumn – align with Al Zorah’s luxury standards.
Cahill will also manage event coordination, membership engagement and guest services to create a seamless, memorable experience for every visitor.
Cahill’s appointment will help to ensure a smooth transition following the recent departure of golf operations manager Stephen Payne to further his career in the Middle East and he has already made an impressive start to his new role, travelling to Prague in his first week to support a sponsored members event.
Meanwhile, Price will bring his vast knowledge and passion for the sport to Al Zorah’s members and guests, taking full advantage of the venue’s state-of-the-art academy facilities to deliver world-class teaching.
In December 2023, the club unveiled a new 850m2 putting green to complement the existing driving range, while further investment has included the recent installation of the latest Trackman launch monitor technology and new floodlights to enable coaching to take place day and night. In addition, an upgraded pro shop and changing facilities will be among the many features contained in the new clubhouse.
The position at Al Zorah is Price’s first role in the UAE, having previously taught at Royal Blackheath Golf Club in England for five years following a spell playing on the professional circuit, and golfers have been eager to request his services in his first few weeks in the job, with his teaching diary quickly filling up.
Phil Henderson, general manager of Al Zorah Golf Club, said: “We strive to attract the best talent in golf to match the standards of our course and facilities, and we are delighted to have done just that with these two appointments.
“Austin has done exceptional work at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and knows the golf industry here very well. He’s the perfect person to head up our golf offering as we enter an exciting new age for the club with the new clubhouse almost ready to open.
“We are also very pleased to secure a golf professional of Freddie’s calibre and look forward to helping him transfer his skills to his first role here in the United Arab Emirates.
Cahill and Price are the latest of several key appointments at Al Zorah Golf Club this year following the arrival of Terrace Mohamed, who returned to the position of golf course superintendent nine years after he first held the position.
The additions are further evidence of Al Zorah’s growing prestige in the Middle East, as the club prepares to unveil its elegant new clubhouse and host two high-profile international events: the 43rd Pan Arab Golf Championship in November and inaugural Al Zorah City Pro-Am in February 2025.
Designed by the company of iconic golfer Jack Nicklaus, Al Zorah Golf Club’s par-72 course opened in 2015 and quickly earned a reputation as one of the Middle East’s best layouts. It forms part of the Al Zorah City development, which is also home to a wide range of opulent residences, lifestyle and leisure amenities and a vast mangrove forest teeming with native and migratory wildlife.
