Nearest the Pin went to Edwin Williams (pictured at right) whose magnificent shot on Hole 15 within a few feet of the hole. Prizes were presented by Taba Heights Golf Resort and the Marriott Rea Sea Resort in Taba Heights in the relaxed venue of the Lobby Lounge and included hotel stays and golf merchandise.



Magic McLennan

Neil McLennan (20 H’cap) played brilliant golf in the April edition of the Race to Taba Heights, held in cooperation with the Marriott Red Sea Resort. 

McLennan, who had escaped the hustle and bustle of Cairo for a family retreat in Taba Heights, made light work of the golf course set up for tournament play, racking up a stunning total of 40 points. Neil made amends for a not-so-brilliant start (a double bogey six) by collecting four points at the long second. Another four-pointer on the tricky fourth hole helped keep things rolling, and a three-point score on the par three hole eight brought him to the turn in 21 points. 

The breeze picked up as Neil started in on the back nine holes, but he played steady golf amidst the more testing conditions. A run of four three-point scores from hole 14 brought the title within sight, but a nervy finish on hole 18 failed to produce any points. He waited anxiously to see if he would be crowned champion, but to his delight, his closest challenger was back on 37 points.


Second place went to a visiting Italian golfer, Emilia Tessarollo (25 H’cap). Emilia progressed steadily and returned nines of 18 and 19 points, which was enough to secure second place on the podium by a margin of three points. Simon Walsh (28 H’cap), who was visiting Taba Heights from Saudi Arabia, claimed third place thanks to a countback after scoring 34 points. Winner of Nearest the Pin went to tournament champion Neil McLennan, who played a magnificent shot to within a few feet of hole 15.



Vintage Hijjawi

Jaafar Hijjawi (17 H’cap) played some vintage golf in the March edition of the Race to Taba Heights, in conjunction with the Marriott Red Sea Resort. Hijjawi, a regular visitor to Taba Heights coming from Jordan, left the full field of competitors in his wake by an impressive margin of 3 points.

Hijjawi got his round underway with some very steady golf, reaching the turn in an even Par 18 points. Sparks started to fly on hole 10 as he picked up a birdie 4 on the long Par 5, collecting 4 points. An additional five 3-pointers followed as he charged home in a stunning 2 over Par with a Gross score of 38 giving him 25 points.

Second place went to another regular visitor and former Race to Taba Heights Champion, Tony Lowe (10 H’cap). A model of consistency, Lowe returned equal 9’s of 20 points with his round highlight coming at the tricky hole 18 as he closed out his round with an impressive Birdie 3 resulting in 4 points for a 40 point total.

Taba Heights International Golf Member Bea Lauwers (35 H’cap) claimed third place courtesy of a countback on 38 points. Bea’s impressive back 9 of 21 points gave her the edge over Ramzi Zeine (20 H’cap), who placed fourth. Ramzi came home in 19 points, this could have been a much improved score was it not for an unsightly finish to his round as he failed to score any points on the final hole.

Pictured left, first place winner Jaafar Hijjawi with Golf Resort General Manager James Shippey. At right, players on the 17 ^th green. Pictured at top of page, European Tour Star David Carter with Taba Heights Golf Resort staff.

Ian Paul (23 H’cap) was back in fifth place, again thanks to a better back 9 score, Ian came home in a well crafted 22 points to nudge out sixth placed Sue Lowe . Sue was on the hunt for a higher placed podium finish, but as she scored only 1 point on her closing hole, she was content to be amongst the winners.

Winner of the Nearest the Pin on Hole 15 went to William Hannah as he played a fabulous shot to within a few feet of the hole.

Prizes would have been distributed slightly different this month if it wasn’t for an act of generosity. European Tour Professional David Carter spent a week in Taba Heights practicing and fine-tuning his game. Carter is a former winner of the Irish Open and also won the World Cup of Golf in partnership with Sir Nick Faldo. During the Race, Carter played a steady round of golf resulting in 2 under par 70 for a total of 38 Stableford points.

At the presentation, Carter thanked all competitors for an excellent tournament and paid tribute to the excellent facilities, promising to be back as he considers Taba Heights a perfect place to prepare for the upcoming season. We wish David the best of luck for an excellent season of golf.



Cooper Charges to Title

Jim Cooper (17 H’cap) emerged victorious in the February edition of the Race to Taba Heights, in conjunction with the Marriott Red Sea Resort.
Visiting from the UK to escape the snow and bask in the sunshine of the Sinai, Cooper set about his goal of winning the tournament in fine style as he played the tricky front 9 in a consistent 19 points. As he stood on Hole 10, he realised an inspired back 9 was required. He delivered the goods as be came home in an excellent 20 points. His only blemish on the closing 9 was a single point scored on Hole 11.

Five handicapper Terry Croker finished in second place with an impressive score of 38 points. His round would have been better but for a slight hiccup on holes 16 and 17, on which Terry produced only 2 points. However, Terry’s round was highlighted by an impressive Birdie on hole 10, for which he claimed 4 points.

Third place was claimed by Tim Roberts-Holmes (21 H’cap) with a steady performance of 36 points. Tim’s round finished in a flurry as he closed out his round with a triple 3-point score. David Harrison (13 H’cap) was in fourth place with a well crafted 34 points.

Fifth and Sixth place were decided by a countback, with Ian Paul (23 H’cap) emerging on top with 34 points with a better back 9 of 21 points. Sue Lowe (27 H’cap) narrowly missed out on fifth place with an equally impressive back 9 of 20 points.

Nearest tothe Pin went to Terry Croker  on Hole 3 with a career shot that landed just a few feet from the hole.

Prizes presented by Taba Heights Golf Resort and Marriott Rea Sea Resort and included Hotel stays and Taba Heights Golf Resort merchandise.

Farrow on Fine Form

Neil Farrow (20 H’cap) raced away with January’s edition of the Race to Taba Heights, in conjunction with the Marriott Red Sea Resort. Visiting from the UK, Farrow showed the rest of the field how the game should be played as he was crowned champion courtesy of a 5-point cushion with 41 points.

After covering the front 9 holes in a steady score of 19 points, Neil’s round sparked to life with a 4-point Birdie 4 on the long Par 5 Hole 14. Two additional 3-pointers on the 16th and 18th saw his homeward 9 accumulate an impressive 22 points.

Second, Third and Fourth places were decided on countbacks, with Frederic Meur (23 H’cap) coming out on top in second place on 36 points with a better 9. Alain Avenard (15 H’cap) managed to nudge Guy Bonnet (13 H’cap) into Fourth place thanks to a back 9 on 20 points.

Fifth place was won by Elizabeth Le Burn Meur (35 H’cap), wife to the second placed Frederic, with a well crafted score of 35 points. Her place was cemented courtesy of another back 9 countback from 6th placed and Taba Heights regular winner Tony Lowe (10 H’cap) also on 35 points. Elizabeth took the higher podium place thanks to a 22 point back 9 to Tony’s 19.

Winner of the Nearest the Pin on Hole 15 went to Tito Cattaneo with a sublime shot finishing only a few feet from the hole.


Pictured left, Second place winner Frederick Meur. Pictured center, Fifth place winner Elizabeth Meur. Pictured right, Nearest to pin winner Tito Cattano, Prizes were presented by Taba Heights Golf Resort and Marriott Rea Sea Resort and included hotel stays and golf resort branded merchandise.



Champion Cheesewright

Friday 11th December saw Taba Heights Golf Resort stage the second event in the Race to Taba Heights Series in conjunction with the Marriott Red Sea Resort.

Visiting Taba Heights from the UK, Andrew Cheesewright (16 H’cap) narrowly emerged champion with a well constructed round of 36 points. Andrew made steady progress over the front 9, reaching the turn in 19 points, and started the back 9 in fine fettle as he picked up 3 points on holes 10 and 11.Unfortunately, his form deserted him a little as failed to score any points on hole 12,. Two further 3-pointers were gained at holes 14 and 16 before a disappointing finish to his round saw single-point scores on holes 17 and 18. This was, however, sufficient to claim the prestigious title.

Rob Elliman (22 H’cap), who claimed second with 35 points, had an opposite round to Andrew’s as he stumbled to the turn in 14 points, before his round came to life as he covered the back 9 in an impressive 21 points. Third place was won by the familiar face of Tony Lowe (10 H’cap), a regular visitor to Taba Heights who admittedly didn’t perform to his expectations, but was ecstatic to be amongst the winners with 33 points

Neil Clayton (18 H’cap) was only one shot further back and finished in fourth place with 32 points, while fifth place went to Michael Hughes (14 H’cap) who scored 31 points. Sixth place was decided on a countback over the back 9 holes as Icher Yannick nudged out local favourite John (Mizuno) Ketchin (7 H’cap) courtesy of his 15 points as both players retuned scores of 29 points.

Claiming the final place on the winner’s podium was Andy Cliffe who played the shot of the day on hole 15 to win Nearest the Pin. One of the first players on the course, his sublime strike remained unbeaten by the entire field. Prizes were presented from Taba Heights Golf Resort and Marriott Rea Sea Resort Taba Heights.


Pictured right Winner Andrew Cheesewright. Pictured left, Runner up Rob Eliman.



Round of a Lifetime

Round one in the Race to Taba Heights series saw a record winning margin. Austrian golfer Sonja Weidlitsch , pictured below at left, (33 H’cap) played the round of her life, accumulating an astonishing 51 Stableford points and claiming first place by ten points, a feat that may never be reproduced. It was the golfer’s first visit to Taba Heights, and she raced to the turn in 26 points and came home in 24.The round highlight was a birdie two at the tricky par 3 third hole. Upon finishing, Sonja asked that a letter to be sent to her home club so that her handicap could be adjusted. “The lessons I have been taking have finally made a difference,” she beamed.

Second place went to J.J. Galloway (18 H’cap), a regular visitor to Taba Heights who resides in Saudi Arabia. Under normal circumstances J. J.’s 41 points would have been a winning score. He stormed the front 9 holes with 23 points but couldn’t keep his form, coming home in an even par 18 points.

Julia Newman (32 H’cap), visiting from England, finished in third place with steady score of 37 points, and fourth place went to Albin Weidlitsch (11 H’cap), husband to Sonja, who returned a score of even par 36 points. Ian Paul (25 H’cap) and Brett Chittick (16 H’cap) won fifth and sixth place, respectively. Both were visiting from Saudi Arabia for the weekend.

The final place on the winners’ podium went to Lynne Munden (pictured below at right) from England, who played the shot of the day on hole 15 to win Nearest the Pin. Lynne didn’t manage to convert the birdie two but still walked off the green with an easy par.

Prizes were presented from the Taba Heights Golf Resort and Marriott Rea Sea Resort and included Marriott hotel stays and Taba Heights Golf Resort merchandise.