Golf club in Abu Dhabi will be transformed into massive sports hub for adventure-seekers

Revamped Al Ghazal Golf Club will feature paintball, a skate board park, cycling and jogging tracks along with the heritage sand golf course

The sand golf course will remain at the heart of the redevelopment. Christopher Pike / The National

A transformed Al Ghazal Golf Club is set to make its debut as a sport and adventure complex later this summer. 
That's according to owner Abu Dhabi Airports, who said on Tuesday that work is advancing at the club. 
As The National reported in January, the city's only sand golf course is set for an exciting future under new operators, TU Management. 
The property, close to the airport, is currently undergoing refurbishment works on the 18-hole golf course, sports centre and food outlets. 
It will ultimately feature a paintball park, wall climbing, skate boarding, tennis courts, sand boarding, a shooting range, football pitch and gym and spa. It will also offer a cycling and jogging track.
It's expected people will get their first glimpse of the revamped club by mid-summer, while most of these activities will be available by the end of year, with a zip line expected to open next year. 
A number of weeks ago, a new Brazilian restaurant at the club welcomed its first customers, while an Irish bar has opened in time for the World Cup.
Saoud Al Shamsi, acting chief commercial officer at Abu Dhabi Airports, said the revitalised club is aimed at sport lovers and adventure seekers. 
"This renovation project has been designed to create a wider golf club membership that ultimately establishes a big and prominent Al Ghazal community," he said. 
 "Al Ghazal Golf Club and Sports Resort will be a leader of innovation, hospitality and quality by the end of 2018."
The move will also further reassure members of the dwindling but committed sand golf community here. The course closed last year and the future for the game looked uncertain. 
But the new management confirmed in January that there are no plans to convert the course to green and it's hoped to attract new players to the unique game.
"It will stay sand but there will be more landscaping. There is a long history here," said Justin Dong-Jae Lee, the chief executive of TU at the time.
Al Ghazal was established in 1997 by members of Abu Dhabi City Club when that course decided to convert to grass. Parts of the ground are an important archaeological site.

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