Greg Holmes, a seasoned professional in the UAE golf sector, has emphasized the importance of educating aspiring golfers after his appointment as CEO of the Emirates PGA. Khaleej Times sat down with the 51-year-old, originally from South Wales, who relocated to Zambia in his youth and first arrived in Dubai in 1986. Greg recounted, “My father was engaged in constructing power stations, which led our family to move to Dubai. My older brother Julian, a distinguished sportsman who also went pro, was a significant influence in my life.” They became members of the Emirates Golf Club, and Greg turned pro in 1992. He then moved to London in 1992 to complete his apprenticeship and earn his PGA qualifications. Greg participated in the Asian Tour Qualifying School and various mini-tour and regional events across Asia. In 1999, he took a position at Doha Golf Club in Qatar until 2007, after which he returned to Dubai to work in retail. Greg served as the UAE National Coach for the Emirates Golf Federation from 2014 to 2017 and later established a business in golf simulator technology, becoming the UAE distributor for Foresight. Currently, he is a director at Aguila Performance, specializing in golf simulator solutions, performance development, and corporate services. As a PGA-qualified professional through the British PGA, Greg was recently named CEO of Emirates PGA, aligned with the EGF. “My new role involves establishing a framework for UAE golf professionals, who now number over 150,” he explained to Khaleej Times. “We are refining our vision and plans in alignment with the EGF, aiming to increase the Emirates PGA’s involvement in the sport’s growth in the UAE.” Greg stressed the need for a robust Emirates PGA calendar to highlight the skills of UAE golf professionals and enhance the Emirates PGA’s role. “We aim to encourage the development path for golfers and unite all stakeholders and interested parties. We are eager to register all UAE pros with the Emirates PGA and foster a network of like-minded individuals through mutually beneficial partnerships,” he continued. “Our future plans include educational initiatives for aspiring golfers to enter the profession. We also believe the Emirates PGA can improve the golf club structure and contribute to the overall UAE golf industry.” Greg plans to collaborate with the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland and will announce their finalized plans and business model to both UAE pros and the public.