After more than three decades behind the scenes, Ganesh Mangathil is calling time on a remarkable career at Emirates Golf Club, closing the book on 32 years of service that helped shape professional golf in the region.
Ganesh Mangathil
Mangathil joined Emirates Golf Club in 1994 and went on to work at 27 editions of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, becoming a constant presence as the tournament which has grown into one of the DP World Tour’s flagship Rolex Series events and now known as the “Major of the Middle East”. His role evolved over the years, beginning in the in-house publishing department before expanding into finance, training, health and safety, security and environment, and overseeing operations across clubs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Earlier this week, Mangathil’s contribution was recognised in fitting fashion. As a surprise moment, he met World Number Two Rory McIlroy, who personally congratulated him on his service to Emirates Golf Club and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. It was a full-circle moment for Mangathil, who first knew McIlroy when the Northern Irishman was just a teenager.
“This golf club gave me everything for 32 years,” Mangathil said. “I’ve known Rory from when he was 14 or 15 years of age. He is an amazing person in golf. And now that I am in retirement, I can spend more time watching the golf!”
His tournament résumé extends far beyond Dubai. Mangathil worked at 14 Dubai Moonlight Classics between 2006 and 2021, the Indian Masters in Delhi, the Indian Ladies Masters in Bangalore, more than 50 MENA Tour events across the GCC, Morocco and Thailand, and two Asia-Pacific Amateur Championships staged in partnership with Augusta National Golf Club. He also played a key role in delivering more than 1,000 corporate golf days.
Among his favourite Hero Dubai Desert Classic memories are Tiger Woods’ iconic 2004 shot from the Burj Al Arab helipad, captured by David Cannon, the tournament’s 25th edition in 2014 which featured a one-million-dollar hole-in-one prize on the par-four 17th, and most recently when he received a special Dallah trophy from McIlroy himself.
As retirement begins, Mangathil is looking forward to spending more time with his wife and children in Dubai, leaving behind a legacy that runs deep through Emirates Golf Club and the history of tournament golf in the Middle East.
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