The people and celebrities you meet in this line of work are really astonishing at times, and this one was no different, as I was given the chance to be sent back to my childhood and interview one of Ireland’s biggest pop stars, Ronan Keating.
I had the opportunity to chat with him over the space of two weeks of golf in Dubai—firstly at the Dubai Invitational pro-am, then the following week at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic pro-am at Emirates Golf Club.
I introduced myself and asked if I could film him teeing off the first hole at the Creek. “I’m Ronan, good to meet ya buddy. Of course you can,” he said with a grin. But his opening drive barely made it over the hazard, as he turned back laughing, telling me to delete the footage. As he waited while his playing partners teed off, a short chat followed about him growing up in Dublin and where his love for golf came from — and then I figured it was best to let him focus on his game.
The following week at Emirates Golf Club, I got the chance to dive a little deeper into his love of golf. Ronan greeted me warmly on the first tee. “Now, no filming me teeing off again!” he laughed. I laughed as he sent his drive straight down the fairway. And just like that, we were off!
Having risen to fame with Boyzone and launching a solo career in 2000, Ronan is a familiar face on radio, television, and stages around the world—but here he was in Dubai, navigating a fairway instead of a performing on a stage playing to 100,000 screaming fans.
Growing up in Dublin, golf wasn’t exactly top of the charts for Ronan. “We just played GAA football and hurling,” he recalls. “It was my brothers that got me into it. They emigrated to New York and part-time they caddied in upstate at Wykagyl Country Club. They were actually the ones that brought the game back.”
“Then when I was about 12, 13 I went out with them and started hitting golf balls… I’ve never looked back since. I’m totally addicted now.
Having made Dubai a base for his family three years-ago now, he’s become very much a connoisseur of UAE golf courses, being a regular player at Dubai Creek, Emirates Golf Club, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Yas Links, and Saadiyat Beach. “I sometimes even get down to Tommy Fleetwood’s academies, too. It’s like being a kid in a candy store over here.
“I can drop the kids off at school and then come out and play with amazing pros. Last week I was with Jayden Schaper, this week Dustin Johnson. It’s been a phenomenal two weeks.”
Harry Grimshaw
The nine handicapper even makes sure to still take his sticks with him around the globe, whether it be performing, presenting or touring.
“I travel with my golf bag everywhere, even if it’s only a day in the city. It clears the head. It’s a great way to switch off.
“Then the other good side of golf is you’re “stuck” with someone for four or five hours on a golf course, and some of the best deals I’ve ever done have happened out here!”
Having played in some of the world’s most prestigious pro-ams, including the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland for the past 15 years, he still enjoys the simple rounds with wife, Storm. “We’ll go on holiday with our golf clubs and just play golf together. Time well spent, you know?”
Ronan and Storm are so hooked on golf they have become PXG ambassadors, and the pair are even frequent visitors to eGolf Megastore branch in Al Quoz, Dubai, “Storm and I have been PXG ambassadors for the last 5 years now, so eGolf Megastore sets us up with our new clubs through PXG.
“They have a great setup down there though, a great fitting facility with Trackman and all the bells and whistles. I make sure to buy some clothes when I’m there as well, I’m a sucker for some golf gear!”
As my time with Ronan was coming to an end, I couldn’t not ask a proud, golf-obsessed, Irishman about the upcoming Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in 2027, as his face lit up once again. “Oh, you know it! I’ll even be there as a punter behind the ropes if I have to be. J.P. McManus’ Adare Manor is one of the finest golf, hotel and luxury setups you’ll find anywhere in the world.
“I was actually at the Ryder Cup in 2006 at the K Club and sang for the European Team in the locker room. Then Tom Lehman dragged me into the American Team room, and I ended up on a pool table singing in front of Tiger Woods. It was pretty special that man. It was rocking.”
Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media
Main Image: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images