After leading agronomy teams at Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, Craig Haldane has rejoined the Viya group as golf course superintendent at Jumeirah Golf Estates, taking charge of the Earth and Fire courses. He talks about championship preparation, building teams and why sustainability starts with precision.
You have recently taken on the role of golf course superintendent at Jumeirah Golf Estates, marking a return to the Viya group following your previous leadership across Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. What attracted you back to the group and how do you see your role evolving across the Earth and Fire courses?
I have a long history in the Middle East dating back to 2001, with my journey with Viya beginning in 2006. My career has exposed me to a wide range of challenges and learning experiences, which I believe have helped shape me into a more rounded leader.
On a personal level, my family has grown up around these facilities, and the opportunity to return has rekindled our love for the region and has provided an opportunity for the children to return and experience the region again as young adults.
Professionally, my relationship with Viya has always remained strong. Coming back to a business where the standards, culture and work ethic align closely with my own made the transition feel very natural. It also gave me confidence that I could integrate quickly and build on the excellent work delivered by my predecessor over the past four years.
My focus is to continue elevating the overall experience at Jumeirah Golf Estates, ensuring that regardless of whether you are playing Earth or Fire, the quality and consistency of the surfaces are of the highest standard. At the same time, it’s important that each course retains its own identity. I’m also looking forward to working closely with the wider agronomy teams across the group – we’re in a unique position to learn from one another and share best practices.
Jumeirah Golf Estates is recognised globally, particularly through the DP World Tour Championship. How do you approach maintaining championship level conditions while ensuring year-round playability for members and guests?
The DP World Tour Championship is a very important week – not just for Jumeirah Golf Estates, but for Dubai and the UAE. It brings a unique level of focus and expectation, and delivering it successfully is very much a collective effort across the wider Viya group and our partners.
From an agronomic perspective, it’s a privilege to prepare for an event of that stature. Our responsibility to the membership remains constant throughout the year. Our priority is to provide exceptional playing conditions week in, week out, not just for one event.
There is always a balance to be struck. Members understand that certain essential maintenance practices are required at key times of the year, but with clear communication and careful planning, we aim to minimise disruption as much as possible. If the foundations are right daily, then preparing for championship conditions becomes a process of refinement rather than change.
Having worked across the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia, how have these diverse environments shaped your agronomic philosophy and how is that reflected in your approach in Dubai?
Working across various regions in the world has provided a wide range of learning opportunities. Agronomically, it has required adapting to very different climates, soils and expectations. Just as importantly, it has meant working within a variety of cultures, each with its own way of operating.
That exposure has been invaluable. Whether it’s a high-end resort environment, a private members’ club, or an emerging golf market, each experience has helped shape how I approach both the technical and human side of the role.
It has reinforced the importance of adaptability, clear thinking and understanding your environment. Those principles are very much at the core of how I approach my work in Dubai.
You have held senior roles across a number of high profile destinations, combining operational leadership with team development. How do you approach building and nurturing high-performing teams within a venue like Jumeirah Golf Estates?
Early in my career, I was fortunate to work with and learn from leaders who invested time in developing people. I was always keen to learn and ask questions, and that’s something I actively encourage within my own team.
At a facility like Jumeirah Golf Estates, the scale and expectation mean that success is entirely dependent on having the right people in the right roles. For me, that starts with empowerment – giving individuals the trust, support and clarity they need to take ownership of their areas.
By setting a clear direction and sharing experience where it can add value, the aim is to create an environment where people can grow and develop. If we can do that well, we not only strengthen the team here at Jumeirah Golf Estates, but also contribute to developing future talent across the wider group.
The Earth and Fire courses each present distinct design characteristics and playing styles. How do you plan to tailor your agronomic strategy to ensure both courses deliver a consistent yet differentiated experience?
We are fortunate to have two exceptional courses, each offering a very different experience.
Earth has a strong visual identity, with its white sand, red mulch and a more mature, parkland-style finish. It naturally lends itself to a championship presentation.
Fire, by contrast, has a more natural, links-inspired feel, where strategy and shot selection are more visible from the tee.
Our focus is to ensure consistency in performance across both courses – firmness, trueness, and overall surface quality – while allowing each course to retain its individual character. On Fire, for example, we will look to encourage firmer, more running conditions that enhance its intended style of play, while Earth will continue to reflect the demands of a championship venue.
Sustainability and resource management continue to be key topics in the region. How are you approaching water use, turf selection and long-term environmental strategy across the property?
Sustainability is something we are very focused on, both as a department and across the wider group. All our facilities are GEO certified, and there is a clear commitment to using resources responsibly – particularly water.
We monitor volumetric water content daily and align our irrigation practices to defined target ranges, ensuring we are applying water precisely where and when it is needed.
We also work closely with government authorities to ensure our practices align with UAE environmental initiatives and regulations.
From a turf perspective, species selection is tailored to suit the environment, and the use of TSE [treated sewage effluent] as our primary water source allows us to reuse a valuable resource from within the community. The long-term focus is always on maintaining healthy, resilient turf while reducing inputs wherever possible.
Looking ahead, what are your key priorities for the next 12 to 24 months at the club, both in terms of course conditioning and positioning the venue within the global golf landscape?
My immediate priority is to understand the operation in detail – learning from the team on the ground, while sharing my own experience where it can add value. I hope to bring a positive energy to what is already a very strong and capable team.
Education and development are also important to me. Creating opportunities for the team to grow and progress within the group will be a key focus.
From a course perspective, it’s about refining consistency – presenting firm, true and reliable playing surfaces throughout the year. Alongside that, we will continue to develop a longer-term strategy around capital investment, ensuring resources are directed into the areas that will have the greatest impact.
Jumeirah Golf Estates is already a standout venue. My role is to help build on that and ensure it continues to be recognised as one of the leading golf destinations globally.
