Welcome to Awali Golf Club

The Oldest Golf Course in the GCC

Membership

Download the Membership Forms

for Bapco Employees or Guests and Awali Residents.

Membership of the Awali Golf Club is at the sole discretion of the Awali Golf Club Committee.

As we are a golf club, we require all membership applications to be made by a person who does actually play golf, in a reasonably serious way. However, golf competence and potential for brilliance are not relevant to your application. If applying for family membership, a partner does not need to have any particular interest in golf. A parent need not be a player if applying on behalf of a child.

Bapco Employees

As an employee of Bapco, you are entitled to membership of the Bapco Club without charge. However, Bapco Club membership does not include membership of Awali Golf Club. To become a member of AGC and play the course, you must:

  • Complete the Awali Golf Club for Bapco Employees Application form – collect this from the Bapco Club reception or collect from the AGC Clubhouse.
  • Bring a photocopy of your CPR card to the Clubhouse. Hand this to the staff and pay your subscription fees at the Clubhouse. You are now a member of AGC.
  • If you already have a handicap and plan to play in competitions, pay your competition fees to the Clubhouse staff.
  • If you wish to have a locker, advise the Clubhouse staff of this. Allocation of lockers is the responsibility of the Committee’s House Member: speak to this person to enquire about your locker status.

Other Individuals

Good news! Currently, the Club does not have a waiting list for you to become a Guest member. To become a Guest member:

  • First complete a Guest and Awali Residents Membership Application form – collect this from the Bapco Club reception or collect from the AGC Clubhouse). Hand this to the Clubhouse staff.
  • Show you do indeed want to play golf by paying and playing as a visitor as often as possible. Your visitor fees are recorded at the Clubhouse each time: these records are reviewed by the Committee on a monthly basis and determine the priority order for membership application approval.
  • Await Committee approval of your membership application. The applicable membership fees are dependent on the timing of your application:
    • If you are applying between the dates of 1st August and 31st January, you are subject to the annual fee of BD262.500 (single membership) or BD315.000 (family membership).
    • If you are applying between the dates of 1st February and 31st July, you are subject to the 6-monthly fee of BD131.250 (single membership) or BD157.500 (family membership).
    • Family membership covers a husband and wife, or one parent and one dependant child. For each additional dependant child who wishes to play the course, there is an additional charge of BD105.000 (or BD52.500 for the 6-monthly period).

    There is no other pro-rata payment scale.

  • After you are advised that your application has been approved, pay your membership fees at the Bapco Club. Your membership cards may take a couple of days to process – staff at the Bapco Club will call you to advise when they are ready for collection.
  • Bring a photocopy of your AGC membership payment receipt (issued by the Bapco Club) and a photocopy of your CPR card to the Clubhouse. Hand these to the staff, and pay your subscription fees at the Clubhouse. You are now a Guest member of AGC.
  • If you already have a handicap and plan to play in competitions, pay your competition fees to the Clubhouse staff.
  • If you wish to have a locker, advise the Clubhouse staff of this. Allocation of lockers is the responsibility of the Committee’s House Member: speak to this person to enquire about your locker status.

Employees of Other Companies

If you are an employee of a company wishing to fast-track your membership application, then offering to provide sponsorship to the Club is a good start. Please leave your contact details at the Clubhouse, asking the Captain to contact you.

Supporting the Club

Finally, as a member, you are expected to contribute to the Club’s success in a pro-active way. This means going beyond just paying your fees. Those who volunteer many, many hours of their time, enabling you to enjoy the Club, are more likely to continue to do so if you are not seen as a free-loader (especially a whingeing free-loader). See here for further details of these expectations.

Prices

Visitors

  • Green fee: BD 10.500
  • Purchase of a green fee entitles you to:
    • Access the course for the whole day (7am to dusk)
    • Use the Range (which is floodlit until 8pm) and the chipping/putting greens adjacent to the Range
    • Use the chipping/putting greens adjacent to the first tee
    • Use the facilities of the Clubhouse.
  • The green fee is payable at the Clubhouse before play and applies to all persons, no matter how many holes you intend to play or your age.
  • There is no pro-rata rate for the green fee.

Miscellaneous

  • Bucket of balls: BD0.500. Purchase of a bucket of balls entitles you to:
    • Use the Range (which is floodlit until 8pm) and the chipping/putting greens adjacent to the Range
    • Use the chipping/putting greens adjacent to the first tee
    • Use the facilities of the Clubhouse.
  • Set of clubs and a trolley – hire per day: BD5.000
    (also, you may temporarily borrow a used Astroturf mat if one is available).
  • Trolley only – hire per day: BD2.000.
  • There is no pro-rata rate for the clubs/trolley hire fees.
  • Club re-gripping: Contact Ali Musbah – Labour charge for each club: BD2.500, grip for each club: BD2.500 (you may supply your own grips).
  • Balls, gloves, tee-pegs, Astroturf mats, AGC-logo shirts etc. are for sale at the Clubhouse.

Membership of AGC – Bapco employees 

  • To play the course you must become a member of AGC (or, strangely, pay the course fee as a visitor).

  • To become a member of AGC, you must apply for (free) membership of the Bapco Club. Visit the Bapco Club reception and complete the relevant application form.
  • When you receive your Bapco Club membership card(s), take this/these the AGC Clubhouse and apply for either AGC individual or family membership.
  • Each person under the application is subject to an annual (1st August to 31st July) BD10.500 Subscription Fee (payable at the Clubhouse). There is no pro-rata rate for the Subscription Fee.
  • A Bapco employee’s membership commences after the Subscription Fee has been paid.

Membership of AGC only – Others

  • “Guest membership” (of AGC only) is available to those not employed by Bapco (there is currently no waiting list).
  • You may apply for either individual or family membership.
  • Membership prices consist of two parts: a Guest Membership Fee (payable at the Bapco Club) and, for each person under the membership, an annual (1st August to 31st July) BD10.500 Subscription Fee (payable at the Clubhouse).
  • There are four Guest Membership Fee prices:
Single Full Season (1st August to 31st July) BD 262.500
Single Half season (1st February to 31st July) BD 131.250
Family Full Season (1st August to 31st July) BD 315.000
Family Half  Season (1st February to 31st July) BD 157.500
    • Family – full season – Membership fee covers either
      • A husband and a wife, or
      • A parent and one dependent child.
      • For each additional dependant who wishes to play on the course, there is an additional fee of BD105.000
    • Family – half season – with an additional fee of BD52.500 for additional course-playing dependants.
  • There is no pro-rata rate for the Subscription Fee.
  • A Guest Member/Awali Resident’s membership commences after the Guest Membership Fee and the Subscription Fee have been paid.

Membership of the Bapco Club and AGC – Others

  • There is a strange quirk in the system: For an identical price, you may apply for membership of both AGC and the Bapco Club.
    Proceed as above (for AGC-only membership), but when you visit the Bapco Club reception, ask for guest membership of the Bapco Club and AGC. You will need to complete two separate application forms – one for each Club. The total fees are the same!

Membership pricing is set by Bapco and is documented within our Constitution.

Competition Entry

  • A player with a valid handicap who wishes to play in a formal competition is subject to an annual (1st August to 31st July) BD31.500 Competition Fee (payable at the Clubhouse). A non-handicapped player who joins the field of a Social competition does not have to pay this fee.
  • A player may only sign up for a formal competition (including match play knockouts) after paying the relevant Membership Fee, Subscription Fee and Competition Fee.
  • This does not apply to the Bahrain Open Championships, for which specific fees apply.
  • There is no pro-rata rate for the Competition Fee.
  • Social competitions: there is no annual fee for these non-formal competitions. Also, a player eligible to play in a social competition may approach the competition organiser to request a non-member guest be allowed to join in. Permission for this is at the sole discretion of the organiser, as is any nominal fee considered appropriate.
  • For a player in a formal competition, there is normally a free post-competition two course meal and beverage, courtesy of the competition’s sponsors. During the competition playing season of late September to end-April, there are typically 35 such occasions!

Lockers

  • A player who has paid the relevant Membership Fee and Subscription Fee may apply for a locker.
  • The annual (1st August to 31st July) Locker Fee is BD10.500 (payable at the Clubhouse).
  • There is no pro-rata rate for the Locker Fee.

Golf insurance

AXA Insurance offers golf insurance to members of AGC at an annual rate of BD21.000. This is below the price AXA offers if you approach them direct. The policy is for annual worldwide coverage commencing 22nd November 2021 in the event of:

  • Legal liability for third party damage
  • Accidental loss or damage to golfing equipment whilst playing or practising on a golf course, or in transit
  • Personal effects whilst playing on a golf course
  • Personal accident
  • Hole in one expense.
Apply at the Clubhouse with name/details and payment (there is no pro-rata rate). See an explanatory leaflet and the Terms & Conditions.

Sauna

  • Available free by getting out on the course in the summer (see the current Awali weather).

Summary

So, as an enthusiastic single guest member playing in competitions, you are subject to annual fees of BD315.000 (BD262.500 membership, BD10.500 subs, BD31.500 competition fee, BD10.500 locker fee), and you get:

  • Unlimited use of the course and other facilities
  • About 35 meals and drinks
  • Allocated locker

which averages out to BD9.000 per competition!
As an enthusiastic couple with family guest membership and both playing in competitions, jointly you are subject to annual fees of BD420 (BD315 membership, BD21 subs, BD63 competition fees, BD21 locker fees), and you get:

  • Unlimited use of the course and other facilities
  • About 35 meals and drinks each
  • Allocated locker each

which averages out to BD6.000 per competition for each of you!

Another way of looking at it makes the deal even more attractive: basically, join AGC as a guest member, play in weekend competitions, and you pay only for your food, with all golf and a drink thrown in free! No wonder we are a pretty happy bunch. 

Playing as a Visitor

We are very happy to welcome visiting players. Simply arrive at the Clubhouse (open from 7:00am to 7:30pm, everyday except December 25th), pay your green fees or buy a bucket of range balls and have a fun time. Green fees are only BD8.500 – surely superb value – as this gives you access to the course for the whole day (you may play any number of holes). Buckets of balls are also great value at only BD0.500. Golf clubs may be hired for BD5.000, trolleys for BD2.000.

Please note: usually, on the day of a Club competition, the:

  • course is not available to non-competitors for the whole day
  • practice facilities are only available to non-competitors after 1pm.

For play on the course, you must wear flat-soled shoes, as our greens (made of a sand/oil mix) are damaged by foot-wear with a tread that exceeds 2mm – so that means no golf-shoes with plastic spikes, jogging trainers etc. This is part of our course dress code, which visitors and members must comply with.

All players are expected not to distract other players, so be aware of those around you. A shriek from a person sinking a 30-foot putt can easily ruin the tee-shot of a player on a nearby teeing ground.

    As a player, YOU are responsible to rake any mark that you, your ball or your equipment makes in a bunker. Use the rake provided (not your foot), so that you can say to yourself “I’ve left the bunker in a near-perfect condition ready for the next poor soul to suffer”.

    Whilst playing, you may be on the course at the same time as more experienced players. You should have a good pace of play and allow a faster group to play-through if they indicate a desire to do so. We expect a 3-ball group to complete 18 holes in no more than 4 hours.

    Our greens (that is, “browns”) are routinely re-laid each week. This means that each week on one morning the front nine will not be available, and similarly the back nine the next day. You may choose to contact the Clubhouse (1775-6770) to enquire about any such hole-closures prior to your arrival to play 18-holes.

    Being a desert course with greens of oiled sand, we are especially at the mercy of the elements with regard to rain. Heavy rain causes the sand of the greens to stick to the ball, making putting near impossible. So if there has been rain recently, it is a good idea to call the Clubhouse before your arrival, to check on the state of the course.

    Also, our dress code applies both to the course and the Clubhouse. Part of the Clubhouse dress code is “No hats” – you are expected to buy a round of drinks for everyone present if you break this rule. Cheers!

    Other FAQs

    Why should I play golf and join Awali Golf Club ?

    Golf may be regarded as intrinsically daft: it is just hitting a ball with a stick. However, the answer to this question is: “Because of the social reputation our Club has”.

    By joining in our non-handicapper events, social events, and (after gaining a handicap index) our weekend competitions, you are likely to meet in excess of 200 others, all in a friendly environment where personal status is not relevant. The 19th hole – our Clubhouse and its associated terrace – is the primary venue where our reputation comes to the fore.

    Golf is the excuse to achieve this widening of contacts. Hopefully, this will lead to further enjoyable times with those you meet at Awali, but outside of our course or Clubhouse. And when retirement beckons, you can spend your children’s inheritance by travelling the world, using golf as the basis to seek out the most scenic destinations.

    AGC’s stunningly good value-for-money is the final icing on the cake.

    Why am I so useless at golf ?

    Because you lack the necessary ability. It’s just part of life. Or perhaps you need more practice.

    Where is Awali Golf Club ?

    We are located in central Bahrain, just east of the Riffa Views development.

    • Follow signs for Riffa Views and continue south past the Royal Golf Club on your left.
    • At the Bahrain Waste Recycling/incinerator roundabout, take the 4th exit (that’s the one before making a U-Turn back to Riffa Views). This road has a “no-exit” sign etc.
    • Proceed down this road about 1km and there we are on the right.

    For a detailed map of our location, see the Contacts/Find us page. See the Google map route to Awali Golf Club from:

    When is Awali Golf Club open ?

    The Club is open from 7:00am until 7:30pm, every day except December 25th, for both Club members and visitors.

    Members may use the course during daylight hours: please be aware that course fixtures (flag-posts and water-butts, green-sweepers etc.) are not likely to be available before 7:00am. The course is not floodlit.

    Buckets of balls may be purchased up to 7:30pm – the Range floodlights are switched on at dusk and switched off at 8:00pm.

    On the day of a Club competition, non-competitors are not entitled to use the course or practice facilities. However, you may be able to access these facilities – contact the Club before your arrival to not be disappointed.

    Unless an official Club function is in progress, the Clubhouse operating times, shown below, must be strictly adhered to:

    Opening time: 7:00am
    Bar last orders: 7:15pm
    Bar close: 7:30pm
    Premises to be vacated: 8:00pm

    Membership or other privileges may be suspended should a person not comply with these timings.

      I'm not a member ... how do I play a round of golf at Awali Golf Club ?

      We are very happy to welcome visiting players. Simply arrive at the Clubhouse (opening hours 7am to 7:30pm, everyday except December 25th), pay your green fees (of only BD10) and have a fun time. Green fees allow you to access the course for the whole day: there is no limit on the number of holes you may play.

      You do not need a handicap index – however, if you are not that familiar with the golfing etiquette, you should look at the Playing as a visitor page as well.

      Also, please note that the course and practice facilities are not usually available to non-competitors on the day of a competition.

      In addition, it is important that you wear flat-soled shoes, as our greens are damaged by footwear with a tread that exceeds 2mm – so that means no golf-shoes with plastic spikes, jogging trainers etc.

        I'm not a member ... can I use the practice facilities at Awali Golf Club ?

        Our practice facilities consist of the Range with adjacent practice chipping and putting greens, and practice bunker. Also, there are practice chipping and putting greens adjacent to the first tee.

        You may use any of these facilities provided you have purchased at least one bucket of balls at the Clubhouse (only BD0.500).

          I'm not a member ... can I use the facilities of the Clubhouse at Awali Golf Club ?

          Only if you have purchased green fees (BD10) or at least one bucket of balls for use on the practice facilities. The Clubhouse is a facility for post-golf relaxation, so it’s no surprise that we don’t welcome non-member smart-alecs who request a bucket of balls in the dark 5 minutes before closing time.

            I'm not a member ... how do I become a member ?

            For Bapco employees:
            Collect a Bapco Employee/Awali Resident application form from the Clubhouse or Bapco Club reception at Awali village. Complete this and hand it to the staff at the Clubhouse, together with your BD10 subscription fee.

            For Awali residents (not Bapco employees):
            Collect a Bapco Employee/Awali Resident application form from the Clubhouse or Bapco Club reception at Awali village. Complete this and hand it to the staff at the Clubhouse. When Bapco call you to advise that your membership has been approved, pay your membership fee at the Bapco Club. After you collect your AGC membership cards, pay your BD10 subscription fee at the Clubhouse.

            For Others:
            Collect a Guest Membership application form from the Clubhouse or Bapco Club reception at Awali village. Complete this and hand it to the staff at the Clubhouse. Then you need to play the course as a visitor as often as possible, whereupon your green fees are recorded. These are subsequently reviewed by the Committee to determine priority. When Bapco call you to advise that your membership has been approved, pay your membership fee at the Bapco Club. After you collect your AGC membership cards, pay your BD10 subscription fee at the Clubhouse.

            For more details, see Membership.

              I'm a member ... can some non-playing friends accompany me in the Clubhouse ?

              Yes. The member is required to pay BD1.000 for each non-playing Guest, and the member remains responsible for the Guest at all times. Guests may not remain at the Club after the responsible member has left.

                I'm a member ... what do I need to do to get an initial WHS Handicap Index at Awali Golf Club ?

                From November 2020, we follow the guidelines of the World Handicap System for the allotment of an initial handicap index (we used CONGU before November 2020). Handicap Index allotment is at the sole discretion of the Handicaps & Competitions Committee.

                • You may play 18-hole or 9-hole rounds for initial handicapping purposes.
                • You must play the whole course three times: if you choose to play 9-hole rounds, you must play an equal number of rounds for the front and back nines.
                • There is no need to complete two 9-hole rounds on the same day.
                • You must be accompanied by a handicapped member of the Club (who is expected to ensure you follow the R&A Rules of Golf and our Local Rules).
                • You should hole-out on all holes (no “pick-ups”).
                • On your card, write “For handicap” in the “Competition” space, your name in the “Player A” space and gross scores in the “Score A” column, and the date, time out and time in. Sign in the “Sign Player(s)” space and ask the handicapped member to sign in the “Sign Marker” space.
                • Post your completed cards in the Clubhouse office door posting box.
                • Your gross score for 18 holes should be close to 97/110 for gents/ladies. However, when you are getting close to this, do submit as many cards as possible as this gives a good indication of your progress to the Handicaps & Competitions Committee.
                • Keep your own record of the gross score and date of the cards that you have posted.
                • If you have already submitted cards averaging about 97/110, you may contact the Tournament Director of a Friday competition, and ask to be added to the field as a “marker” with the view to gaining that last, elusive third card for your handicap index.
                  I'm a non-handicapper ... which events can I take part in ?

                  Members of AGC can, and are encouraged to, join in with:

                  • Any monthly Non-handicappers competition. This is intended to help you progress from the Range to the daunting prospect of playing the course with others. See here for further details.
                    I'm not very good ... do you provide professional tuition ?

                    Currently, no.

                      It's a sand & rock course ... how do I protect my precious golf clubs ?

                      You may purchase a round mat at the Clubhouse (BD4.500 if rubber backed, BD3.000 if not) – and use this to play off. These mats are about 12″ in diameter. When playing in a competition, our Local Rules define the way in which the mat may be used. Also, in a competition, the mat you use must be “Committee Approved” – so beware if you are using a mat purchased elsewhere.

                        What equipment is available for hire at Awali Golf Club ?

                        Clubs may be hired for BD5.000, and trolleys for BD2.000 (no, we have no motorised buggies). A small selection of balls, tee-pegs, gloves and souvenir golf-shirts are also available for purchase at the Clubhouse.

                          What's the dress code for playing the course ?

                          Most importantly, flat-soled shoes to protect the greens. Then … you are expected to look as though you are a golfer, appearing reasonably smart. This must include a collared shirt. So that means no jeans, and no attire that is intended for or mimics others sports. The full dress code is here.

                            What's the dress code in the Clubhouse ?

                            Firstly, no hats – if you break this rule, you are expected to buy a round of drinks for everyone present in the Clubhouse at the time. Attire that meets the course dress code is acceptable. If you have not been playing or practicing, then our dress code is summarised as “casual, but not scruffy”. The full dress code is here.

                              What should I do in a medical emergency whilst playing the course ?

                              If you consider the emergency requires an ambulance:
                              Call 999 and then also call the Clubhouse on 1775-6770. Advise the Clubhouse staff of your location and emergency and that you have called an ambulance. Request that one of the staff wait in the car park for the ambulance’s arrival, so as to direct the ambulance to your location on the course.

                              If you consider the emergency does not require an ambulance:

                              Call the Clubhouse on 1775-6770, describing your location and emergency. The staff will dispatch a Club vehicle as soon as possible.
                                What about payments ... international currency and exchange rates ?

                                Bahrain’s currency is the Bahraini Dinar, subdivided into 1000 fils. Payments at the Clubhouse may be made as follows:

                                • Cash – Bahraini Dinars
                                • Cash – Saudi Riyals (10 Saudi Riyals = 1 Bahrain Dinar)
                                • Cash – Qatari Riyals (10 Qatari Riyals = 1 Bahrain Dinar)
                                • Cash – UAE Dihrams (10 UAE Dihrams = 1 Bahrain Dinar)
                                • Credit/debit card.

                                Payment of Awali Golf Club membership subscriptions at the Bapco Club may be made by credit/debit card or by cheque drawn on a Bahraini bank. if paying by cheque, don’t write your cheque in advance – do this at the Bapco Club under the guidance of the Receptionist, as two cheques may be needed.

                                Exchange rates (for comparison purposes) are:

                                • 1 Bahraini Dinar = 2.65 US Dollars (fixed)
                                • 1 Bahraini Dinar = 2.0 UK Sterling £ (variable)
                                • 1 Bahraini Dinar = 2.1 Euro € (variable).
                                  Photographs on the website ... how can I download and save them ?
                                  • Click on the “News” link towards the top-right of the home page. For every news article that has an associated gallery of photos, the last line of the article has a link “See all photos in the gallery”. Click this to display a page of thumbnails. Click on your chosen thumbnail, wait for the big picture to load, then right-click and choose “Save Image As”.
                                  • Alternatively, to choose any event (all the way back to the 2002/03 season), go via the menu item Galleries -> All event galleries. Choose the season that you want, and click on the date to get the gallery of thumbnails.
                                       Also, you may download the whole gallery in one go: click on the down-arrow button (to the left of the date).

                                  The photos on the website are suitable to print up to a size of about 20cm, whereas the original quality photos are suitable to print up to at least 50cm wide. These original photos are available to any person who stars in them. However, they are stored at the Clubhouse (they are not available through the website). Should you wish to obtain the original, please contact our photographer via email (his email address is found via Contacts/Maps ->Contacts/Find us). When arrangements are made to meet at the Clubhouse, ensure you bring along a memory-stick to take your photo(s) away. This service is free. However, Members get a 10% discount.

                                    Photographs on the website ... how can I find/download the ones starring me ?

                                    You can search for any photo in which you or someone else stars most easily by using the customised search facility within the website: click on the person search icon on the homepage, or choose Galleries -> Search for person in photo from the menu. Here is the person-search page. For each photo that matches your search, there is a download button next to the thumbnail image.

                                      I don't know Stableford scoring - will you do it for me ?

                                      No. Jolly well get on and learn it yourself, just like the rest of us: then you may be able to shake off the dim-witted reputation you have whilst you ask me to do your legwork … you may see how the Stableford works here.

                                      Why has my handicap increased when I expected it to stay the same ?

                                      Like everyone else, AGC uses the World Handicap System. See here. When you have played 20 or more qualifying rounds, your Handicap Index is calculated using the average of your best 8 scores from the last 20 (if you have less than 20 rounds, there is a sliding scale – see Handicapping Rule 5.2a).

                                      Example: you have played 20 rounds. Your best score was the first round. You now play another round – your 21st – and have a shocking score. What happens? Your best score is no longer in the last-20 rounds rolling window, and your Handicap Index increases.

                                      What's an "Awali half" ?

                                      Very nearly two-thirds.

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