Five Iron Golf Dubai: Revolutionising indoor golf and entertainment - an interview with franchisee David Zabinsky

Dubai: Imagine a place where the thrill of golf simulators meets the vibrant energy of a lively social gathering, a space where you can perfect your swing, savour delicious meals, and share laughter with friends. That's Five Iron Golf Dubai, the largest of its kind in the world, and a rising star in Dubai’s entertainment scene. For those who love golf, or even those who’ve never held a club, this is a unique experience.

And, good news for Korean expatriates in Dubai, Five Iron Golf Dubai’s offerings include a curated soju menu! 

We sat down with David Zabinsky, one of the owners, heading the Dubai franchise, to uncover what makes this venue a must-visit destination for golf lovers and aspiring golfers.

Q1: Could you elaborate on the concept and offerings of Five Iron Golf Dubai?

“Five Iron Golf Dubai is It is the biggest one of 31 five irons around the world. We have a 32,000 square foot facility where we boast 17 Trackman golf simulators, four bars, a gym, locker rooms with saunas, a nine-hole mini golf course, and a whole lot more.

“We opened just last September, and have recently celebrated our half year birthday at five iron Dubai.

“Across the world, we have over 25 Five Irons in the US from New York City to Seattle and everywhere in between, two in Melbourne, Australia, one in Singapore, and one in India.”

Q2: What strategic factors led to the decision to establish Five Iron Golf in Dubai?

“Well, there are two very big trends in Dubai. One, naturally, is the growth of the game of golf, and you've got this second factor to Dubai life in that for six months a year, it's, for lack of a better word, insufferable to golf outside. So, with how fast the game of golf is growing in the Middle East as well as the weather conditions over the summer and even late spring and early fall, we thought an indoor golf club would certainly behoove, the Middle East.”

Q3: What range of skill levels does Five Iron Golf Dubai cater to?

“Our motto is five iron is for everyone. In fact, you are talking to a non-golfer. I don't golf. And, we built Five Iron for everyone, including people who, just like me, may not understand the game, and have never played before.

You can even come into Five Iron in a t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops and play on our simulators.

“And, then again, for the more experienced golfer, be it a hobbyist or be it a decorated pro, our technology from Trackman is the industry leader. PGA and LIV tour professionals use the technology in their training and even in their warm ups. It is the preferred choice of technology from the serious golfer even to the to the non-golfer.”

Q4: Beyond golf, what additional entertainment options are available at Five Iron Golf Dubai?

“Seven of our 17 simulators boast what we call multi-sport technology. So, you can play virtual penalty shootouts against a virtual goalie on a football pitch. You can play virtual dodgeball against zombies, which is a favorite amongst some of our younger guests, virtual bowling, frisbee golf, virtual basketball, you name it. We also have a pool table right here, augmented reality darts, and shuffleboard.

“And, for the American in me, we have a beer pong table for those that are coming to perhaps do a bit more than play.”

Q5: Does Five Iron Golf Dubai welcome families with kdis?

“Absolutely. Kids are welcome at any time at Five Iron, preferably, uh, during the evening hours with a parent or guardian. But we host with, uh, open arms kids birthday parties all the time. It's a wonderful space, not to mention our outdoor terrace with a nine-hole mini golf course, which kids, be they tourists visiting Dubai for the first time or even residents, enjoy.”

Q6: Given the popularity of indoor golf in Korean culture, has Five Iron Golf Dubai attracted Korean clientele?

“Yeah. So indeed, we we've welcomed with open arms yet again, uh, many Korean residents and Korean tourists, uh, in Dubai. There are several indoor golf venues in the UAE, uh, many of whom have incredible offerings. I think what makes five iron really unique, uh, and quite distinct from the other indoor golf venues is we have a food and liquor license. So, all of our food is cooked deliciously in house.

“We also have a soju menu, which many of our Korean customers love, in addition to sake and really fine wines and beers on tap.”

Q7: What are the pricing options for playing golf at Five Iron Golf Dubai?

“That's another beauty of five iron, it's very affordable.

“A green grass round at any of the outdoor traditional golf clubs can cost between AED 800 and upwards of AED 3,000 per round. At Five Iron Golf Dubai, you can play for one hour on our simulator for as low as 149 dirhams. And that's per hour, not per person. Every simulator fits up to six people.

“So, six people playing for an hour for 149 dirhams total is a very affordable entryway to the game of golf.

“We also offer a membership program. At AED 899 per month, you get ninety minutes of free TrackMan simulator time every day guaranteed, 20% off food, drink, and lessons, and access to our gym, our locker room, and our members’ lounge. So, in short, for around a third or even a fourth of the cost of one round of golf on a green grass course, you can get a month of golf at Five Iron.”

Q8: Are there training programs available for children?

“Yes. Olivia Jackson is our head of instruction who is wonderful with kids. We actually just hosted a kids camp this week. If you were here between the hours of eight and ten in the morning, you would have seen up to 21 younger students all under the age of 15. Um, and we're also working now very closely with many of Dubai's finest schools to encourage young students to learn the game of golf here at Five Iron.”

Q9: What is the long-term vision for Five Iron Golf, both in Dubai and the wider region?

“Our vision is to really be an incubator for golfers. You can walk into Five Iron never having had had a club in your hands and in two months be a golfer ready to take on the green grass course. So, that's really our vision is to grow the game of golf and to turn non-golfers into golfers. But, perhaps more excitingly, our vision for Five Iron as a business, we think there is room for up to six Five Irons in The UAE alone.

“And, because there are many of the same, what we call, tail winds in other parts of the GCC like in the UAE, those two tail winds being very warm weather and an explosion in the game of golf in the likes of Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, we certainly aspire to set up five irons throughout the rest of the GCC as well.”

-         Written by Evangeline Elsa