I could spend this time writing about custom clothing and premium fabrics, but let’s be honest—do you really want to read that? Instead, let me take you on a journey through the past five years of my life.
Some of you may enjoy hearing about my travels, others about my passion for golf, and perhaps a few will see how my experience working as a distributor for brands like Titleist, Ping, and Peter Millar naturally led me to sidestep into custom distribution here in the UK. Whatever your interest, I promise there won’t be any shop talk.
The Move That Changed Everything
On July 21, 2019, I boarded an Emirates flight from Glasgow to Dubai. It was my wife’s 30th birthday that day, though I wouldn’t meet her until a month later. I didn’t bring my golf clubs with me—I was burned out from years of working as a PGA professional and needed a break from the game.
Instead, I went with a different mission: work hard and make the most of every opportunity.
A month later, I met my wife at Asia Asia in Pier 7, a must-see spot in Dubai Marina for newcomers to the city. By then, I’d settled into Dubai life, and while golf wasn’t on my radar, I found myself investing in a new set of Titleist clubs— I’m back and forward between my Ping or Titleist driver.
What happened next? I started playing on some of the world’s most pristine courses. Dubai Creek Golf Club became a firm favourite, and is always my first recommendation to friends and family, it sits on the edge of Deira the old part of Dubai, it blends high end luxury with Traditional History, and the course is stunning.
A Wedding Day Tee Time
In August 2020, right in the middle of a global lockdown, my wife and I eloped at Dubai’s Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf—arguably the city’s finest hotel. But before we said “I do,” I had one last tee time. Emirates Golf Club’s 8th hole, with its view over the Marina skyline, will forever remain etched in my memory as the perfect setting for a wedding day morning round.
What makes Emirates Golf Club so special is its history. It was built long before Dubai’s iconic skyline rose around it, and its 8th hole offers an unforgettable view of the towering skyscrapers that have since become the backdrop of the course.
A Move to Abu Dhabi: Golf Heaven
After three years in Dubai, I relocated to Abu Dhabi and settled on Yas Island. If you love golf, Abu Dhabi has a lot to offer.
• Yas Links: A course originally rumoured to have been designed as a private golf club, offers stunning views of the Arabian Gulf, my favourite club house and a Sri Lankan Curry that I would put in the top 10 things best things I have ate in UAE.
• Saadiyat Beach Golf Club: Play here and you are surrounded by nature, Onyx roam everywhere freely, and the natural beach is home to resident dolphins and sea-turtles.
• Yas Acers: Night golf under the stars in warm evening air is an experience like no other, this quieter club is a big hit with expats due to it’s accessibility, really good pizzas too.
Finding My Path
It was during my time in the UAE, working closely with brands like Titleist, Ping, and Peter Millar, that I realized my true passion for distribution. I saw firsthand how quality products could elevate a brand and create a loyal following.
That experience naturally led me to Fourteen Twenty One, where I could help other businesses tell their stories with bespoke apparel and accessories. While golf remains close to my heart, today I’m proud to serve a range of clients—from sports clubs to distilleries and hotels—by providing high-quality, private-label solutions. I left with my wife, daughter and I new business.
Author -Laura, as Paul is far too private to share this story
