As readers may be aware, rather than just my annual awards I have introduced monthly awards under the banner – ‘Bernie’s Monthly Medal Winners’.

Hereunder is the good, bad and ugly of February, 2013.

BEST GOLF TOURNAMENT – Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

The Omega Dubai Desert Classic has certainly raised the bar in the Middle East in recent years and all thanks to Adrian Flaherty and his Golf In Dubai Team.

The tournament boasts a dedicated press room and well managed by Viren Varma.

There is a regular shuttle service from hotels to drop you right out in front of the Media Centre that is located close to the practice range.

The food is superb and the staff working in the Media Centre very friendly.

If there is one downturn it’s not being able to observe play from the back of the 18th green but we believe Adrian is addressing that issue ahead of the 25th staging of the event in 2014.

BEST GOLF COURSE PLAYED – Majlis Course, Emirates Golf Club.

The Majlis course at the Emirates Golf Club was the first 18-hole course built in the UAE and it’s still one of the best.

Adrian Flaherty, the Tournament Director at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, had booked two tee times just after lunch on the ver day after Stephen Gallacher’s triumph.

I was ready on the tee at 2.20pm but after waiting a few minutes no one other turned up, so I had the golf course virtually to myself and enjoying the opportunity to play the golf course how it had been set-up for the tournament.

And coming down the 16th, I found the spot where Gallacher holed a wedge shot for eagle that helped set-up his second Race to Dubai success.

But unlike the victorious Scot, it took me three to get down!

So a big thank to Adrian firstly for a wonderful lunch and then the opportunity to play the course.

In future, there is no way I will be rushing out of Dubai at some ungodly hour in the middle of the night.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH – Stephen Gallacher

Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher ended a more than seven-year winless drought in capturing the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Gallacher had been runner-up a year earlier and despite letting slip a three shot lead in his opening two holes on the final day, the Bathgate pro eventually capturing only a second Race to Dubai title by three shots.

Also Gallacher left observers scratching their heads in posting five eagles over the four days.

And the Scot pulled off the ‘Shot of the Month’ in holing his second shot for eagle, a wedge from 115-yards out, at the par four, 16th to distance himself once and for all from nearest rival, Richard Sterne.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH – Richard Sterne

Richard Sterne is good friend with Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher and the duo were fighting neck-and-neck for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic title.

Gallacher was expected to head to South Africa the following week and reside at Sterne’s house in Pretoria.

However while the Scot blew a three shot lead within two holes on the final day, Gallacher sealed a second Tour success in holing a 115-yard wedge shot from the rough at the 16^th.

It led Sterne to quickly remark:  “You jammy bastard!  That shot will cost you another $1,000 next week!”

WHERE’S RORY AWARD – www.pgatour.com

Rory McIlroy is the world’s top-ranked golfer while last year he finished his fifth full season in the pro ranks as No. 1 on both the PGA Tour and won the Race to Dubai.

But nine weeks and nine events into new season and Rory McIlroy’s name was bizarrely missing from the list of PGA Tour Players on the website – www.pgatour.com

MOST AMICABLE PLAYER – European Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley

Paul McGinley has only a month into his role as the 2014 European Ryder Cup captain and he’s been as obliging in dealing with the media as he was in the many years before accepting Europe’s uppermost appointment.

“I have a role and I the media has a role to play and I’m very conscious of that, so anything I can do you to assist you in the lead-up to next year’s Ryder Cup then I am happy to oblige,” said McGinley.

Now how refreshing is it to hear such words when compared to some of McGinley’s Ryder Cup captain predecessors.

BEST AIRLINE AWARD – Emirates Airline

Congratulations to Emirates Airlines in their handling check-in at Dubai Airport following coverage of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Two sets of golf clubs and bulging suitcases after more than three months ’on the road’ but no concern as the check-in attendant was great.

As well, we got bumped from well down the ‘back of the bus’ to the front row of Economy and probably more leg room that those in the rows of Business.

GIANT KILLER OF THE MONTH – Shane Lowry

Shane Lowry had nothing to lose but all to win in defeating good friend and World No. 1 Rory McIlroy.

And a big ‘well done’ to Lowry, who after being beaten by Graeme McDowell in the third round went back out to support McDowell in his fourth round encounter.

Now, how many times do you see that?  Not often!

IMPRESSIVE & CONSISTENT START TO THE NEW SEASON AWARD –  Ricardo Santos.

There were plenty of raised eyebrows when Portugal’s Ricardo Santos was voted last year’s Sir Henry Cotton ‘Rookie of the Year’ award.

Well, the quietly-spoken Villamoura pro is making those doubters eat their words.

The reigning Maderia Islands Open champion has results this season of 28^th (Volvo Champions), 4^th (Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship), T22nd (Commercial Bank Qatar Masters), T7th (Omega Dubai Desert Classic), T3rd Joburg Open) and T9th (Africa Open).

SHOT OF THE MONTH – Shane Lowry

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy had agreed to an interview with SKY Sports when a snowstorm halted any further play on day one of the WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship.

No sooner had McIlroy began the interview and he hit by a snowball thrown by Shane Lowry – his first round opponent the next morning.

YOU CAN PLAY FAST WHEN YOU WANT TO AWARD – Thomas Levet

Frenchman Thomas Levet sent a message to Tour tortoises on the third day of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Admittedly, Levet was playing by himself but a round of 2 hours and nine minutes that included walking not too briskly and taking practice shots, shows just how quickly the professionals can get around a golf course.