DUBAI The UAE’s only professional golfer, Ahmad Al Musharrekh, is confident of drawing young kids into golf in big numbers as he revealed his plans to launch his foundation early next year.
“I have high expectations for the foundation and we want to provide the best facilities for the kids in the UAE,” said Al Musharrekh.
Inspire Emirati kids
The UAE’s top golfer announced that the Ahmad Al Musharrekh Foundation, which will be supported by Swiss watchmaker Jaermann & Stubi, will be open in January 2015.
During the launch that took place at the World islands in Dubai recently, Al Musharrekh played three holes with his brother Hassan and two aspiring junior members - 12-year-old Khalil Al Kashwani and 13-year-old Maryam Al Marzouqi - of the Emirates Golf Federation.
“The initiative is to inspire Emirati kids to look beyond the usual sports of football and equestrian and take up golf. Being in my position as the UAE’s only professional golfer it really makes sense for me to do something like this,” he said.
Noting that the focus will be approaching schools to bring in the numbers, he said: “The Golf Federation here is doing a great job and with their support we are planning to provide transportation and bring the children from the schools to the courses. We want to make it really easy for them because when something is provided on a silver platter, it surely is going to attract them to the sport.”
Al Musharrekh said he also plans to invite the top golfers for clinics once his foundation is established.
“I share a great relationship with all the golf courses in the UAE and what I want to do is provide golf clinics and small events that can generate interest among kids.
“The focus will obviously be the Emirati kids, but we will also look at spreading our wings to countries like Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait where they still don’t have a professional golfer.
“This time next year the foundation hopefully will be in a great position and during this time all the top golfers will be in the country for the DP World Championship. We would like to invite some of them and probably arrange a few clinics which would be value addition to our foundation.”
Ross Bain, who will be the chief executive for the foundation said: “We want to take golf to schools and use Ahmad as the face of the project. We hope to use his golf expertise and ensure we have more kids getting involved.”
