Dubai to play host to fifth edition of Pan Arab Junior Golf Championships

The future of Arab golf will come under the spotlight when the 5th Pan Arab Junior Golf Championships hosted by the UAE Golf Association (UGA) are staged at the Emirates Golf Club.

The 36-hole tournament to be staged on December 13-14 will see teams from Lebanon, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Bahrain jet in to Dubai today where they will join the host nation golfers representing the UAE.

Sponsored by Masafi (official water supplier), Gulf News (official newspaper), Budget Car Rental (official transportation) and the Renaissance Hotel Dubai (official hotel), the Pan Arab Junior Championships will see the players enjoy a practice round tomorrow before the opening ceremony is held at the Emirates Golf Club.

The following day, the budding stars of the future will face 18 holes over the Wadi Course, before day two sees them tackle the famed Majlis Course, the most prestigious golf venue in the Middle East and home to next year's Dubai Desert Classic.

In addition to the team event prize, awards will also be made in the Under-15 and Under-18 categories.

"For many of these young golfers, this will be their first taste of international competition so we're grateful to our support sponsors for allowing them that opportunity," said the UAE national team co-ordinator, Saeed Al Budoor.

Carrying the flag for the home nation are four golfers who are proud to represent the UAE in events of this calibre.

Six handicappers, Rashid Al Abbar, Khalid Yousuf and Abdullah Al Mosharrekh will be joined by Ahmad Al Mosharrekh (14 handicap) as they attempt to underline the growing stature of the game among UAE nationals.

"Rashid and Abdullah have gained invaluable experience over the past few years, while Khalid and Ahmad are learning what team events are all about," added Al Budoor.