Dubai: Mohammad Juma Bu Amim, the CEO of Golf in DUBAi, believes the Mena Tour can help UAE nationals fulfil their dreams of Asian and Olympic Games qualification following last week's historic recognition by the National Olympic Committee (NOC).
In reaction to the rise of UAE golf over the past season — with the national team on course for a regional hat-trick of honours — the NOC awarded the UAE team membership, giving them potential to feature in forthcoming major championships.
The UAE's leading golfer, Ahmad Al Musharrakh, told Gulf News last week that this recognition opened up new chances of exposure and the 21-year-old golfing sensation dared his team mates to dream about the ‘very real' prospect of qualification for the 2016 Olympics, where the sport will make a comeback after a 112-year absence.
These sentiments were echoed yesterday by Bu Amim. He claimed the two-year-old Mena Tour had helped endorse golf and catch the attention of the NOC.
Young talent
Bu Amim, who is also chairman of the Mena Tour, said: "There are hundreds of young golfers in the region who would be proud to represent their country and it would be an honour for anyone who plays this game to be part of the Asian Games and Olympic Games.
"Hard work and exposure to high-intensity competitions are vital ingredients to preparing the players for top-flight golf, and the Mena Golf Tour has the strength to provide competition that would challenge the players and fine-tune their skills to compete at this level.
"Our intention is to develop amateurs who represent their country through this tour because we feel they are the ones who will encourage more people to take up golf — and not the Woods and Westwoods. The added incentives, of course, are the spots that we offer to top golfers on the Order of Merit — three professionals and one leading amateur — to compete in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
"We have created a springboard for the players to benefit from it and, hopefully, they will set new standards. It is meant to create playing opportunities for all those keen on playing at the top level or planning on making a career out of golf. It's a stepping stone to the world of international golf."
The second edition of the Mena Tour, which is scheduled to kick off in September this year, will have a true regional flavour, with stops in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and possibly Morocco. With more tournaments and more prize money on offer, the tour is expected to attract a strong field, with players who have featured on Challenge Tour and Asian Tour events adding to its strength.
Need to collaborate
Bu Amim added: "If a Mena Golf Tour player goes on to establish his credentials on the international circuit, it will just be a sign of the times in an ever-changing world. This calls us to join hands, group our efforts and set off to make this dream come true."
Those sentiments are not entirely shared by leading UAE golfers Al Musharrakh and Khalid Yousuf, who told Gulf News in November that the Mena Tour initiative was too top heavy. As the only two Emiratis to have competed in last year's inaugural championship, Al Musharrakh and Yousuf raised fears about not enough UAE nationals getting up to scratch handicap to meet Mena's strict entry requirement.
