This past week, the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) hosted the last Future Falcon graduation award ceremony for the 2022-23 training season. Utilizing six different academies across the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the EGF and Future Falcons junior golf program has introduced, trained, and tested more than 100 UAE Nationals on their journey into golf.
Under the patronage of the General Authority for Sports and Chairman of the EGF, His Excellency Shaikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, and keeping with the EGF’s mission of “identifying and developing young UAE National golfers, while building good character through the integrity of the game of golf”, the EGF is training out of the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club, Al Hamra Golf Club, Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club, and Al Zorah Golf Club. The UAE National Team Coaches and Emirates PGA Teaching Professionals worked closely together over the past 9 months to deliver the Future Falcons junior golf program.
The Future Falcons is a long-term commitment of co-title tournament partners HSBC, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and Emirates Golf Federation to support the growth of golf in the UAE. The program was created in 2016 as a recreational and mass participation program evolving to become a sustainable long-term structure and framework for the game. The Future Falcons junior golf program aims to educate, engage, and inspire youngsters in a bid to unearth the next generation of golfing talent.
In 2022-23 over 100 juniors between the age of 4 and 16 years old, participated in a season-long training program that consisted of, weekly training sessions, PAR 3 events, skills competitions, and finally the end-of-season testing session to measure the player’s progress.
In addition to the Future Falcons junior golf program, the EGF teamed up with the Emirates Schools Establishment (ESE) and the Al Rabeeh Academy in order to bring golf into the Physical Education curriculum. Since the start of the second semester (Jan. 2023) this past school year, 15 different schools were bringing Physical Education classes to the UAE Golf Academies. At these sessions, UAE National Team Coaches and Emirates PGA Teaching Professionals introduced the sport of golf to over 700 students and their teachers. At these introductory lessons, coaches identified potential athletes that were introduced to the Future Falcons.
Emirates Golf Federation Vice Chairman, General Abdullah Alhashmi had this to say following the last award ceremony, “the Future Falcons program is the backbone of UAE National golf. For golf to successfully develop within the community we need to reach as many students and families as possible. It is the mission of the EGF and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council to find the next best amateur and professional golfers in the UAE. By using the infrastructure of the sport that has been here for over 30 years, UAE Golf is on the right path to success. On behalf of the EGF Board of Directors, I would like to thank our partners at the Sports Councils, HSBC, UAE Golf Clubs, and schools for their continued passion for athletic development and the sport of golf.
