DP World Tour and Emirates Golf Federation join hands to develop golf in UAE

Dubai: The DP World Tour and the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) have announced a long-term partnership aimed at developing golf in the UAE for at least the next decade.

The two organisations will collaborate across all levels of the sport in the UAE, from grassroots initiatives right through to the professional game, building on the Tour’s long-term association with the region, which dates back to 1989.

The partnership includes a commitment to investing in a minimum of two Challenge Tour events in the UAE annually from 2023. There will be 30 spots in each of those tournaments allocated to the Emirates Golf Federation to help create playing opportunities and provide a pathway for Emirati golfers.

Junior development programme

The partnership also includes an expansion of the Tour’s support of junior golf development in the UAE, working together with the Emirates Golf Federation to help enhance its grassroots and player performance programmes.

The European Tour group, which incorporates the DP World Tour, Challenge Tour and Legends Tour, first visited the UAE in 1989 for the Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club.

Since then, the European Tour group has enjoyed a strong and enduring relationship with the UAE, which was underlined last November when DP World, the Dubai-headquartered provider of global smart end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions, was named as the title sponsor of the group’s main Tour.

Strength of relationship

Tom Phillips, the European Tour group’s Head of Middle East, said: “Our special partnership with the Emirates Golf Federation not only demonstrates the DP World Tour’s long-term commitment to developing golf in the UAE, but also reflects the strength of the many relationships we enjoy in the country.

“We are delighted to confirm this partnership following our four hugely successful weeks in the UAE at the start of the year, delivering on the pledges we made at the launch of the DP World Tour in November.”

General Abdullah Alhashmi, Vice-Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation, said: “We have been working with the Tour for more than 30 years and with DP World’s involvement now with the Tour, it became even more important for us to work together for the future of golf in this region.

Gradual progress to see UAE winner

“This partnership will take us to the next level. Having two Challenge Tour events is an important part of this so we can exchange spots with other federations and take our players abroad. That is part of our vision to develop golf here and develop our players to compete in the professional game.

“Hopefully, one day, we will have a winner on the DP World Tour, but we need the gradual progress, and taking our players step by step through the Challenge Tour first is important. It will provide tournaments in this region to give players from the Arab world the chance to play at a higher level and compete against other players from different countries,” concluded Al Hashmi.

Spanish golfer and Dubai resident, Rafa Cabrera Bello, a recent Dubai Golden VISA Awardee, Ryder Cup player and four-time winner on the DP World Tour, including winning the 2012 Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club, commented: “I started my career through the Challenge Tour, where I won twice. It is the perfect opportunity for youngsters in the UAE and the region to strive to develop their games along with other development Tours. I have also worked with the DP World Tour and Emirates Golf Federation on activations over the years visiting UAE National students at schools in Dubai as well as hosting golf clinics. I am excited with this announcement and look forward to seeing the partnership develop.”

Tremendous news

Peter Cowen, arguably the world’s No 1 coach, who has Peter Cowen Academies at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, Emirates Golf Club and Jumeirah Golf Estates, on hearing the announcement, said: “This is tremendous news for golf in the UAE for the Emirates Golf Federation. These Challenge Tour events hosted in the UAE will provide a platform for UAE golfers to obtain playing opportunities: locally, regionally and internationally, which is the challenge for all golfers, whatever their level of play. I am really looking forward to discussing opportunities with General Abdullah Al Hashmi and the Emirates Golf Federation team on how we can build the game of golf in the UAE through a more structured and targeted approach to coaching. These are exciting times to be involved in UAE Golf.”

Life-changing experience

Shiv Kapur (India), a Dubai Golden VISA Awardee, was the winner of the 2013 Challenge Tour Grand Final held at Al Badia Golf Club, Dubai, commented: “Playing on the Challenge Tour and winning the season-ending tournament in Dubai and finishing fourth in the season-long rankings, one place behind Brooks Koepka and €1,100 behind the current World No 16, was life-changing experience for me. It gave me so many global playing opportunities and resurrected my career and got me playing at the highest level once again. Also, in the Class of 2013 Challenge Tour top 15 graduates being promoted to the DP World Tour, were: Dubai-based Adrian Otaegui (Spain), Sihwan Kim (USA) and Tyrrell Hatton (Eng).”

This year, the DP World Tour will play five tournaments in the UAE, including three out of the five Rolex Series events.

The 2022 DP World Tour season will conclude in Dubai from November 17-20 with the final Rolex Series event of the year, the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, at Jumeirah Golf Estates, which will become the Tour’s first event outside the Majors and WGCs to feature a $10 million prize fund.