Mena Golf Tour 2014 schedule retains all last years 10 events
The 2014 MENA Golf Tour schedule, featuring 10 events spread across five countries in the region, retains all of the destinations from the 2013 calendar, showcasing the tour’s renewed strength in depth and desire to create a competitive environment for its members.
Held under the auspices of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the golfing odyssey gets under way in mid-March with back-to-back events in Morocco — one each at Royal Mohammedia Golf in Casablanca and Royal Dar Es Salam Golf Club, Rabat – before taking a summer break.
The schedule resumes in mid-September with the eight-week ‘Gulf Swing’ which includes four stops in the UAE and one each in Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia before returning to the UAE for the season-ending Tour championship in November at Al Ain Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club.
With each event boasting a prize fund of $50,000 and the Tour Championship carrying $75,000 in prize money, a total of $ 525,000 will be up for grabs for members of the tour, which is affiliated to the Arab Golf Federation and the R&A, golf’s governing body.
“I am delighted to present a full and flowing schedule which will give the MENA Golf Tour members the best opportunity to display their skills and talents on a bigger stage,” said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour.
“We have many other countries in the region like Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia and Bahrain who have shown a keen interest in hosting tour events. We are hopeful of making additional tournament announcements in the near future which will further strengthen the playing schedule for the broad spectrum of our membership.”
“The overwhelming success of the previous three editions of the tour has given us the confidence to drive the game forward with greater optimism,” he added.
“We enjoy superb relationships with the Arab Golf Federation and all associations that are part of the apex body in the Arab world and feel privileged to have the continued commitment and dedication of all of our tournament promoters and sponsors.
“Our primary aim is to develop amateurs who represent their respective countries in the region. They are the ones who will encourage more people to take up golf. With many overseas professionals and amateurs in the field, the tour exposes them to a highly competitive environment they need to hone their skills.
“The fact that the previous three editions of the tour have produced two Order of Merit champions – Ahmed Marjan (2011) and Mustapha El Maouas from the Arab world — shows they are relishing the challenge. This is great for the tour.
“We also need players who have already played on different tours to give it more strength,” he said, adding: “Guaranteed spots in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic for the top three professionals and the leading amateur on their respective orders of merit, I believe, are a good enough incentive besides the prize money for players to sign up the tour events.”
Exemption into the final stage of Asian Tour’s Q-School for the top three professionals and a reserved spot for the leading professional in the Tropheé Hassan II, a European Tour event in Morocco, has further spiked the interest for the players, reflecting on the tour’s growing popularity.
One of major highlights of the 2013 season was the overwhelming response from players which saw many events being oversubscribed for the first time.
The top three professionals and the leading amateur who made it to the 25th edition of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic consisted of England’s Zane Scotland, Welsh ace Stephen Dodd and rising English star Lee Corfield along with Mustapha El Maouas of Morocco.
Launched by the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation in 2011, the MENA Golf Tour is supported by Omega and Mercedes-Benz. Each event, which carries World Ranking points for amateurs, is a minimum 54-hole stroke-play affair. Only players who have played a minimum of six regular tournaments on the 2014 schedule will be eligible for the season-ending Tour Championship.
2014 MENA GOLF TOUR SCHEDULE
March 17-20: Royal Golf D’Anfa Open
Royal Golf D’Anfa Mohammedia, Casablanca, Morocco
Prize money: $50,000
March 24-27: Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Open
The Royal Golf of Dar Es Salam, Rabat
Prize money: $50,000
September 14-17: Dubai Creek Open
Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club
Prize money: $50,000
September 21-24: Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open
Al Badia Golf Club
Prize money: $50,000
September 28-October 1: Abu Dhabi GOLF CITIZEN Open
Saadiyat Golf Club
Prize money: $50,000
October 5-8: Ras Al Khaimah Classic
Tower Links Golf Club
Prize money: $50,000
October 12-15: Qatar Classic (TBC)
Doha Golf Club
Prize money: $50,000
October 19-22: Ghala Valley Oman Open
Ghala Valley Golf Club
Prize money: $50,000
October 26-29: American Express Dirab Golf Championship
Dirab Golf & Country Club
Prize money: $50,000
November 1-4: Mena Golf Tour Championship presented by Abu Dhabi Sports Council
Al Ain Equestrian Shooting & Golf Club
Prize money: $75,000
