About the International Pairs UAE Golf Event
International Pairs is an amateur golf event played in more than 50 countries across 6 continents. The first tournament was held in 2004 and since then has rapidly developed into a World renowned competition, now holding the distinction of being the largest event of it’s kind in the world.
UAE Golf Online is proud to be associated with the International Pairs UAE Event.
Players compete in a club qualifier, with the winning pair qualifying for a National Final, the winners of which win an all-expenses trip to compete in the World Final.
In 2010-11, the UAE joins the International Pairs community, offering unique opportunities to golfers, clubs and corporations.
With Vietnam, Romania and the Czech Republic entering the International Pairs series in 2010, the global tournament goes from strength to strength but undoubtedly, one of its most important signings to date will debut at the 2011 World Final as the United Arab Emirates join the world’s biggest competition of its kind for club golfers.
International Pairs has attracted more than 500,000 golfers since its inception, including West Indian cricket legend Sir Richards and former Manchester United star Dwight Yorke while extensive footage from the International Pairs’ World Final Series was screened into around 350 million households in Asia in the two months before Christmas 2009.
Chris Turlik, who has worked in Dubai for the last 13 years, has been awarded the licence for the region and will initially promote International Pairs through the clubs to all members of the Emirates Golf Federation.
Chris stated – “Golf is tremendously popular in the UAE. With excellent weather guaranteed, residents can play all year round as we only have three or four days of rain a year.
We have some excellent courses, which have been designed by some of the best architects in the world and the clubs provide excellent customer service, with practice facilities and clubhouses as good as anywhere in the world.
“The UAE has a quality market, most of which is involved in golf in some way, and launching International Pairs here is a tremendous opportunity.”
“Within the gulf, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman all have golf clubs but the potential is there to expand International Pairs and include them later if all goes well. “As for the Middle East, when you start talking about places like Egypt, Lebanon and Tunisia which have more courses than the Gulf, the potential is endless.”
With 18 clubs across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khamiah confirmed, International Pairs UAE is targeting 1,000 competitors in it’s first year. The first Club Qualifying event will be held at The Arabian Ranches Golf Club in Dubai on Saturday the 30th October 2010.
National Finalists of the inaugural International Pairs UAE series will be treated to an all-inclusive luxury weekend at the Park Hyatt Dubai. This will include an overnight stay at one of the UAE’s finest resorts, lunch, breakfast, the final itself at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and an exclusive invitation to the International Pairs UAE Gala Dinner, to be held at the Park Hyatt. Spouses of all finalists will be invited for the weekend and to all official functions.
Ross Honey, CEO & Founder of International Pairs also commented – “This is a significant announcement for International Pairs. The United Arab Emirates has emerged as one of the leading destinations for golf over the last 40 years, and the appointment of an inaugural licence holder demonstrates the vision we have for the future of the competition on a global scale.”
The ultimate goal is to expand International Pairs into the Gulf countries and beyond to the Middle East.
