Al Badia Golf Club News

Dubai Festival City European Challenge Tour grand final to be hosted at the Al Badia Golf Club Dubai

The United Arab Emirates will become the latest country to stage a European Challenge Tour event when the Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final hosted by Al Badia Golf Club is staged from October 31 to November 3, 2013.

 

The €330,000 tournament marks the start of a three-year relationship between The European Challenge Tour and Al Badia Golf Club by InterContinental and will feature the top 45 players on the Challenge Tour rankings.

In addition to a first prize of €56,650 and increased Official World Golf Ranking Points as per a standard Challenge Tour event, the top 15 players in the rankings after the Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final hosted by Al Badia Golf Club will win a European Tour playing card for 2014.

It will be the first time in the UAE for the Challenge Tour and will come just four days after the penultimate event on the calendar, the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic, is staged in Oman. It also means both The European Tour and the European Challenge Tour will end their 2013 seasons in Dubai.

Alain de Soultrait, Director of the European Challenge Tour, said: “One of the objectives of the European Challenge Tour is to stage events in different locations around the world so we are delighted that the UAE – renowned worldwide for its golfing infrastructure – has become the 45th country in the history of the Challenge Tour. It is a fitting way for us to celebrate the conclusion of the 25th anniversary of the Challenge Tour.

“With a significant prize fund, a magnificent golf course and a global TV reach of over 367 million households, we believe this will be a Grand Final that showcases the best of both the European Challenge Tour and Dubai so we thank our sponsor Al Futtaim Automotive Group, Dubai Festival City and Al Badia Golf Club by InterContinental for their outstanding support.”

Celebrating its 25th year of operation, the European Challenge Tour has consistently acted as a springboard to the main European Tour and has helped launch the careers of golfing superstars such as current US Open Champion Justin Rose, Major Champions Louis Oosthuisen and Martin Kaymer and current Race to Dubai leader Henrik Stenson who won the Grand Final in 2000.

“Dubai Festival City is privileged to be the home of such a dynamic destination asset and Al Futtaim group remains committed to supporting the vision of the Government of Dubai in establishing the emirate as a world-leading hub for professional spectator sports and golf in particular,” said Al Futtaim Group Real Estate, Group Director Chris O’Donnell.

“The four-day event is expected to reach 367 million homes worldwide making Al Badia Golf Club by InterContinental and Dubai Festival City the focus of attention for a global audience of affluent golfing enthusiasts and cementing Dubai’s reputation as one of the most coveted places to play golf internationally.”

The European Challenge Tour has enjoyed a successful first 25 years and in 2013 will stage 26 events in 17 countries before reaching the Grand Final – the 19th in its history – in Dubai.

And while it has produced many notable names over the years, it also has strength in depth with some 21 players from the Challenge Tour going on to play in the Ryder Cup, while 65% of players who play on The European Tour have also played on the Challenge Tour.

As well a 72-hole, four-day tournament with no cut, the Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final hosted by Al Badia Golf Club also offers a host of sponsor benefits including a Pro-Am on October 30 featuring all 45 qualifiers.

“With the golf course measuring 7,330 yards, we believe Al Badia Golf Club will offer a tough test for the players and will certainly be fitting of its status as the venue for the Grand Final,” said Golf Club Manager James Shippey.

“Our members and regular golfers will notice a few changes with a new tee on hole 18 and some strategic bunker and tree placements for the tournament. Over the coming eight weeks, we will work round the clock to have everything in place for the first tee time on October 31 and look forward to welcoming golf fans to the course to see the stars of tomorrow in action at one of the best venues in the Middle East.”

The Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final hosted by Al Badia Golf Club is supported by the Dubai Sports Council, the Emirates Golf Federation and the Arab Golf Federation.

 

Picture shows (L to R): UAE National Golfer Khalid Al Halyan, Nick Tarratt (Director, European Tour International, Dubai Office), Colin Cordery (Managing Director Al Futtaim Automotive Group), Alain de Soultrait (Director, European Challenge Tour), Moutaz Duwaji (Director of Hospitality, Al Futtaim Real Estate) and James Shippey (Golf Club Manager, Al Badia Golf Club by InterContinental)

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