Middle East to get new golf tour 11/02/2011 |
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A new golf tour for the Middle East and North Africa will be launched next year.
The MENA (Middle East North Africa) Tour will create "windows of playing opportunities" for professionals and amateurs in the region and will begin with four tournaments from 2012, vice-chairman and chief executive of Golf in Dubai Mohamed Juma Buamaim said.
"There is no shortage of talent in the Middle East and North Africa region, and even the facilities are second to none, but the players lack regular exposure to high-class competitions, so hopefully this new tour will create the right environment and develop their skills,” he added.
"The prizes will be funded at first by the Shiekh Maktoum Golf Foundation, but we hope that we will be able to find sponsors as we go along.
"Also one day we are hoping that the MENA Tour can slot two events into the European Tour's secondary Challenge Tour.”
European Tour chief executive George O'Grady welcomed the announcement and called it a "wonderful initiative".
"The hope is that the MENA Tour will become one of our third-tier tours which has a way into the Challenge Tour but you will have to play for a year or two first," he said.
Each event will comprise a field of 109 players made up of 60 professionals and the rest amateurs, and carry a minimum prize fund of $75,000.
No dates or venues have been set but MENA Tour officials will meet with representatives of a number of Middle East and North African golf associations this weekend to work on a schedule.
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