But Chris White believes the set-up of Ayla Golf Course for this week’s innovative 54-hole Jordan Mixed Open will prove it is possible – despite the average Challenge Tour player driving 284-yards in 2018, almost 50-yards further than their LET counterparts.

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“With the course set-up as it is, there is no reason why there shouldn’t be one player from each of the three tours coming down the closing stretch with a chance of victory,’’ said White, Director of Operations at Ayla Oasis and the driving force behind the tournament concept.

Masterminded by White and his team at Ayla, with the approval of representatives of the three co-sanctioning tours, the Greg Norman-designed course will see the Challenge Tour players tee-up from 7,152-yards, with the Staysure Tour players competing from a yardage reduced by seven percent, at 6,601-yards.

There will then be a further seven percent reduction for the LET players, who will compete from a scorecard measured at 6,139-yards. The distances are comparable to the length the competitors would play from under standard tournament conditions.

“Our first and primary priority was to engineer a format that could showcase golfing talent regardless of gender,” said Chris White.

Chris White, second from right, with representatives from the Jordan Mixed Open’s co-sanctioning tours.

“This not only means taking into consideration carry yardages, both off the tee and throughout the player’s whole bag, but also the positioning of bunkers and hazards, which will be approached differently depending on the angle and distance that each competitor is playing from.”

“The beauty of golf is that everyone can compete alongside each other. In the amateur game through the handicap system, but with the correct set-up we believe that this can also be true when it comes to men, women and seniors in the professional arena,” White said.

The spin rates of approach shots have also been analysed and will be considered when preparing daily hole locations, while wind and other weather considerations will also be factored in each day before play commences.

“Golf needs more innovative concepts to continue to grow the sport globally and this is a truly exciting new format,” said Davide Lantos, the LET’s Director of Tournament Operations.

“The Tournament Directors have gone through a rigorous process to ensure that the set-up is a fair test for all the players, including the positioning of different tees at Ayla Golf Club. It will be a thrilling spectacle to watch the best players from three tours compete in Jordan.”

The post White confident of gender-neutral setup of Ayla G.C. for Jordan Mixed Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

How do you set up Greg Norman’s new, 7512 yard, par-72 layout on the shores of the Red Sea so it is an equitable challenge for the diverse field of 123 players, made up of 40 members of each tour and one leading amateur from the mens, ladies’ and over-50s’ games?

Representatives from the three co-sanctioning tours believe they solved the set-up conundrum after a recent site visit to the Aqaba resort.

Simon Higginbottom, a Staysure Tour and Challenge Tour Tournament Director, admitted the inaugural Jordan event presents  “some challenges regarding course set up.”

“With its design emphasis on proper playing angles, strategy and firm ground conditions, the course at Ayla is well suited to the mixed format and will, with our carefully managed tee and pin positions, provide all three categories of player with the ability to score well,” Higginbottom said.

Davide Lantos, the LET’s Director of Tournament Operations, concurs, and knows the set-up is critical for the April 4-6 event. Careful attention was paid not only to the length of the course facing each competitor but the angles of play as well, ensuring, where possible, bunkers and water hazards have an equal impact.

Related: Unique trophy for trailblazing Jordan Mixed Open unveiled

“The Jordan Mixed Open presented by Ayla, which will be played in the cradle of modern civilisation, is a great opportunity to showcase all that is great about women’s golf,’ he said

“In a world that is beginning to recognise the importance of gender equality, this unique format and event could not have been better timed.

“The real challenge for us is in preparing the course and in ensuring the correct format of play so that our male and female professionals can compete on the same course with the same chance to score well. We are sure that this will be a challenging but enjoyable tournament for players and an exciting and engaging event for spectators.”

Chris White, Director of Operations at the Ayla Oasis Development Company, cannot wait for April.

“Both representatives from the Tours gave very positive feedback on our projected vision for the golf course set-up and we are confident that we will be able to establish a format which encourages exciting play and will see all players given an equal chance of being crowned our inaugural champion.”

The post Organisers confident of level playing field for ‘world first’ mixed gender event in Jordan appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.