Like Alia Al Emadi in the ladies division, Skaik successfully defended his UAE Presidents Cup title at Abu Dhabi Golf Club over the weekend but wasn’t the only member of the family celebrating with silverware at the conclusion of the region’s top amateur event.

Skaik’s younger brother Mohamed won the junior title with a championship total of 161 for a three-stroke advantage over Rashid Al Jassmy. Taking home the junior net prize was Abdulla Al Suwaidi. 

“This year’s win is special for me and my family,” said Ahmad Skaik who carded rounds of 74-73 for a three-over winning total of 147, eight clear of perennial rival Khalid Yousuf.

“To win the Presidents Cup and to have my brother win the Junior Division at the same time, will be something that we will remember forever. 

Rounding out the podium places in the open men’s field was Khaled Salmeen with rounds of 79-80 for a total of 159. Walid Al Attar, playing in his first “national championship” in over 10 years off a 10.4 handicap, won the net with a 130 total. 

But it was the Skaik’s weekend.

“I wasn’t hitting the ball particularly well off the tee this weekend but I scrambled well and made a lot of pars,” Skaik Snr said.

“Coming off playing four consecutive weeks on the DP World Tour, it is time for a little break and focus on my studies. It is an honour to win the UAE Presidents Cup and I am grateful for all of the support that I have received from the EGF and entire UAE. I’d like to thank my family, coaches, and of course my teammates for pushing me and making me a better person on and off the course.”  

Emirates Golf Federation Secretary-General, Mr. Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi, won the senior with gross scores of 77-84 for a total of 161 

Al Emadi signed for rounds of 82-81 and a winning total of 163.

“It feels amazing to not only win the Ladies Division two years in a row but also it proves to myself that my hard work is paying off,” she said. “The Presidents Cup is the biggest tournament for Emiratis in the UAE. One thing I particularly love about the Presidents Cup is the fact that all golfers from the UAE reunite to compete together. This weekend my putting has really stepped up. I made some key putts to save my score.”

The ladies net winner was Faye Al Bolooshi with a score of 139. 

In efforts to develop the game within the national community, the 2022 UAE Presidents Cup sponsored by HSBC also hosted a 9-Hole Championship on the Garden Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. On a modified 9 holes, this year’s event also offered the UAE Special Olympic Team players to compete in the 9-Hole Championship. 

Winning the 9-Hole Championship was UAE Special Olympic Team player Ali Bin Sumaida. Ali had a hole-In-one on the 7th and an eagle on the 8th on his way to shooting an impressive 37, one over par. 

Latifa Al Jassmy was runner-up and UAE Special Olympic Team members, Saif Saeed Al Qubaisi and Vincent Bower, third and fourth respectively. 

To celebrate this year’s Presidents Cup, the award ceremony was graced by His Highness Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and His Excellency Shaikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, and Head of Network Distribution at HSBC UAE, Najeeb Busheri. 

“Congratulations to all of the winners,” said General Abdullah Alhashmi, Vice-Chairman of the EGF afterwards. “On behalf of the Emirates Golf Federation, we would like to thank HSBC for their continued support of this amazing championship. This weekend is a true celebration of UAE golf. Thank you to and Abu Dhabi Golf Club and to The Westin, Abu Dhabi for hosting our players and families. Lastly, thank you to Abu Dhabi Sports Council and eGolf Megastore for enhancing our championship. UAE golf is moving forward, we have a lot of work to do, together with our partners and stakeholders we will achieve our goals.”

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The 2020 Titleist Emirates Junior Open was a classic case in point for the Emirates Golf Federation on Saturday after a record 16 players from the UAE National Junior Development Program (NJDP) teed it up on the Faldo course at Emirates Golf Club.

“The NJDP is a working success,” said Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi the EGF Secretary General and UAE National Team Manager. “The EGF had 13 boys and three girls playing in the EGC Junior Open. This is a good example of how the sport of golf is begin developed in the UAE. This also shows how much commitment the EGF has to grassroots golf.

“These 16 players are just the tip of our program. We have over 35 juniors that now have official handicaps and an additional 100 juniors that are taking weekly lessons across the entire UAE.”

Faaris Cheema (JGE) with Emirates G.C. Lady Captain
Naima Maya

For the record, Faaris Cheema (JGE) won the boys championship with a gross 71, two strokes clear of EGC member Valdemar Kofod Olsen. Aarnav Nath (DCGYC) was third with a 74 in what was the opening event of the 2020-21 EGF Junior Order of Merit.

Carlotta Scialanga (EGC) captured the girls title with a 76 while Hannah Alan won the girls net with a 75 courtesy of a better back nine from Alia Al Emadi.

Girls’ champion Carlotta Scialanga (EGC) with Emirates G.C. Lady Captain Naima Maya

In the division ‘A’ boys (Handicap 0-14), Dilan White from Trump International won with a net 69, while Bjorn Brake (EGC) won division ‘B’ (Handicap 15-28) with a net 70.

Leading the way for the UAE Nationals in the girls division was Alia Al Emadi who placed third with an eight-over par 81. In the boys division, Obaid Al Heloo was the top Emirati finishing T-8 thanks to a seven-over 79.

“During these unpredictable times with the UAE going through the current pandemic situation, the EGF is working closely with the UAE golf clubs and golf academies in order to provide a safe and health opportunity to continue the development of the NJDP. In every emirate across the UAE the EGF is providing Nationals with a way to practice, take lessons, and play the game of golf,” the EGF said in a statement.

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By Kent Gray
Brothers Rashed and Sultan Al Jassmy make up two-thirds of a new age-group team set to represent the UAE at the 20th Pan Arab Golf Championships beginning in Egypt on Tuesday.

The Arab Golf Federation (AGF) has introduced a U-13 boys division for the first time with the Al Jassmy siblings to be joined by Abdullah Al Suwaidi in the UAE team at Dreamland Golf Resort in Cairo for the *three-day championship.

While Al Suwaidi will be making his international debut, the Al Jassmy’s helped the UAE to a silver medal in the U-15 teams championship at the GCC Golf Championship. All three have earned the admiration of UAE National Team Manager and Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) Secretary-General Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi for their hard prep work as part of EGF National Junior Development Program.

“By introducing the Boys 13 & Under Division this is showing how much the game of golf is growing in the region and across the Arab Nations,” said Al Shamsi. “The UAE is taken full advantage of this new division and we feel that our young boys will have a strong performance.” s

Reema Al Heloo, Alia Al Emadi, and Hamda Al Suwaidi will represent the UAE in what is the Ladies 11th edition of the Pan Arab Ladies Championship

Fresh from the Junior Asia-Pacific Golf Championship, Rashid Al Emadi spearheads the UAE U-18s alongside Khaled Al Mutawa and Rayan Al Maazmi. Mohamed Ahmad Makki and Hami Faqihinejad are both set for international debuts in the U-15 team headed by Obaid Al Heloo. Both the U-15 and U-18 divisions are celebrating their 20th edition in 2019.

“Our teams have been working hard over the summer and the past four month in preparation for this event,” Al Shamsi said. “We hosted a summer camp and multiple team qualifiers in order to select the best players to represent the UAE. This year is special for us, and the Arab Golf Federation. We have some new players and with the new division we are hoping to make our players’ families’ and the UAE proud.”

*The U-13s will be played over 36 holes with all other divisions over 54-holes. The championship has team and individual divisions with the top two gross scores out of three in each round counting towards the teams score. The individual category will be scored as the best individual gross score from each division.

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“I played in Asia Pacific Amateur Championship and Nomura Cup for India earlier but when I tee off in the Asian Games, it will be different feeling for me and the whole family,” said the 18-year-old, Dubai-domiciled MENA Tour player who will represent India in the team and individual championships at Jakarta’s Pondok Indah G.C.

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Now, UAE interest in the continent’s largest, Commonwealth Games style multi-sport event has been tripled with Mohamed Adel Al Hajeri and Reema Al Heloo confirmed to represent the country at the Aug. 23-26 tournament.

Al Hajeri, 17, and 16-year-old Al Heloo will contest the respective men’s and women’s individual strokeplay events over 72 holes.

The young Emirati duo ramped up their preparation four months ago and joined the wider UAE squad at a two week summer camp in Germany last month where physical fitness and mental preparation were the focus.

“We feel that our players are ready to compete and represent the UAE at the best of their ability,” said Emirates Golf Federation Secretary General and National Team Manager, Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi.

“Representing the UAE at the Asian Games will be a great honour and achievement for Reema and Mohamed. The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) is proud of the hard work and determination that they have put into their preparation.”

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The Ajman schoolgirls enjoyed an introduction to the royal and ancient game at Al Zorah Golf Club as part of a programme that will see more than 400 students exposed to the game over the next month in conjunction with the UAE Ministry of Education (MoE).

Ajman’s Nicklaus-designed course as well as Ras Al Khaimah clubs Al Hamra and Tower Links will host 50 children a week from six MoE schools in a push designed to identify and develop young Emirati golfers while “building good character through the structure of rules from the game of golf”.

The lure for participants are spots in the EGF’s National Junior Development Program with “more competitive” UAE national teams the ultimate goal for the sport’s national governing body.

“Our relationships with the northern golf clubs and the Ministry of Education has been a focus for the National Junior Development Program over the past six months as the EGF feels that our National database is stronger in these areas,” said Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi, the EGF’s Secretary General.

“Over next four weeks, these golf clubs will be introducing the game of golf to over 400 students. In return we will expect to get a handful of these students to start taking up golf as their everyday sport.”

Students will be transported to the club nearest their school uring their normal Physical Education classes.

“Instead of playing the same sports [Football, Basketball, Rugby] the students will have the opportunity to try and play golf at the golf club,” Al Shamsi said.

John Frost, Lead PE Trainer for the MoE, welcomed the programme.

“It’s wonderful to see local children being introduced to the game of golf who may not necessarily have had the provision or opportunity to do so before. This project in conjunction with the EGF has already developed their skill set and confidence in the game.

“For some, this could be their first step on a pathway to excellence, and for others, we hope that it will instil a passion for lifelong learning in physical activity.”

To find more information about the EGF’s National Junior Development Program email info@egfgolf.com or visit egfgolf.com.

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The two Emirates Golf Federation (EGF)-backed teams – Mohamed Al Hajeri and Reema Al Heloo (UAE 2) and Rashid Al Emadi and Tara Al Marzooqi (UAE 1) – finished 34th and 38th respectively of the 38 teams representing 20 countries in the mixed gender Mitsubishi Corporation Cup tournament at Hong Kong Golf Club.

Al Hajeri and Reema Al Heloo produced the UAE highlights with scores of 78 (fourball), 82 (foursomes) and 77 and 95 respectively in the individual stroke play for a 332 aggregate. In 2016 the duo returned scores of 91-100-96-97 in Taoyuan City, Taiwan to finish on 384 — a massive 52 shot difference.

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Al Hajeri is making significant progress, highlighted by the 19 shot difference in his final round scores from Taiwan and Hong Kong.

However, the best performing UAE team still finished 52 over par for the week and a whopping 69 shots behind winners Yuki Ikeda and Yuka Yasuda (Japan No. 2) who signed for a -17 aggregate to win by seven strokes from Australia.

Al Emadi and Al Marzooqi, meanwhile, finished +115, 395 for the week, emphasising the gulf the UAE must gap at international level.  Al Marzooqi will be slightly disappointed that her individual score of 101 was two strokes worse than her effort in Taiwan 12 months earlier.

“We are happy to see improvement from our players this year and we met some of our goals,” said Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi, EGF Secretary General and UAE National Team Captain.

“The more our young players play in championships like this, the more improvements we will see internationally and regionally.”

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Reema Al Heloo, Tara Al Marzooqi, Mohammed Al Hajeri and Rashid Al Emadi will represent the UAE at the 2017 Asia Pacific Junior Championship in Hong Kong from August 30.

The three-day, 54-hole U-17 tournament on the New course at Hong Kong G.C. is a unique mixed gender event where teams select one male and female to play each day in three different formats – fourball (round 1), foursomes (round 2) and individual strokeplay (round 3). Teams from the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation’s (APGC) 45 member federations are invited.

The UAE will take momentum with them to Hong Kong with Al Heloo and Al Marzooqi fresh from claiming gold at the latest GCC Ladies Golf Championship. Al Marzooqi also won the individual GCC title.

A product of the Emirates Golf Federation’s National Junior Development Program (NJDP), Al Emadi also enjoyed a memorable GCC Championship winning individual and team titles in the boys U15 division.

Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi, EGF Secretary General, and UAE non-playing captain will guide the team in Hong Kong.

“The girls have had a few strong years in our region but this will be a good test for them leading into the 2017-2018 season that starts in October. This championship will be a good measurement to see how their game has improved since we’ve competed in this event last year,” he said.

“We have had a two-week summer camp in Germany during July and a full month of preparation for this championship and the upcoming season. We have set personal goals for this event and I think we will achieve them.”

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A squad of 18 players depart Friday for a 14-day summer training camp in Fleesensee. As well as up to 11 rounds at Fleesensee Golf Resort focused on course management and scoring, the players will undertake a “packed schedule” of skills tests. From these assessments, to be undertaken by three accompanying coaches, each player will be given an individual game improvement plan to return home with.

Two sets of brothers – Sultan and Rashid Esam Al Jassmy and Rayaan and Salem AlMaazmi – are included in the 10-strong UAE Foundation Squad which forms the bulk of the tour party.

Four-strong Junior Men’s and Ladies squads will also travel and include the promising brother and sister Obaid and Reema Al Heloo. The touring squad is:

UAE Foundation Squad
Sa’ad Zarawani
Mohamad Skaik
Sultan Esam Al Jassmy
Rashid Esam Al Jassmy
Sultan Alolama
Rayaan AlMaazmi
Salem AlMaazmi
Sultan Al Owais (SGSC)
Abdulla Kalbat
Rashid AlHefeiti

Junior men’s National Team
Obaid Al Heloo
Rashid Al Emadi
Rashid Al Qubaisi
Mohammed Abdulla Saeed

Ladies National Squad
Reema Al Heloo
Hamda Al Suwaidi
Alia Al Emadi
Dr. Rabab Al Haj

The UAE Foundation Squad is part of the EGF National Junior Development Program. The squad includes most of the best junior players at “grass roots level” (some selected are unable to travel) who have been training at UAE clubs for the past 24 months. Aged between 8 and 13, that are “now ready to start competitive golf” with places in the U15 team for the next GCC Championships up for grabs.

The camp will also help identify candidates for August’s Asia Pacific Junior Championship in Hong Kong where two boys and two girls will combine to represent the UAE in the unique U18 format.

Beyond this the EGF is eyeing the Asia-Pacific Amateur Men’s Golf Championships in Wellington, New Zealand from October 26-29 and the Nomura Cup (Asia Pacific teams championship) in Malaysia the following month, as well as the combined U15 and U18 girls GCC Championships, which could possibly be held in the UAE, early next year.

There is also the Arab Golf Championship on the horizon, although the dates and venues for many of the region’s championships won’t be firmed up until after summer.

EGF Secretary General, Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi, expects the youngsters to benefit from the fortnight in Germany “tremendously”. Fleesensee Golf Resort was once a “European Tour Destination” with five courses varying in length and difficulty. The venue also has some of Europe’s best practice facilities where the teams will hone their games.

“Taking these kids from the Foundation Squad on this summer camp is an important part of the junior development process for the EGF,” Al Shamsi said.

“Having the chance to really focus on the fundamentals and the basics of golf will push these kids to the next level.”

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Mohammed Al Hajeri, Mohammed Abdulla Saeed and Rashid Al Qubaisi will represent the UAE in the U18 event from Thursday while Rashid Al Emadi (pictured above). Obaid Al Heloo and Khalid Al Mutawa make up the UAE U15 team which will also compete over 54 holes at Riyadh Golf Club.

The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) has invested heavily into its junior programme with the players honing their short games and working on scoring during a dedicated four week development camp at the European Tour Performance Institute (ETPI) at JGE.

“Scoring is the most important part of playing in the GCC Championships,” said UAE manager and EGF Secretary General, Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi as the teams tuned up with 36 holes of practice in Riyadh.

United Arab Emirates reps (from left to right) are Rashid Al Emadi, Obaid Al Heloo, Mohammed Abdulla Saeed and Rashid Al Qubaisi

“Recovering from mistakes and keeping the ball in play will help our team place in the top spots for this championship. We have some young talent and we have prepared well for this event…it is now time to put that hard work to the test.”

Al Qubaisi is playing his first international event while Al Hajeri is fresh from helping the UAE senior men’s team capture the bronze medal at the recent senior GCC Golf Championship in Bahrain.

Al Emadi is the big hope for individual honours in the U15 division after a strong 2016-17 season and dedication to his short game.

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