RIYADH, 8 September — The first GCC Golf Tournament will kick off at the 18-hole, 100-hectare Dirab Golf & Recreation Center, about 50 km from Riyadh, on Sept. 23, coinciding with the Kingdom’s National Day.
This was disclosed to Arab News by Jim Christie, general manager of the center, who said it is the first time that all the GCC teams will be competing at the only grass golf course in the Kingdom.
A total of 36 players from the six Gulf states will participate in the tournament, which will conclude on Sept. 26. Senior officials from the General Presidency of Youth Welfare and other distinguished guests will attend the event.
Jim, PGA “Master” Golf Professional in the complete designing and management of golf courses, said the staging of the GCC tournament on their golf course also marks the formal launch of the Saudi Golf Federation, which has Khaled I. Abunayyan, the center’s owner, as the president.
Mohammed Abunayyan is the vice president. Together, they have pooled their resources to give Riyadh a new tourist attraction nestled amid a string of farms at Dirab on the Riyadh-Taif Road.
A visit to the golf center at the weekend brought forth the lush greenery of the golf and recreation center.
The sprawling 100-hectare facility boasts a large lake snaking through the 18-hole course.
The western architecture of the buildings located inside the center, together with expatriates from various nationalities, lends an exotic look to the complex seen nowhere else in Riyadh.
“At present, we have over 1,000 members, a majority of whom are expatriates. They include diplomats, bank and company executives.
“We also have some Saudi businessmen among our members, for which the membership fee is SR14,000 annually. We hope that this tournament and the launch of the Saudi Golf Federation would create an interest in golf among Saudis, who have a passion for soccer,” Jim said.
Referring to the tournament, he said BMW was the main sponsor of the events.
The organizers of the tournament have found seven sponsors so far.
“But we are looking for more, as we need them for each of the 18 holes. The sponsorship fee ranges from SR5,000 to SR15,000.”
Bahrain, last year’s golf champion, was expected to make a strong pitch. “Saudi Arabia could come off third, just behind the UAE, with Qatar, too, expected to finish in the same slot as the Saudis.
My task is to hone the golfing skills of the Saudis so that they finish one notch up in the competition,” observed Jim, a veteran with 40 years’ golf experience.
He designed and supervised the construction of the golf course, which provides both golfing and recreation facilities.
Describing the Dirab golf center as an oasis in the midst of desert, Louis Williams, British national , who works for the National Guard, said his game had improved under Jim’s expert guidance.
The contrasting landscape of the greenery surrounded by mountains was also an enchanting experience, he said, adding: “ I have played golf in many countries. But this golf course easily ranks among the best.”
Carl Holman, also British, from the National Guard, said he has enjoyed playing golf at the weekend, especially as it was a different ball game from playing in the wet conditions of England vis-a-vis the dry climate of Riyadh.
“But one never feels exhausted, as there is plenty of water to drink at each hole. It is a stimulating experience,” he added.
