RIYADH, 6 February 2004 — Members of the Saudi National Golf Team are to pit skills with British resident golfers in the Kingdom in a Ryder Cup-style competition this month.
Hosted by Dirab Golf and Recreation Center here, the two-day Saudi-British International Golf Challenge is set for Feb. 12-13.
The event comes within the framework of the Saudi British Memorandum of Understanding for Sport and Youth Welfare, according to Sheikh Khaled I. Abunayyan, chairman of Saudi Golf Committee and Dirab golf course owner.
Abunayyan, himself a keen golfer, said the weekend tournament will help the Saudi and British Golf Committees promote golf in the Kingdom.
While golf is fast growing in popularity among the expats, it is still considered relatively new to the Kingdom with the Saudi Golf Committee formed only in 2001.
Helping to stage the event are Golf Division manager at Dirab, Moroccan pro Bouchaib El Jadiani, Great Britain Committee’s Tom Matthews and Peter Waddell of BAE Systems, a partner in the Saudi-British sports program.
Ten players will represent each side. Ali Hamed Belhareth is the Saudi team captain, while Clark Windross will lead the British squad.
According to Dirab assistant golf professional and pro shop supervisor Tony Thekkiniyath the tournament format calls for four ball matches in the morning and foursomes in the afternoon of Thursday.
The singles are scheduled for Friday morning followed by the awarding ceremony in the afternoon.
Wednesday has been reserved for a practice round. Two Saudi junior golfers Nasser Al Dossary and Abdulaziz Ali Belhareth will join the teams during practice.
The other members of the Saudi team are Ali Hamed Al-Shali, Mohammed Fahad Al-Khaldi, Saeed Shari Al-Dossary, Sattam Suleiman Al Quissaibi, Jasser Mohammed Al Jaser, Abdullah Abdul Washid, Suleiman Mohammed Al-Amri, Faraj Al-Omari and Abdul Moaati Abdullah.
Joining Windross, an ex-professional with a zero handicap, and Matthews on the British side will be Waddell.
The other team members are yet to be finalized. After this month’s event, a second competition will be held either at the end of September or beginning of October.
Also, two Saudi Golf Committee officials have been invited to visit the UK in order to boost golfing ties between the two nations.
Meanwhile, a free golf clinic for junior golfers is being held Fridays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Dirab.
This program is the brainchild of El-Jadiani, who succeeded DGRC general manager American Jim Christie.
