RIYADH: GIB, the Gulf’s international bank, became the latest in a line of corporate sponsors to have its own signature tournament at Dirab Golf & Country Club, the 1st Annual GIB Golf Cup 2016, which takes place on Friday.
The presence of national players from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in addition to a welter of hopefuls from the various golfing communities has added prestige to the 18-hole stroke play competition with a shotgun start at 8 a.m.
As of Wednesday, a full field of 110 confirmed participation with 15 on the waiting list.
On top of the handsome prizes of golf merchandise plus trophies the participants will each receive a goody bag that contains Cutter & Buck polo shirt, Callaway Tour cap, Titleist Pro V1 golf balls, ball marker and golf towel courtesy of Gulf International Bank.
The major prizes up for grabs are for overall best gross champion and overall best net champion plus the top three winners from each division — three in the men’s and one in the ladies. Also to be awarded are skill prizes for longest drive for men and ladies and closest to the pin.
The golf course is in top shape and the greens faster than usual at a speed of 11.7 on the Stimpmeter after a new rolling machine was used to improve condition of the putting surface.
GIB CEO Abdulaziz Al Helaissi, himself a golfer, facilitated the bank’s sponsorship.
GIB is owned by the governments of the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries, with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund being the primary shareholder, according to a primer sent to Arab News. In addition to its main subsidiaries, London-based GIB (UK) Ltd., and Riyadh-based GIB Capital LLC, it has branches in London, New York, Abu Dhabi, Dhahran, Riyadh and Jeddah with a representative office in Dubai.
The presence of national players from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in addition to a welter of hopefuls from the various golfing communities has added prestige to the 18-hole stroke play competition with a shotgun start at 8 a.m.
As of Wednesday, a full field of 110 confirmed participation with 15 on the waiting list.
On top of the handsome prizes of golf merchandise plus trophies the participants will each receive a goody bag that contains Cutter & Buck polo shirt, Callaway Tour cap, Titleist Pro V1 golf balls, ball marker and golf towel courtesy of Gulf International Bank.
The major prizes up for grabs are for overall best gross champion and overall best net champion plus the top three winners from each division — three in the men’s and one in the ladies. Also to be awarded are skill prizes for longest drive for men and ladies and closest to the pin.
The golf course is in top shape and the greens faster than usual at a speed of 11.7 on the Stimpmeter after a new rolling machine was used to improve condition of the putting surface.
GIB CEO Abdulaziz Al Helaissi, himself a golfer, facilitated the bank’s sponsorship.
GIB is owned by the governments of the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries, with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund being the primary shareholder, according to a primer sent to Arab News. In addition to its main subsidiaries, London-based GIB (UK) Ltd., and Riyadh-based GIB Capital LLC, it has branches in London, New York, Abu Dhabi, Dhahran, Riyadh and Jeddah with a representative office in Dubai.
