Golf Saudi, a provider of world-class facilities for the sport, has reached thousands of Saudis as part of its Mass Participation programme in the last 12-month period, introducing them to the game for the first time.

The organisation has also launched the world’s first Arabic golf club industry education pathway in order to discover and develop the future leaders within Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing club industry.

Golf Saudi has also organised seven events throughout the year, in both men and women’s professional golf, with prize money exceeding $10 million and locations including Jeddah, Bangkok and London.

As part of the 2022 events calendar, Golf Saudi has struck a new relationship with the Asian Tour in the men’s game due to the importance and potential of Asia’s role in world golf. Not least due to its position as a global economic powerhouse.

The 2022 edition of the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers was the strongest yet, thanks to its place on the Asian Tour and  the diversity of its field was testament to the strength of the global game. This partnership has already been expanded to the PIF Saudi Open being added onto the Asian Development Tour in December 2022, which has consequently unlocked many opportunities for players, sponsors and fans of the game. Particularly those based in Saudi Arabia, making the game more inclusive for all eligible professional golfers.

Arguably Golf Saudi’s main focus in 2022 not just in terms of events but also in participation has been on women’s golf. That commitment was underlined when the organisation took the huge decision last month to increase the prize money of the Aramco Saudi Ladies International and match it with the men’s equivalent at the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. The $5 million purse will be the third-largest on the Ladies European Tour. A significant five-fold increase.

Majed Al Sorour, Deputy Chairman and CEO of the Saudi Golf Federation and Golf Saudi, said: “I look back on 2022 at Golf Saudi with a huge amount of pride. Each year, we are bringing more and more Saudi golfers into the game for the first time and as a result we are really seeing the strong growth of the game here in the Kingdom.

Al Sorour continued: “This is particularly true when it comes to women’s golf and our priority in 2023 remains to raise the profile of women's golf further and give the players the rewards that they deserve. Showcasing the best female golfers in the world as role models is integral to the game’s growth and increasing participation numbers here in the Kingdom."

In 2022, Golf Saudi’s Mass Participation programme reached more people nationally across all 13 regions within the Kingdom than ever before. This was all with the end goal of attracting 140+ members and having 200 new players actively playing with a registered handicap in 2023. In terms of schools, Golf Saudi continues to work with the aim of having the game added to their curriculums and to have over 135,000 school participants by 2025. Golf Saudi is also looking to host 700 try golf events by 2025, in order to bring golf into the community in locations such as malls, parks, sporting events and concerts. As well as a ‘Golf in the Workplace’ strategy, which will take golf to the offices of major corporations, women’s business groups and into the Saudi workforce.

Bouchaib El Jadiani, Head of Mass Participation & National Teams at Golf Saudi, said: “We have identified multiple pathways for Saudis to get into golf and gain an ongoing interest in the sport. Our view is that when Saudis play a sport, if they have fun, it is far more likely that they are going to come back, pursue it and potentially become future golfers.

El Jadiani continued: “We are therefore delighted to have seen the continued successful rollout of our Mass Participation program in 2022 across the Kingdom. We look forward to announcing further locations and activations in 2023, which will see other Saudis have the chance to try golf for the very first time via our Mass Participation programme.”

Academies at the two Golf Saudi managed properties have seen impressive growth with a total of 1,684 paid lessons delivered in 2022 (282% growth) across both Riyadh Golf Club and Dirab Golf & Country Club, with 49.9% of lessons given to Saudi nationals, 23.3% of participants being female and 250+ new golf club members being signed-up since 2020. New Junior, Ladies and Men’s development programs have been developed and rolled out, all of which provide high level coaching for all ages and pathways to excellence and potential National Team and Elite participation.

In addition to the growth of national participation and active players, there is also significant development in creating the future leaders of the Saudi Arabian golf industry. 2022 saw the creation and launch of the world’s first Arabic Golf Club Management education which is run nationally to populate the rapidly growing club environment with skilled and experienced nationals to lead the industry into the future. A goal of the Social Agenda is to create 2,200 jobs nationally by 2025 and club management roles being part of that.

In 2022, Golf Saudi has once again shown its commitment to the Green Agenda launched in 2021, by successfully ensuring that three of its golf clubs have successfully achieved certification from GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf, the international non-profit entirely dedicated to helping accelerate sustainability in and through golf. Dirab Golf & Country Club, Riyadh Golf Club and Royal Greens Golf & Country Club have all been recognized for meeting the international standard for sustainability in golf and agreeing to further improvement over the next three years. – TradeArabia News Service