GolfPlus May 2018 Digital Edition (May 2018) | Page 19

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Ras Al Khaimah to host European
Challenge Tour Grand Final
he European Challenge
Tour is thrilled to
announce that its crucial
season-ending tournament will
this year move to a spectacular
new location, when the Ras Al
Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand
Final takes place at Al Hamra
Golf Club, in the United Arab
Emirates, from October 31 to
November 3.
Ras Al Khaimah has hosted
the penultimate event of the
Challenge Tour season for the
past two years at the stunning
Peter Harradine-designed
Al Hamra Golf Club, but its
signi¿ cance will increase to
a whole new level when the
Grand Final moves to the
emirate following the signing
of a three-year deal. The Grand
Final is the last event of the
tour’s global 29-tournament
season, where the 45 highest-
ranked players will battle it out
for European Tour graduation
by ¿ nishing inside the top 15 in
the season-long Rankings.
Ras Al Khaimah has already
become one of the most popular
destinations on Europe’s top
developmental tour with many
memorable moments over the
past two seasons. As part of the
new agreement, the Challenge
Tour season will now be
known as the ‘Road to Ras Al
Khaimah’, with the emirate also
contributing a bonus pool to the
players ¿ nishing ¿ rst, second
and third in the Road to Ras Al
Khaimah Rankings who will
earn an extra €30,000, €20,000
and €10,000 respectively.
The Grand Final will boast
a prize fund of €420,000,
making it one of the most
lucrative events on the
Challenge Tour schedule. It
will be the sixth successive
time the Grand Final has taken
place in the region – having
been held in Dubai and Oman
for the past ¿ ve seasons – with
Ras Al Khaimah continuing to
build on its vision of growing
the game in the emirate. Alain
de Soultrait, Director of the
European Challenge Tour,
said: “For the past two years
the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism
Development Authority has run
with much success one of the
most popular and entertaining
tournaments on the Challenge
Tour schedule, so it is ¿ tting
that they will now host the
biggest event of our season, the
Grand Final. “Our players have
been very complimentary of Al
Hamra Golf Club, whether they
are speaking of the challenging
championship course or the
excellent hospitality and service
they received when visiting the
emirate. “We must extend our
sincere thanks to the Ras Al
Khaimah Tourism Development
Authority and its Chief
Executive Of¿ cer Haitham
Mattar for showing such drive
in making the step up to hosting
our most prestigious event, and
we know they will provide an
exemplary set-up worthy of
our Grand Final. “Thanks also
go to The R&A and Rolex as
without them it would not be
possible to stage a tournament
of such magnitude.” Haitham
Mattar, Chief Executive Of¿ cer
of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism
Development Authority, said:
“After hosting the penultimate
Challenge Tour event in Ras
Al Khaimah for the last two
years, we are delighted to
now host the Grand Final of
the Challenge Tour’s Road
to Ras Al Khaimah. “Sports
and adventure tourism is key
to Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism
development strategy and this
prestigious golf event is an
important addition to our events
calendar that will inspire more
golf enthusiasts to play where
the professionals play. “High
pro¿ le events of this nature also
help us attract an increasing
number of international visitors
and UAE residents who also
want to experience everything
Ras Al Khaimah has to offer.
With our unique natural
landscape of pristine beaches,
terracotta desert and the UAE’s
highest mountain range we cater
to those looking for luxurious
relaxation, culture or adventure.
“With the recent opening of
Jebel Jais Flight: The World’s
Longest Zipline in the stunning
Hajar Mountains visitors will
also have the opportunity to
tick off a truly bucket-list
experience.
“Our hotel portfolio which
includes high-end, luxury
properties as well as family
focused resorts is well placed
to accommodate the visitors
coming for golf, and with plans
to signi¿ cantly grow our choice
of accommodation over the next
¿ ve years, Ras Al Khaimah is
truly a great place to combine
watching sport with an exciting
stay.”
GolfPlus
MAY
2018
29