Golfers from the Middle East and North Africa will have more opportunities to develop with the creation of a new tour, vice chairman and CEO of Golf in Dubai Mohamed Juma Buamaim said on Wednesday.
The new MENA (Middle East North Africa) Tour would create "windows of playing opportunities" for professionals and amateurs in the region and would commence with four tournaments from 2012, Buamaim said at the launch.
"There is no shortage of talent in the Middle East and North Africa region and even the facilities are second to none, but the players lack regular exposure to high-class competitions, so hopefully this new tour will create the right environment and develop their skills.
"The prizes will be funded at first by the Shiekh Maktoum Golf Foundation, but we hope that we will be able to find sponsors as we go along.
"Also one day we are hoping that the MENA Tour can slot two events into the European Tour's secondary Challenge Tour," added Buamaim.
European Tour CEO George O'Grady welcomed the announcement and called it a "wonderful initiative".
"The hope is that the MENA Tour will become one of our third-tier tours which has a way into the Challenge Tour but you will have to play for a year or two first," he added.
Each event will comprise a field of 109 players made up of 60 professionals and the rest amateurs and carry a minimum prize fund of $75,000.
No dates or venues have been set but MENA Tour officials will meet on Saturday with representatives of a number of Middle East and North African golf associations to work on a schedule.
The tournament will receive recognition from the R&A and carry World Amateur ranking points.
The new MENA (Middle East North Africa) Tour would create "windows of playing opportunities" for professionals and amateurs in the region and would commence with four tournaments from 2012, Buamaim said at the launch.
"There is no shortage of talent in the Middle East and North Africa region and even the facilities are second to none, but the players lack regular exposure to high-class competitions, so hopefully this new tour will create the right environment and develop their skills.
"The prizes will be funded at first by the Shiekh Maktoum Golf Foundation, but we hope that we will be able to find sponsors as we go along.
"Also one day we are hoping that the MENA Tour can slot two events into the European Tour's secondary Challenge Tour," added Buamaim.
European Tour CEO George O'Grady welcomed the announcement and called it a "wonderful initiative".
"The hope is that the MENA Tour will become one of our third-tier tours which has a way into the Challenge Tour but you will have to play for a year or two first," he added.
Each event will comprise a field of 109 players made up of 60 professionals and the rest amateurs and carry a minimum prize fund of $75,000.
No dates or venues have been set but MENA Tour officials will meet on Saturday with representatives of a number of Middle East and North African golf associations to work on a schedule.
The tournament will receive recognition from the R&A and carry World Amateur ranking points.
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