Golf tournaments can sometimes be so elite. Only the best of the best, or invited guests, get to perform. But this week at Sharjah Golf Club, anybody with a certified handicap can register for the inaugural Santa Fe Asian Golf Open and strut their stuff.
With net and gross competitions, unburdened by any handicap or age limit, any Asian-born golfer can sign up and potentially win a host of prizes in the tournament.
The first-ever edition of the Santa Fe Asian Open will kick off at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club on Saturday 15th March.
With options to play in either the 7.30am morning or 1.00pm afternoon shotgun, golfers need to enter fairly swiftly in order to secure a spot in the much anticipated championship.
While the afternoon shotgun is fully booked, the morning section still has a few spots open. Potential participants are urged to sign up soon with hype for the event already starting to bubble.
“In the UAE, there are a big number of Asian golfers. They get to play 18 holes in a championship course. There are many prizes to win. It’s good value with food and drinks available and it’s a unique event,” said Ben Derbyshire, head golf professional at Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club.
“We have two shotgun starts. The maximum number we can take is 56 in each shotgun. It’s full capacity in the afternoon session and there are only spots left for the the morning time.
“It’s only for one year at the moment, but we are sure it will go well and Santa Fe will sign up for many more years to come.”
The championship is sponsored by relocation experts Santa Fe, who have offices in South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, India, Qatar and of course the UAE.
Their interest obviously weighing heavy within the Asian market and now they are looking to encourage Asian golfers to get their game faces on.
In order to play, you need to have a valid handicap certificate with the Emirates Golf Federation or a CONGU handicap.
With so much interest from golfers from a number of different nationalities, the event will give divisional prizes to all nationalities with more than 10 golfers in the entire field.
Already confirmed are divisional prizes for the Koreans, Malaysians, Singaporeans, Indians, Filipinos and the Rest of Asia.
A number of different Asian diplomats and Consulate Generals have been invited to both play in the event and meet their fellow countrymen whilst also helping to present the prizes after play.
Entry fees for the event starts from as little as AED200, with guests paying AED475. This also includes giveaways and a dinner buffet post round.
The closing date for entries being Thursday, March 13, golfers are advised to contact the Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club reservations team as soon as possible on 06 548-7777 or [email protected] to confirm their place.
What: Santa Fe Asian Golf Open
When: Saturday, March 15
Where: Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club
Contact: 06 548-7777 or e-mail [email protected]
