Rocco Forte Hotels forges new collaboration with Emirates Golf Federation

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September 2025: Rocco Forte Hotels has joined forces with the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) in a landmark partnership that strengthens the ties between the United Arab Emirates’ thriving golf community and one of Europe’s leading luxury hospitality brands.

As part of the agreement, the EGF’s prestigious amateur series has been rebranded as The Rocco Forte Series by the Emirates Golf Federation, creating exciting new opportunities for golfers in the region. Starting in October, Rocco Forte Hotels will serve as the official sponsor of the Mid-Am and Seniors and tournaments – key events on the EGF calendar.

Further strengthening the connections between UAE golf and the wider European golf landscape, the new agreement will give EGF members direct access and the opportunity to enjoy preferential rates at Rocco Forte Hotels’ portfolio of properties across Europe, including Verdura Resort in Sicily, one of the continent’s premier luxury golf destinations.

Founded as a non-profit organisation, the EGF plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of golf in the UAE, working closely with local clubs to grow participation, elevate standards and promote the game across all levels. The new partnership with Rocco Forte Hotels represents a significant step in its mission to deliver outstanding opportunities for its members and the wider golfing community.

Blair Harvey, Golf Sales and Marketing Manager at Verdura Resort, said: “We are thrilled to partner with the Emirates Golf Federation and bring Rocco Forte Hotels into the heart of UAE golf. Verdura Resort offers one of the very best golf and lifestyle experiences that there is anywhere in Europe, and this agreement will allow EGF members to enjoy the resort’s full array of facilities while also supporting their competitive calendar.”

General Abdullah Al Hashmi, Vice Chairman at the Emirates Golf Federation, added: “Partnering with Rocco Forte Hotels marks a significant milestone for the EGF and our members, and is a step forward in our commitment to grow the game and deliver exceptional value to our membership. By rebranding our amateur series under one of the travel industry’s most famous names, we are not only strengthening our ties to Europe but also providing our players with access to some of the world’s most prestigious courses and resorts.”

Located on Sicily’s breathtaking southern coastline, Verdura Resort is a jewel in the Rocco Forte Hotels portfolio. The resort is home to two 18-hole championship courses — the East Links and West Shore — designed by world-renowned architect Kyle Phillips, as well as a nine-hole executive course and Italy’s only European Tour-approved Performance Institute. In addition to its elite golf facilities, Verdura offers a luxury spa, exceptional dining, and 1.8km of private Mediterranean coastline.

The Rocco Forte Series by the Emirates Golf Federation will debut under its new name later this year, with the Mid-Am, Seniors and Super Seniors tournaments headlining a busy schedule designed to showcase amateur golf at its highest level.

Adrian Otaegui in Contention at the BMW PGA Championship

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Wentworth, Surrey, England – September 12, 2025: Adrian Otaegui finds himself well-placed heading into the weekend at the BMW PGA Championship, currently tied for 12th after 36 holes at Wentworth Club. Representing the United Arab Emirates, Otaegui has called Dubai home for the past 13 years and continues to be a strong ambassador for golf in the region.

Otaegui, 32, is one of the most consistent performers on the DP World Tour, having already captured five titles, including the 2022 Andalucía Masters and the 2020 Scottish Championship. Known for his precision and composure under pressure, he has built a reputation as a role model for aspiring golfers and a player capable of contending in the biggest events. His long-standing base in Dubai has kept him close to the UAE’s thriving golf community, where he is widely regarded as an inspiration for the next generation of players.

Now chasing his sixth career victory, Otaegui is determined to use his experience and form to close out the season on a high. With only a handful of DP World Tour events remaining before the schedule returns to the UAE, he is eager to put himself in contention and carry momentum into the home stretch.

General Abdullah Al Hashmi, Vice Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation, commented: “It is exciting to see Adrian moving into some strong form at this stage of the season. With only a handful of events left on the DP World Tour before the return to the UAE, his performances add to the excitement and anticipation for golf fans across the Emirates.”

Otaegui’s progress will be closely followed over the weekend as he aims to cement his place among the contenders at Wentworth and continue building his legacy on the DP World Tour.

Emirates Golf Federation Announces 2025/26 Season Schedule

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The 2024 – 2025 Order of Merit Winners at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club

Dubai, UAE – 10 September 2025 – The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) is proud to unveil the official schedule for the 2025/26 season, which promises to be the most exciting and inclusive season to date. With more tournaments than ever before, the EGF continues to strengthen its commitment to providing opportunities for every demographic of golfer across the UAE.

For the first time, the season will feature dedicated Mid-Amateur and Senior categories. The Mid-Amateur category will welcome golfers aged 25–49, while the Senior category will be open to golfers aged 50 and above. These additions are designed to celebrate the game at all stages of life and give players new avenues to compete at a high level.

“The Emirates Golf Federation is committed to building pathways for every golfer in our community,” said General Abdulla Alhashmi, Vice Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation. “The introduction of Mid-Amateur and Senior categories ensures that our tournaments reflect the diversity of the game and provide opportunities for golfers of all ages to compete, develop, and enjoy the sport. This season will showcase the strength of golf in the UAE and reinforce our vision of making the game accessible to all.”

The 2025/26 schedule also includes fantastic opportunities for the winners of the Orders of Merit across categories, with exciting incentives and pathways to be announced later this month. These opportunities will highlight those players who rise to the top of their divisions and represent the next stage of golf development in the region.

To participate in the upcoming season, golfers must be a member of an EGF-affiliated club or hold an EGF Direct Membership. Membership ensures eligibility for all events and access to the wide range of benefits provided by the Federation.

The Emirates Golf Federation looks forward to an outstanding season ahead and encourages all golfers across the nation to join, compete, and be part of this exciting journey.

UAE team shine at Jordan Open as Mullane finishes runner-up and Skaik takes third

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Dubai, UAE — 8 September 2025

The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) is proud of a strong all-round showing from its athletes at the Jordan Open 2025, a flagship stop on the Arab Golf Series. Four UAE players teed it up and delivered across three rounds, led by Sam Mullane, who finished second on 219 (+3) with rounds of 70, 75 and 74, and Ahmad Skaik, who claimed third on 220 (+4) after cards of 75, 69 and 76. The championship was won by Daniil Sokolov of Qatar on 215 (-1).

UAE’s depth was further underlined by Syed Rayan Ahmed, who placed 7th, and Mohammad Skaik, who finished 11th, rounding out a productive week for the squad.

Speaking after securing the runner-up position, Sam Mullane said:

“I struggled all week off the tee but I managed to keep the ball in play and get around the course, it was ugly but I managed to still score well with a strong finish.”

EGF applauds the tournament organisers and host association for staging a fantastic championship that showcases the region’s rising talent and continues to build momentum for the Arab Golf Series.

What’s next

The UAE Team’s next international assignment will be the Bahrain Amateur Open, taking place 9 to 11 October, 2025.

UAE to field five players at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship

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Five golfers will fly the flag for the United Arab Emirates on home soil this October, as Ahmad Skaik, Sam Mullane, Jonathan Selvaraj, Abdulla Kalbat and Rayan Ahmed tee it up at the 16th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, hosted at Emirates Golf Club’s iconic Majlis Course from October 23–26, 2025.

Created in 2009, the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship was established by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), The R&A and the Masters Tournament to further develop amateur golf in the Asia-Pacific region.

The champion will receive an invitation to the 2026 Masters Tournament and an exemption into The 154th Open; the runner(s)-up will receive an exemption into The Open Qualifying Series; the top-three finishers will receive an exemption into The 131st Amateur Championship.

Skaik is no stranger to the Championship, making his sixth appearance in the prestigious event. One of his standout moments came at the 2021 edition at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, where he became just the second Emirati to make the cut – a decade after Ahmed Al Musharrekh etched his name in the history books at Singapore Island Country Club.

Skaik’s UAE National Team teammate, Ahmed, added to that history on his debut at Japan’s Taiheiyo Club last year, becoming the third player representing the UAE to make the cut. His achievement was marked by special congratulations from Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley and Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) Vice Chairman General Abdullah Alhashmi.

Kalbat also made his Championship debut last year, while both Mullane and Selvaraj are set to make their first appearances this year on home soil.

“I’m really excited, it’s always special to play significant events like this on home soil,” said Skaik.

“I know the Majlis Course well, and it’s an incredible venue with a rich history of hosting some of the world’s best players. I’m thrilled to have the chance to compete there for the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, and I can imagine the other players feel the same.”

Alongside the UAE quintet, players from an additional 41 APGC member organizations have accepted invitations with 116 players confirmed thus far for the 120-player field. The field is highlighted by Harry Takis of Australia, 2024 runner-up Ziqin Zhou of China, Kent Hsiao of Chinese Taipei, Jeffrey Shen of Hong Kong, China, Rayhan Latief of Indonesia, Taisei Nagasaki, Taishi Moto and Rintaro Nakano of Japan, and Fifa Laopakdee, Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat and Chanachon Chokprajakchat of Thailand. Representatives from four countries have claimed titles at the Asia-Pacific Amateur, including China with five victories, Australia and Japan with four each and the Republic of Korea with two.

Other Middle Eastern representatives in the field include Mousa Shana’ah, Mohammad Alrawashdeh, Salem Alabdallat and Hashem Shana’ah of Jordan, Azzan Al Rumhy and Ahmed Al Wahaibi of Oman, Saleh Ali Alkaabi and Ali Abdulla Al Shahrani of Qatar and Ali Alsakha and Khalid Saud AlFaisal of Saudi Arabia.

“To see such an exceptional field of amateur golfers coming together at Emirates Golf Club is a proud moment for us,” said General Abdullah Al Hashmi, Vice Chairman of the EGF.

“The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship continues to showcase the very best emerging talent from across our region, and this year is no exception. For the United Arab Emirates, having five of our own players competing on home soil makes the occasion even more special.

“It is a chance for them to test themselves against the strongest amateurs in Asia-Pacific, to inspire the next generation of Emirati golfers, and to demonstrate the progress our nation has made in the game. We look forward to welcoming every player to Dubai for what promises to be a historic week of golf.”

Notable past competitors include 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, a two-time winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur, and 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith. Over the Championship’s 15-year history, the Championship has served as a springboard to some of the world’s top players, including Matsuyama, 2018 champion Takumi Kanaya and 2021 champion Keita Nakajima of Japan, Smith, Cameron Davis and Min Woo Lee of Australia, New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, the Republic of Korea’s Si Woo Kim and Chinese Taipei’s C.T. Pan. Collectively, alumni of the Asia-Pacific Amateur have gone on to win 33 tournaments on the PGA Tour to date and more than 140 events across major professional tours.

Designed by Karl Litten and established in 1988 as the first grass course in the Middle East, Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis Course is located south of downtown Dubai and enjoys views of the city’s skyline. The Majlis Course annually serves as the host of the DP World Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic, an event won by the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Ernie Els, the latter of which owns the course record of 61. Australia’s Lucas Herbert won the Dubai Desert Classic in 2020 to become the first alum to win the event five years after his final appearance at the Asia-Pacific Amateur. Emirates Golf Club will host the Asia-Pacific Amateur for the first time.

UAE team shine at Jordan Open as Mullane finishes runner-up and Skaik takes third

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Dubai, UAE — 8 September 2025

The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) is proud of a strong all-round showing from its athletes at the Jordan Open 2025, a flagship stop on the Arab Golf Series. Four UAE players teed it up and delivered across three rounds, led by Sam Mullane, who finished second on 219 (+3) with rounds of 70, 75 and 74, and Ahmad Skaik, who claimed third on 220 (+4) after cards of 75, 69 and 76. The championship was won by Daniil Sokolov of Qatar on 215 (-1).

UAE’s depth was further underlined by Syed Rayan Ahmed, who placed 7th, and Mohammad Skaik, who finished 11th, rounding out a productive week for the squad.

Speaking after securing the runner-up position, Sam Mullane said:

“I struggled all week off the tee but I managed to keep the ball in play and get around the course, it was ugly but I managed to still score well with a strong finish.”

EGF applauds the tournament organisers and host association for staging a fantastic championship that showcases the region’s rising talent and continues to build momentum for the Arab Golf Series.

What’s next

The UAE Team’s next international event will be the Bahrain Amateur Open, taking place from 9 to 11 October.

UAE National Team Members to Compete at ISF World School Golf Championship in Morocco

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The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) is proud to announce that Mohammed Thabet and Aasiya Saleem, both members of the UAE National Golf Team, will represent the United Arab Emirates at the upcoming ISF World School Golf Championship, taking place at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat, Morocco, from 14–21 July 2025. The prestigious event will feature over 130 young golfers from 17 countries, competing in 72-hole stroke play (18 holes per day) across U15 and U18 boys and girls categories. Players will also participate in two practice rounds and an Education & Culture Day, making this championship not only a test of golfing ability but also an opportunity for cultural exchange and growth.

Flora Peuch, Senior Manager at the Emirates Golf Federation, expressed her excitement ahead of the championship:

“We are extremely proud of Mohammed and Aasiya, who continue to demonstrate the high standards of golf being developed within the UAE National Team programme. The Royal Golf Dar Es Salam courses are in fantastic condition, having just hosted an International Series event last week, which will provide the perfect stage for these young athletes to test themselves against the world’s best.”

The EGF wishes all four players the very best as they represent the UAE on this international stage, continuing to showcase the growing talent and diversity of golf in the region.

Trackman and Emirates Golf Federation Announce Strategic Partnership to Advance Golf Education, Training, and Performance in the UAE

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Dubai, UAE – 4th July, 2025 – The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) and Trackman, the global leader in launch monitor and performance tracking technology, are proud to announce a strategic partnership aimed at elevating golf development across the United Arab Emirates. This partnership also extends to the Emirates PGA, broadening the initiative’s reach to encompass professional coaching standards and education throughout the country.

This comprehensive alliance will see Trackman’s state-of-the-art technology integrated into national training programs, coach education, and player development pathways. As part of the collaboration, Trackman systems will be deployed at EGF-certified facilities and training centers, providing golfers, coaches, and PGA professionals with world-class performance data and analytics.

“The Emirates Golf Federation is committed to building a sustainable, high-performance golf ecosystem,” said Akram Skaik, Director General of the EGF. “This partnership with Trackman represents a significant step forward. By combining innovative technology with quality coaching and education through the Emirates PGA, we are creating a platform that nurtures growth from junior golfers to elite professionals.”

Trackman’s cutting-edge technology will support national team training, grassroots development initiatives, and the certification and continued education of Emirates PGA professionals. This ensures that both current and future generations of players and coaches in the UAE have access to the same tools and insights used by the world’s best.

“We are honored to partner with the Emirates Golf Federation and the Emirates PGA to help advance golf development in the UAE,” said Tom Hanson, Sales Manager, Middle East at Trackman. “Our mission is to provide precise, actionable data that enhances player performance and elevates coaching standards. This partnership is about building a stronger, data-driven foundation for golf in the region.”

Key Initiatives of the Partnership:

  • Deployment of Trackman technology at EGF training facilities
  • Integration of Trackman into national team development programs
  • Certification and ongoing education for Emirates PGA professionals
  • Support for junior golf academies and national coaching camps

About the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF)
The EGF is the national governing body for golf in the United Arab Emirates. It is dedicated to the growth of the game through inclusive participation programs, elite development pathways, and strong international partnerships.

About the Emirates PGA (EPGA)
The Emirates PGA represents professional golf coaches and instructors throughout the UAE. Working closely with the EGF, the EPGA is committed to promoting coaching excellence, providing certification and education, and supporting career advancement within the golf industry.

About Trackman
Trackman is the global leader in ball flight tracking and performance analysis in golf. Trusted by the majority of PGA Tour players and top coaches, Trackman provides precise insights that help golfers improve faster and perform at their highest level.

JAGA Caps Off UAE Golf Season as Sood & Ahmed Win Clutch Tour Invites

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(Al Ain, UAE) – On May 23-25, 2025, the Junior Asian Golf Academy (JAGA) and the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) cohosted the JAGA International Amateur Open at Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club. Over 30 amateur golfers took to the course with the opportunity to win an invitation to the upcoming UAE Clutch Tour event later this year. Coming out on top were Ananyaa Sood and Rayan Ahmed.

JAGA International Amateur Open – Winners

Over the weekend that saw temperatures above 50°C, JAGA and the EGF highlighted the upcoming campus, which is expected to open in Al Ain during September. The upcoming academy boarding school will be the home and training center of the UAE National Golf Team. JAGA provides the solution for student athletes to receive a high school diploma while incorporating a full-time golf training program known as the JAGA-WAY.  The JAGA-Way is a progression system similar to the martial arts ‘belt color’ model. Students are assessed regularly and progress through the system, ultimately striving to become a Black Belt, which means they are college-ready.

The JAGA International Amateur Open consisted of girls and boys aged 13 to 23. Winning the U13 Girls Division was Anushka Gupta. In the U15 Girls Division, the Best Net award was given to Sofia Zbiri, while Ayesha Gupta won the Runner-Up, and Ananyaa Sood was the Division Winner.

In the U18 Girls Division, Anuradha Chaudhuri was the Winner. For the U23 Ladies Division, Hannah Alan was the Best Net Winner. Lara ElChaib was the Runner-Up, and Jamie Camero was the Winner.

Luke Brown won the Best Net in the U13 Division, while Sebastian Cook was the Runner-Up and Sevn Laurijsen was the Winner. In the U15 Boys Division,n Sebastian Sales won the Best Net. Ralf Nuretdinov won the Runner-Up, and Alexander Rushika was the Winner.

For the U18 Boys Division, Abdulla Salman was the Best Net Winner. Mohammad Skaik was the Runner-Up, and Rayan Ahmad was the Division Winner.  Jonathan Selvaraj was the Winner, and Arav Shaw was the Runner-Up of the U23 Male Division.

The event that qualified for WAGR points came down to the Overall Results, where all Divisions were combined for an overall girls’ and boys’ winner. Rayan Ahmed won the Boys’ Overall award. He gained control of the tournament during the second round, firing an impressive 66, 5 under par. Rayan rode that momentum to the victory, shooting a 203, 7 under par for the event.

In the Girls Division, Ananyaa Sood shot rounds of 67-67-71 for a 205, 5 under par victory. This was 8 shots clear of the Runner-Up.  Both Ananyaa and Rayan will earn invites to the upcoming UAE Clutch Tour event later in the year.

Following the event, JAGA Cofounder, John Laroche, had this to say, “As we get one step closer to opening our campus in the UAE, this past weekend was a true celebration of the young talent that this region has to offer. Our goal is to develop the sport while providing an elite student athlete pathway for all inspiring golfers. Thank you to our partners and to the Emirates Golf Federation for their continued support. We look forward to following these young boys and girls on their journey”.

To find out more information on JAGA and its solutions, please contact Richa Siddharth, JAGA UAE General Manager at richa@j-aga.com or visit the website at  www.j-aga.com.