Muscat, 9th July 2005

OMAN GOLF PIONEER VOWS TO BRING SPORT TO THE FORE!

Muscat Golf & Country Club promoter tees off on mission to produce Omani Tiger Woods

Residents of Oman may soon see the formation of an Oman Golf Association, working in conjunction with schools and academies to produce the next Omani Tiger Woods, if Mr. Mohammed Suleiman Al Wahaibi, Personal Representative to H.H. Sayyid Kais Bin Tarik Al Said, has his way.

A keen golfer and former Oman National Golf Champion who is in charge of the Muscat Golf & Country Club residential and leisure project, Al Wahaibi would like to see a growth in Oman’s knowledge and enthusiasm for his favourite sport and believes that this can be done by building top class golf courses in the Sultanate. The first of these top courses will be open at the Muscat Golf & Country Club by September 2006.

“I would formally like to thank all Government organisations for their assistance, guidance and support with this project,” says Al Wahaibi., who was a major player in helping to build the Ghala/Wentworth sand course. He has dreamed of building the Muscat Golf & Country Club course for the past eight years, in no small part to fulfil the vision of the Project Sponsor, H.H. Sayyid Kais bin Tarik Al Said.

“The land has been selected by golfers with the intention of playing on a course that provides natural challenges and utilises the beauty of the local environmental elements. We made sure that the world’s top golf course designers studied the topographical maps and aspects of the site before planning the course. Its unique and challenging design will ensure that golfers will return again and again, to take up the MGCC challenge,” said Al Wahaibi in a recent interview.

In terms of course design, the Muscat Golf & Country Club course looks set to become a favourite amongst keen golfers in the region, who are looking for a quality course to play. “As a golfer, a long course is always a test. As a golf course project, the length of the course also poses a challenge to the planning and construction. If the course is of charming architecture, which the MGCC is, then that also contributes heavily to the course quality,” added Al Wahaibi.

Combining his favourite hobby with a passion for the development of tourism in Oman provides Al Wahaibi with the ultimate goal of pushing golf to the forefront of sport in the region. “The course will attract Omani players, boost tourism as well as create jobs for our Nationals. Our aim is that over the next couple of years, once the course is established, it will become a focus of golfing activity within the GCC, as well as being included in the international golfing calendar. International interest in touring and golfing destinations will help boost our tourism and ultimately have a positive effect on the Sultanate. We expect to see Oman included on one of the International Golf Tours in the not too distant future!”