Jordan Ayla Golf Championship tees off

AMMAN — The Jordan Ayla Golf Championship on Wednesday started in Aqaba, marking the beginning of a “first of its kind” event in the Kingdom, under the patronage of HRH Prince Feisal, a statement from the organisers said. 

Taking place at the Ayla Golf Club, the championship will feature the participation of local and international players, as part of the seventh edition of the MENA Golf Tour. 

Ayla’s Managing Director Sahl Dudin said in the statement that the tournament has been a “key focus” for Ayla since the launch of the Ayla Golf Club a year ago, in order to make the unprecedented event a success by securing all the necessary facilities and provisions and inviting some of the most talented players in the world to compete. 

Northern Ireland champion Darren Clarke is expected to be the standout performer of the tournament, along with other global champions such as Zane Scotland, Luke Joy, and young Jordanian golfer Shergo Kurdi, in addition to Emirati golf champions Khalid Yousef and Ahmad Skeik, the statement said. 

“Jordan has offered us a unique opportunity to join efforts towards supporting the sport of golf on a much broader scale, which will allow us to highlight the importance of the MENA Golf Tour as it marches proudly towards international status for the benefit of players and golf enthusiasts region wide,” MENA Golf Tour Adviser David Spencer was quoted in the statement as saying. 

Spencer announced the details of the current round of the MENA Golf Tour, which launched in March with a qualifying tournament in Morocco, followed by nine others that spanned Ras Al Khaimah, Thailand and Africa. The second season of the tournament launched last month in Dubai and spanned Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Kuwait and for the first time Jordan, according to the statement. 

The director of operations at Ayla and golf specialist, Chris White, emphasised the readiness of the Ayla Golf Club to host this tournament, noting that the course has been designed in line with the highest international standards with the aim of positioning Jordan as a key destination for golf championships. 

Designed by Greg Norman, the championship course is “the largest in the Middle East and rivals the best courses worldwide”, as the facilities of the Ayla Golf Academy use solar power to provide adequate lighting that allows players to make use of the course during nighttime, White said in the statement.