Nine-time Major champion Gary Player is to join a host of golf’s most influential figures taking part in the inaugural Golf Saudi Summit, which is taking place in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia from 2-4 February.
One of the most decorated golfers of all time and a prolific golf course architect, Player will share his views on how health and wellbeing are integral to long-term success and sustainability of the game.
“Saudi Arabia’s ambition in golf presents a significant opportunity for the game and all its stakeholders and future exponents,” said Player. “I am excited to connect with many of the national stakeholders at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s transformation and to hear first-hand about Vision 2030 and, importantly, how they plan to capitalise on the socio-economic benefits the sport can provide for its youthful population.”
His Excellency Yasir O. Al-Rumayyan, Chairman of the Saudi Golf Federation and Golf Saudi, said: “We are privileged to have Gary Player joining us for the first ever Golf Saudi Summit. He has kept a keen interest in our progress and been a good friend in the early stages our development. We are looking forward to his insights and developing a strong working partnership.”
Other headlines names already confirmed are Major champion and golf course designer Greg Norman; award-winning golf course architects Robert Trent Jones Jnr and David McLay Kidd; swing coach David Leadbetter, and Tim Shantz, CEO of Troon. Saudi stakeholders attending will notably include: His Excellency Yasir O. Al-Rumayyan; Mike Reininger, CEO Qiddiya; John Pagano, CEO Red Sea Project; and Majed Al-Sorour CEO of Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation.
The inaugural event will allow delegates the chance to learn more about golf’s rapid growth within the Kingdom while evolving key business relations. Attendees will see first-hand how the nation has taken major strides in golf development through Golf Saudi’s commitment to creating a new ecosystem, which has focussed on Golf Saudi’s five key development pillars: Access and Infrastructure, Events, National Team and Academies, Mass Participation and Tourism.
Businesses will be given a unique opportunity to tap into this progress, as the Kingdom showcases numerous lucrative opportunities and its ability to drive real estate, corporate, tourism and business-to-business benefits. This is as well as offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy and experience the world’s best players going head-to-head, which it will do during the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers from January 30 – 2 February.
Showcasing Saudi Arabia’s ambition and its connectivity to the national Vision 2030 social-economic development programme, the summit is the brainchild of His Excellency Yasir O. Al-Rumayyan and has been established to bring the leading business figures in global golf together to debate how Saudi can pioneer new benchmarks in mass participation, design and management.
For further information on the Golf Saudi Summit and to register your interest in the event, please visit: www.golfsaudisummit.com.