The PGA has joined forces with Gulf Air and the Riffa Golf Club in Bahrain, to launch the Gulf Air International Pro Captain Challenge over the next three years and will shortly be inviting captains and their club professionals to take part in a qualifying round – to be held in each of their seven regions over the summer – for a place in the Grand Final at Riffa later this year.
The winning finalists will be treated to a five-night stay in the Gulf, which includes return flights, accommodation and a practice round, entry into the commemorative pro-am and an invitation to a special gala dinner.
Danny Barranger, head of sales at headline sponsors Gulf Air, said, “This is an exciting opportunity for the airline to raise the profile of Bahrain as a new international destination for golf, as well as target new market opportunities in the international golfing community.”
It is envisaged that between 80 and 100 clubs will participate in the regional qualifying stages reaching up to 800 clubs in the first year with the potential to attract over 1,200 in subsequent years with increased qualifying rounds.
Entry details for the Gulf Air International Pro Captain Challenge can be found at www.pga.info, together with a list of dates and venues for the regional qualifying events.
Gulf Air was founded in 1950. Today, it is owned by the Kingdom of Bahrain, Oman and the UAE and is the only truly pan Gulf carrier in the region. The airline’s network stretches from Europe to Asia and covers 45 cities in 33 countries. The fleet is one of the most modern in the Middle East and comprises 34 aircraft.