Golf Course Architecture - Issue 64, April 2021

agreement being played in February 2019. That event also gave rise to the first Saudi golf professional, with Othman Almulla, a Saudi Aramco worker, being the first golfer in the Kingdom to compete internationally. Royal Greens has now also hosted the Ladies European Tour, with the inaugural Aramco Saudi Ladies International taking place in November 2020. Speaking at the opening, Al Rumayyan emphasised the Kingdom’s focus for golf developments: “The central tenet of our national golf strategy is sustainability. The ambition is for golf in Saudi Arabia to be recognised for taking a highly advanced approach to establishing the most socially beneficial, economically productive and environmentally responsible sector possible.” Golf Saudi has turned to golf industry experts for best environmental practices, entering into a partnership with GEO Foundation and the Sports Turf Research Institute of the UK. “Golf Saudi’s strategic planning has rapidly accelerated its position as a leader in golf and sustainability,” says Jonathan Smith, CEO of GEO Foundation. “Their foresight, to develop such a comprehensive and robust framework, now provides the clarity and direction for all involved in golf in Saudi Arabia to advance the sport in a way that delivers many positive outcomes, whilst considering closely the critical issues of environmental sustainability encapsulated in The Green Agenda. The underpinning goals around carbon and climate, ecosystem restoration, circular economy and water stewardship are particularly important.” Ground has been broken on Golf Saudi’s first accredited Amenity Turf and Landscaping Centre at Dirab Golf & Country Club and a partnership has been established with Atlas Turf in the development and distribution of the most climatically adapted turf species (see box on next page). Training schemes have been established for club and turf managers too. “We have sought to create an educational framework that can accommodate the formulation of a skilled localised workforce, creating the pathway for members of the Saudi community to embark on a range of careers in and around golf, ultimately creating an abundance of new job opportunities,” says Al Sorour. The national golf strategy is the foundation for the development of new courses in the Kingdom. There could be many, as the sport has a core place in the Kingdom’s place for future development. “Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has planted Photo: Kevin Murray 75