Worldwide Golf, in partnership with Sixteen10, is proud to announce the 2017 Swing Against Cancer Golf Series which will give local amateurs and professionals the chance to play for some outstanding prizes while raising money for a great cause at the same time.
The series will take in five qualifiers across the UAE, culminating in the star-studded Mike Clark Golf Day on the Fire Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates on October 26th.
The winning amateur of the series will be treated to a ‘money can’t buy’ golf experience which will see them teeing it up alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson and Matt Fitzpatrick in the Rolex Pro-Am for the DP World Tour Championship. It doesn’t end there either – the winning player will also receive hospitality tickets to the tournament, an invitation to the players’ beach party, a two-night stay at Atlantis, The Palm – where the Race to Dubai’s top 60 players will also be staying – and a golf lesson with renowned coach to the stars, Pete Cowen – the technician behind the swings of multiple Major winners!
The pros, meanwhile, will play for a AED 5,000 cash prize plus a 5-star golf holiday worth AED 10,000.
President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan declared 2017 “The Year of Giving” in the UAE and there are few worthier causes in the region than the Friends of Cancer Patients charity.
The non-profit organization, founded in 1999, under the directives and patronage of her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, is dedicated to helping cancer patients and their families as well as raising awareness about the world’s deadliest disease.
“We’re delighted to be supporting this wonderful charity with a series that we’re sure will capture the imagination of the region’s golfers,” said Worldwide Golf’s Richard Bevan.
“Who wouldn’t want to experience teeing it up alongside the stars of the European Tour and then go to a party with them and stay at the same 5-star hotel before watching the Race to Dubai’s climatic tournament in VIP luxury as well as getting a golf lesson off arguably the world’s best coach into the bargain? It’s the stuff of dreams.
“The fact that each and every player who takes part in the series will also be helping to raise much needed funds and awareness to help fight back against a disease that has touched most people in some way, makes this something that we’re really proud to be involved with.”
The series will kick off on April 13th with the Worldwide Golf Open at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club and players will be treated to a golf course in prime condition, having recently hosted the inaugural Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq as the European Senior Tour visited the emirate for the first time.
“Sharjah Golf & Shooting club are incredibly proud to be hosting the season-opener of the Swing Against Cancer Golf Series,” said Golf Operations Manager Phil Scott. “The club, its owners, colleagues and members are passionate about joining forces and enabling the Friends of Cancer Patients charity to work towards its vision to unite a community and drive towards a common goal of improving awareness, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and ultimately curing cancer across the UAE.
CHARITABLE INITIATIVE
“We are privileged to be hosting the opening event of this great charitable initiative and will set the Championship course up in impeccable condition as a fair and testing challenge of golf. Get involved, put your skills to the test and unite as a community.”
Next up will be the sold out Ladies Inter-Club Challenge Final at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on April 18th which will see female members from 11 clubs throughout the region go head to head.
“We are so pleased to be able to incorporate the biggest Ladies Amateur Event on the UAE Calendar into the Swing Against Cancer Golf Series,” said Women’s Golf Middle East Manager Sandy Meyer. “To be able to support this charity event, especially against such a terrible disease, is important to all our lady golfers! We are looking forward to an exciting qualifier at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on April 18th with over 110 ladies involved.”
The Els Club will host a qualifier on May 18th, followed by the Links Group Pairs event at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club on May 19th.
After a break for summer the series will get underway again with the DSA Open, taking place on the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club on September 14th. This event will feature none other than ex-Liverpool and Leeds football legend Gary McAllister.
Steve Kelshaw, Managing Director of title sponsor DSA Architects International, said:
“Making a difference to people’s lives is a core belief within DSA. It is therefore in this spirit of delivering real results, that we partner and support the Swing Against Cancer Golf Series. With 2017 being noted as the year of giving, we look forward to seeing great progress as we all do our bit to ultimately remove cancer from our society. Gary McAllister is an old friend of mine who I met though golf and who tragically lost his wife to cancer so we’re delighted that he’s supporting our event.”
Three amateurs and one professional will proceed from each qualifier to the Grand Final, which is the Mike Clark Golf Day. There’s no limit to how many qualifiers players can take part in and places can also be booked directly in the Mike Clark Golf Day which last year featured footballers Teddy Sheringham and Trevor Steven, rugby star Mike Tindall and TV presenter Rob McCaffrey with a great day of golf followed by a sumptuous gala dinner.
US$50,000 RAISED LAST YEAR
“The Swing Against Cancer Golf Series is a concept created following the fourth successful year of the Mike Clark Charity Golf Day which raised $50,000 for the Friends of Cancer Patients charity,” said Reza Sazegar, Managing Director of Sixteen10, the company he set up in honour of his good friend Mike Clark – the former Jumeirah Golf Estates employee who sadly died from bowel cancer on October 16th, 2012.
“Our vision is to unite a community to fight for one common goal; to improve awareness of cancer in the UAE and raise money to help prevent, diagnose, treat and cure patients with cancer and ultimately help eradicate it from society.”
WIN a spot in the @DPWTC Pro-Am & help raise money for @focpuae. https://t.co/iIhyg52WEm for more details. #swingagainstcancer #Golf #uae pic.twitter.com/Rou0pX1da7
— Sixteen10 (@sixteen10_me) March 24, 2017
Dr. Sawsan Al Madhi, Director General of Friends of Cancer Patients Society, added: “We are deeply appreciative of the ‘Swing Against Cancer Golf Series’ initiative, which has been launched following the success of the Mike Clark Golf Day and which will further raise funds for Friends of Cancer Patients. As a non-profit society which works to meet the cost of treatment for cancer patients and to provide them and their families with practical as well as emotional support, our society is totally dependent on money derived from such charitable activities.
“The Swing Against Cancer Golf Series will enable individuals and companies to support the fight against cancer through a meaningful game, giving professionals and amateurs the chance to play friendly and competitive rounds all for a great cause. We are delighted that Worldwide Golf is supporting Sixteen10 with the initiative, with the funds that will be raised from it perfectly encapsulating the UAE’s Year of Giving.”
Tickets for all events in the Swing Against Cancer Golf Series can be purchased at www.800tickets.com. For more information please visit www.swingagainstcancer.com
