The MENA Golf Tour has today announced the appointment of Richard Rayment as its new General Manager, bringing more than three decades of global golf and sports management experience to the Tour’s exciting new chapter.
Rayment is a familiar name in both Middle Eastern and international golf circles. Originally from Australia, he co-founded a sports management company in Munich, Germany, 35 years ago with his wife, building an extensive portfolio of Ryder Cup players, multiple tournament winners, and clients from across Europe, Asia, Japan, and Australia. His career has encompassed every facet of professional golf management – from player representation and sponsorship acquisition to event organisation and commercial strategy.
A pioneer in European golf after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Rayment staged the first professional events in the Czech Republic, introducing Challenge Tour and European Tour tournaments featuring legends such as Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam.
“I’m truly excited to be taking on the role of General Manager at the MENA Golf Tour,” said Rayment. “This is a relaunch with a fresh vision and a dedicated team, including Keith Waters, our Chairman, whom I have known and respected for many years, and Donna Benton, one of the UAE’s most respected and successful business entrepreneurs.
Our focus is clear: to position the MENA Golf Tour as the region’s premier development platform, creating pathways for professional and amateur golfers, including women and juniors, to progress onto the international stage. We are targeting 12 events this season, each with a minimum prize fund of $100,000, supported by a Qualifying School starting this November in Portugal.”
Long Term Vision
Rayment emphasised that the Tour’s long-term vision is to work closely with regional Federations and PGAs to ensure young players have access to opportunities that can springboard their careers to Asia, Africa, Europe, and beyond.
Keith Waters, Chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, welcomed the appointment: “Richard brings 35 years of invaluable experience in professional golf. He has managed leading players, organised tournaments and advised companies on sponsorships. He is hardworking, loyal, and highly respected both in Dubai and across the Middle East. His leadership will be instrumental as we build the Tour’s future.”
Opportunities
For Rayment, this role is more than professional – it’s personal. “I know firsthand what opportunities mean to a young golfer,” he added. “I never turned professional myself, but I’ve walked that path as an elite amateur, and later as a manager guiding players to the highest levels of the game. To help shape those opportunities here in the MENA region is something I’m passionate about.”
The newly rebranded MENA Golf Tour will return in November with Qualifying School in Portugal, followed by a full season running through March 2026.
