At the 2022 Nomura Cup in the Philippians the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) announced that Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) Vice Chairman, General Abdallah Alhashmi has been appointed as a new member on the Board of Directors of the APGC.
With over 45 countries affiliated with the APGC including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the mission of the APGC is to further the bonds of friendship among member associations as well as other representative organizations in golf throughout the world through friendly competition in golf. As well as to assist member associations in the development of golf within their respective countries and to ensure that member associations adhere to the Rules of Golf and Rules of Amateur Status as approved by The R&A.
“It is an honor to be appointed as a member of the Board of Directors for the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC)”, said General Abdallah Alhashmi. “This nomination is a direct reflection of the UAE and Emirates Golf Federation’s relations with the APGC member countries and delegates. This is the first time a delegate from the EGF has been appointed to the Board of the APGC. One of my first duties assigned to me is to actively bring the Arab Nations into the fold for the promotion of amateur golf and use the Middle East as a platform to host more elite-level amateur championships. The UAE and the Middle East host several top professional events, we now need to host top amateur championships”.
The APGC in conjunction with The R&A, the International Golf Federation, and Augusta National Golf Club hosts a number of amateur championships including the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC), Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship (WAAP), Queen Sirikit Cup, Nomura Club and a handful of other elite amateur championships.
“Hosting these events will give our nations the opportunity to showcase our development programs while securing World Amateur Golf Ranking points for the Arab players in the APGC region. We have the complete infrastructure to host the highest level of Professional and Amateur events, it’s time we start using that for developing the future generation ofgolfers”, General Alhashmi added.
A good example of this will be when the UAE and Emirates Golf Federation play host to the World Amateur Team Championship (WATC) in October of 2023. The WATC is recognized as the most prestigious team amateur championship in the world where the top male and female amateur golfers and counties compete for the Eisenhower and Espirito Santo Trophies.
General Alhashmi concluded with, “The Chairman of APGC, Mr. Taimur Hassan Amin has assured me of initiating new regional events under the APGC and hosting rights to hold any major APGC events that we feel we would be ready for in our region. In congratulating me on my appointment on the APGC Board, His Excellency Sheikh Fahim President of EGF assured me of the full support and confidence of the EGF to bring golf in our country and region to international level. I am very grateful to the President of EGF Sheikh Fahim and Chairman Taimur of the APGC to welcome me on the Board of Directors and reposing confidence in me to deliver the vision for development in our important region”.
