A full field of 45 golfers will contest 27-hole tournament over two days at JA The Resort which has the backing of former Dubai Desert Classic winner and JA The Resort ambassador Rafa Cabrera Bello.
The JA Summer August Classic begins tomorrow, Wednesday 19th August and will conclude on Thursday as players play three loops of nine holes at the 5,863 yards Resort Course layout, which was designed by Peter Harradine.
A 3pm shotgun start will see 18 holes being played on the opening afternoon (Wednesday) in a Stableford, full handicap allowance format that has attracted entries from throughout the UAE from both men and ladies.
After an overnight stay at the JA Palm Tree Court, the remaining nine holes of the tournament will be played on Thursday, with a 7.30am shotgun start.
The field will be split into 15 three balls and is played under the local sanctioning of the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) and will strictly follow the COVID 19, EGF and Ministry of Youth and Sports Federal Sports Policies.
The event will be an EGF qualifier for handicap.
Rafa Cabrera Bello, JA Resorts & Hotels Global Golf Ambassador and currently 61st in the Official World Golf Ranking, said about the JA August Summer Classic:
“I played in last week’s Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour and finished a respectful tied 37th that could have been a lot better.
“I am aware, through my friends at JA Resort, of this week’s 27-hole, two-day, JA Summer Classic and I wish all players taking part the best of luck for this event. Stay cool!
“I am hearing that The Resort Course is in its usual excellent condition and I will be watching out for the scores and the winners.
“It is great to see local golf so strong this summer with local tournaments as well as local play at record levels at all the golf clubs in Dubai.”
Prizes
Prizes, courtesy of support sponsors ProSports International, will be distributed after play for the following divisions; overall, men and ladies, as well as the typical ‘novelty’ prizes of various nearest the pins and longest drives.
Stuart McMurdo, Director of Golf at JA The Resort Golf Course, said: “We continue to be overwhelmed by the uptake and interest in local golf at present, as well as ‘Staycation’ golf.
“This initiative has been designed to highlight the championship standard golf facilities and nine-hole course at JA The Resort, while also familiarising golfers with the other attractions here at Dubai’s largest experience resort.
“We thank both MEDICLINIC as a partner sponsor of JA The Resort and ProSports International for supporting this initiative and we look forward to this becoming a JA The Resort regular on the local golfing calendar.
Initiative
“The initiative is aligned to our Summer 2020 Staycation Packages at JA The Resort.
“It is a key part of JA The Resort summer marketing programme to encourage 2020 Staycations for this summer season, whether for non-golfers or golfers.
“We are already planning a series of Staycation Golf Opens, for EGF members with handicaps as well as separate events involving; JA Summer Swing Members and other players.”
“The interest we have received to date has far exceeded all our expectations and has created a genuine buzz in the UAE golf community and we are now looking to host such Staycation Tournaments at JA The Resort throughout the 2020 – 2021 golf season.”
