Words by Will Kent and photography by Will Kent & Ahmed Nabil
Last month, the UAE hosted the 2024 Pan Arab Championship at the stunning Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club, drawing more than 80 players from 13 countries to compete under the desert sun.
The tournament, held from November 20-22, showcased exceptional talent and marked a milestone for the venue as it prepares to unveil its luxurious new clubhouse.
The UAE enjoyed significant success, securing two medals during the competition. The Men’s Team, comprising Jonathan Selvaraj, Sam Mullane, Ahmad Skaik, and Rayan Ahmed, delivered an impressive 10-under-par performance to claim silver in the Teams Division. Meanwhile, the Seniors Team also triumphed with a bronze medal.
“The UAE National Men’s Team’s silver medal finish is a historic moment for our country,” said EGF Vice President General Abdallah Alhashmi.
“To see Jonathan, Sam, Ahmad, and Rayan deliver such an outstanding performance is a testament to their dedication, skill, and hard work. This achievement will inspire the next generation of Emirati golfers to reach even greater heights.
“This result in both the men’s and seniors’ game reflects the commitment of everyone involved with the Emirates Golf Federation to elevate the game in the UAE. We are excited about what the future holds for golf in our country.”
Morocco’s Glory
Away from the UAE’s success, Morocco’s Adam Bresnu delivered a breakout performance, finishing seven strokes ahead of second place to claim individual gold. The 20-year-old also helped Morocco secure the Men’s Team gold in emphatic style with an impressive 36-under-par total.
The week served as a possible indication of what’s to come from the African nation, with Bresnu’s teammates El Medhi Fakori and Hugo Mazen Trommetter also claiming the silver and bronze medals. It was an incredible week for all involved.
Reflecting on the tournament, Bresnu said: “The week overall has just been amazing, and the golf course is really good, too. I loved it. Really proud to be here, my first Pan Arab title, I’m really happy about it.
“I have a great Moroccan national team. We have great staff, too. I played really well. I also won my tournament two weeks ago, where I shot 13 under par. It’s been my A game lately, and I’m really proud of it.”
Bresnu, who is also friends with former Dubai resident Dominic Morton, has his eyes on taking his game to the next level and if his performance at Al Zorah are anything to go by, he’s definitely one to watch for the future.
“Moving forward, I’ve just signed to Texas Tech University in America so it’s going to be awesome,” he added. “It’s where Ludvig Aberg went so I’m hoping to do that same thing. I’m hoping to be the first Arab on the PGA Tour.
“My goal is to be the best player in the world, and I think I’m in a good shape to make it. I’m just going to practice more and more, and let’s see.
“The world is really changing for golf. You have the PGA Tour U, you have the DP World Tour pathway, so there’s so many ways you can turn pro. I definitely want to make it, and I’m giving myself three years. Pretty sure if I play really good golf, I’m going to be on tour. I really believe that.”
Arab Golf On The Rise
Along with Bresnu’s triumph, the tournament itself highlighted the remarkable progress being made in the Arab world’s golfing landscape, showcasing an impressive depth of talent across multiple nations. With players from various countries competing at a high level, the event displayed the growing strength and competitiveness of golf in the region.
“The Championship had an amazing field with some amazing scores in both the Men’s and Seniors championships,” said Mohammed Attallah, Strategic & Commercial Advisor to the Arab Golf Federation.
“With over 20 percent of the field finishing under par, that shows the strength in depth of Arab golf. Obviously, that’s down to the work that’s been done by individual federations in terms of developing talent, and that’s been on show. They are all doing a great job.
“Overall, the week was an amazing experience. I would love to thank to EGF, General Abdallah Alhashmi, Akram Skaik and the team for the amazing organisation. I would also like to thank the team at the Arab Golf Federation for their support in terms of financing and also being their on the sidelines to enhance the level of competition, and the level of the tournament.”
Al Zorah’s Growth
The Jack Nicklaus-designed track has long been a favourite amongst golf fans here in the UAE. It’s a challenging but fun course, and arguably the only one in the country with a real feeling that you are playing in ‘real’ nature.
And now, the club is also close to opening their new luxurious clubhouse which is a huge improvement on what was before. Players were offered a glimpse of this during tournament week, and it really is excellent. They are also set to open a tennis court, swimming pool, gym as well as floodlights fitted on the driving range alongside the new clubhouse.
“We’re moving into the 10th year of operation, and we’re delighted to now be hosting large tournaments such as the Pan Arab Championship,” said Austin Cahill, Al Zorah’s Head of Golf.
“We hope in the future years we will host similar sort of events and also moving over to our new luxurious clubhouse we are very excited for the future ahead.
“To have more international tournaments is going to be a big push for us just to showcase Al Zorah itself. It’s a lovely 18-hole Championship golf course. It’s a beautiful property, which I would highly recommend to anyone.”
With Al Zorah’s continued development into a premier golf destination and the emergence of young stars like Adam Bresnu, the future of Arab golf has never looked brighter.
