The combination of world-class golf courses, state of the art practice facilities and perfect weather conditions has proven an irresistible blend for many of the European Challenge Tour’s best players as they hone their skills ahead of next week’s decisive season-ending Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final.
The top 45 players on the Road to Ras Al Khaimah will converge at Al Hamra Golf Club from Wednesday October 31 to Saturday November 3 to contest the Challenge Tour’s season-finale where the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The top 15 players on the Rankings following the conclusion of play will be awarded European Tour cards for the 2019 season, meaning they will follow the path of the likes of World No.1 Brooks Koepka and European Ryder Cup stars Tommy Fleetwood, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose, Ian Poulter, Tyrrell Hatton, Thorbjorn Olesen and Alex Noren who all started their careers on the Challenge Tour.
Household Names
With the chance to emulate the household names who have gone before them the Challenge Tour contenders are leaving nothing to chance and many of the players have been warming up for the biggest test of their careers by making use of the renowned courses and facilities around the emirate including Emirates Golf Club, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, the Address Montgomerie, JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort, Trump International Dubai, and Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Among them are Scotland’s Grant Forrest, currently eighth in the Rankings and already assured of a European Tour card for finishing in the top 15, and fellow countryman Calum Hill, who sits in 31st place.
“After the penultimate event of the season, the Foshan Open, it made sense to come out here and take advantage of the great facilities and weather,” said Forrest, who revealed the reason he will still be going all out for a big finish at Al Hamra Golf Club next week despite having already secured his place on the European Tour. “I’ve been lucky to enjoy rounds at Emirates Golf Club, Trump International, Jumeirah Golf Estates and the Address Montgomerie since landing in the emirate and all the clubs have been really accommodating in letting us use their facilities in the lead up to the season-ending tournament. It’s certainly been better than going back to the weather in Scotland at this time of the year!
“Just because I’ve already confirmed my playing privileges for the European Tour doesn’t mean that the Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final won’t be a massive week for me, quite the opposite. If I can get in the top three next week I’m going to get a nice boost up the Rankings and that could be the difference in getting entry into a few more tournaments next year so there’s still a lot to play for.” – Grant Forrest
Hill, who can join Forest on next season’s European Tour if he wins next week or finishes alone in second place, added: “It’s great practicing in Dubai ahead of the Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final as you get used to the environment and the weather that we’ll be playing in next week. The facilities here are second to none.”
Other players joining the Scotsmen in spending as much time as possible preparing in the UAE ahead of next week’s tournament include Liam Johnston (Scotland), Adri Arnaus (Spain), Sean Crocker (USA), Victor Perez (France), Ben Stow (England), Joel Girrbach (Switzerland), Minkyu Kim (Korea), Eirik Tage Johansen (Norway), Adris Arnaus (Spain) and Borja Virto (Spain).
Stepping Stone
“The Challenge Tour is a great stepping stone to bigger and better things, you just have to look at the guys that come through it and gone on to big things,” said Forrest. “Brooks Koepka, Martin Kaymer and Justin Rose all started off on the Challenge Tour and have all gone on to become World No.1 so I really do think it prepares you well for life on Tour. In my eyes, it is the best stepping stone to succeeding on the European Tour.”
As well as all the action on the course, Ras Al Khaimah is renowned for providing thrilling outdoor activities in and around the stunning Jebel Jais, the UAE’s highest mountain range. The Via Ferrata hiking, biking and climbing routes have all gained top Tripadvisor ranking among the emirate’s attractions after welcoming thousands of active adventurers in its first six months of operations.
Fans will also be able to experience a thrill like no other at Jebel Jais, where temperatures are 10 degrees cooler than sea level, with the northern emirate home to the World’s Longest Zipline: Jebel Jais Flight.
Measuring 2.83km and officially certified by Guinness World Records as the World’s Longest Zipline, thrill-seekers fly at speeds of up to 150kph, high above the 1,680m high, Jebel Jais mountain. After completing the first zipline, guests will reach a suspended landing platform, which is the first of its kind, before being transferred to a second zipline measuring 1km to complete the journey back to the ground. Since opening in February 2018, this global bucket list attraction has achieved a strong following from adrenaline junkies across the world and has received over 10,000 guests in first half of the year.
The Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final takes place October 31-November 3 at Al Hamra Golf Club. Entry is free of charge.
