The triumphant 2016-17 European team with the spoils of their NMT Battle of the Continents victory. Europe will seek a third successful title this season.

The NMT Battle of the Continents, and associated banter, is back for a sixth season at Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club (SGSC ) and amateurs from around the Middle East are invited to tee it up for their corner of the world.

As official media partner, Golf Digest Middle East will again be following all the action as Europe go in search of a hat-trick of titles in 2017-18.

With the respective captains all members of the SGSC Scratch League team – Thomas Murdoch (America’s and Australasia), Nathan Fisher (Africa and Middle East), Mike Robson (Europe), Sunny Ramadas (Asia) – the usual pre-season posturing ensures another fiercely friendly edition.

Each continent holds a qualifier to find eight players  – the three best gross and 5 best net scores – to join their respective captains in the BOTC Grand Final on January 20.

In the final, the 9 team members are each grouped with a member of the three other continents in nine flights for a 18 hole stableford matchplay competition. The leading stableford score from the 4 ball is awarded 4 points, the next best three and so on with the trophy awarded to the team with the most points.

The first qualifier is scheduled for October 20 with two shotgun tee-times available to be part of Captain Murdoch’s America’s and Australasia team.

For your diary, here’s all the qualifiers:

America’s and Australasia – Oct. 20 (7:30am and 1pm)
Africa and Middle East – Nov. 3 ( 7:30am and 1:30pm)
Europe – Nov. 10 (7:30am and 1:30pm)
Asia – Dec. 15 (7:30am and 1:30pm)

Vivian Verma, from sponsors NMT Global Projects, certainly can’t wait for the Asian qualifier.

“I am delighted to once again sponsor this great event. In my year as Club Captain at Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club, I was keen to get my hands on the trophy under the captaincy of Mr. SS Son. We had a fantastic team but we couldn’t quite make it happen due to the outstanding European performance.

“This year I will be doing all I can to qualify for the Asian team and bring home the victory in the gand final.  Having spoken to all the team captains, I know how excited they are to get down to business.

“Plenty has been said between the captains over the summer but it’s now time for the fun to begin. May the best team win.”

Entries are now open for all the qualifiers. SGSC expect record entries and have again catered for this with morning and afternoon shotguns. Contact: Golf Reservations on 06 548 7777 or [email protected]