As a leading home-grown entity driving the establishment of a golfing ecosystem in the Kingdom, Golf Saudi’s mission is simple: to grow the game of golf. Its Go Golf initiative represents a significant leap in the development of golf within Saudi Arabia, by increasing access for all Saudis to learn the game, as well as paving the way for many talents to join the national team.

Since its launch in May 2021, Go Golf has aimed to ignite passion among a wide breadth of Saudi youth through its small group coaching and personalised training. With golf in its infancy across the region, there is no greater demographic to target to elevate the growth of the game in Saudi Arabia than the younger population, who make up around 44% of the Kingdom’s total population.

Over a period of three months, the program provides technical training divided into three phases under the supervision of qualified trainers. The first phase focuses on the foundations of the game, while the second concentrates on rules and advanced skills. The third phase develops the competitive skills required in tournaments, setting the selection criteria for qualified talents, who have potential to become professional players in the future.

The Go Golf initiative serves Golf Saudi’s ambition to pave the way for young Saudis and eliminate the barriers of entry. More than just an educational program, Go Golf enables Golf Saudi to equip a new generation of golfers, both men and women, who it is hoped will play an increasingly significant role on both the local and international stage.

Junior trainee, Badr Al-Harbi, said that his love for golf drove his program enrolment. “I learned a lot through this program and enjoyed my time, as I completed many training sessions and got to know different types of clubs and various technical techniques of the game.”

He added: “This program has greatly contributed to nurturing my passion for golf, and I have become more interested in continuing training and developing my skills. The program provided me with valuable guidance and helped me understand the game more deeply, which increased my enthusiasm to participate in future tournaments.”

Go Golf contributes to building a bright future for golf in Saudi Arabia. Image supplied

Since the program’s inception, the initiative has seen widespread participation. In May 2021, 1,315 girls and 1,410 boys from Riyadh, and 133 girls and 85 boys from Jeddah joined the program. Over time, the numbers continued to rise, with 58 individuals now having graduated from the program, including 9 juniors, 21 female players, and 27 male players.

Another junior trainee, Mohammed Hassan, said that “I enrolled in this program with the aim of gaining a deeper understanding of golf and developing my personal skills. Through the intensive training offered, I was able to learn the basics and techniques necessary to improve my performance, and I was proud to see a clear improvement.”

He also remarked that this program not only boosted his confidence in playing but also gave him strong motivation to continue training and enjoying the game. “Golf has become an important part of my daily life, and I look forward to continuing to improve my skills and achieving more successes.”

Golf Saudi programs such as Go Golf have supported and provided professional pathways to many home-grown talents who are now among Saudi’s top golfers including Othman Al Mulla, Saud Al Sharif and Faisal Al Salhab. We are thrilled to share in their achievements and the increasing success of the Kingdom, in global golf, and global sport at large.

In addition to its efforts within Saudi, Golf Saudi aims through this initiative to expand golf’s reach and presence globally. Go Golf is organised alongside the Aramco Team series tournaments which are held across Europe, United States, Asia, and the Middle East.

With this comprehensive approach and ongoing support, the Go Golf initiative contributes to building a bright future for golf in Saudi Arabia, achieving new aspirations both nationally and internationally, whether for those who see golf as a professional sport or a lifelong hobby.

For more information on the Go Golf Initiative by Golf Saudi, please visit golfsaudi.com/Go_Golf

Main image: Golf Saudi

This article was featured in the October 2024 issue of Golf Digest Middle East. Click here for a digital issue of the full magazine.