By Kent Gray
One round is normally enough at this time of the year so how about golfing continuously for 24 hours? If it sounds a bit like an April Fool’s Day gag, it kind of is but there is also a great cause at play.

From 6pm on April 1, Al Hamra Golf Club will take advantage of its floodlighting to raise funds for the Ras Al Khaimah Club for People of Determination.

Emirates Golf Federation amateurs and UAE PGA professionals are invited to register for the 24-hour charity challenge with a complimentary shirt and gift pack part of the AED 1,000 registration fee. All entry fees, money raised at the post-golf bunch/charity auction and a proportion of F&B revenues generated on the day will be donated to the charity.

In addition to the 24-hour golf challenge, Al Hamra Golf Club will host a series of activities for all members of the community including introductory lessons and child friendly activations. A brunch, followed by a charity auction in the evening of Friday, April 2, is also planned where a range of “exciting items, packages and experiences provided by the event sponsors” will go under the hammer.

With an average time of four hours to complete a round, players are anticipated to complete at least six rounds holes during the 24-hour period.

“We are thrilled to be the first golf club to host this unique golfing challenge in the region,” said Christopher Hewett, Vice President – Hospitality and Leisure, Al Hamra Group.

“The 24-hour golf challenge underlines our continued commitment to bring unique experiences to the UAE golfing community. Moreover, by partnering with the Ras Al Khaimah Club for People of Determination, we hope to raise funds for the club and create a platform for them to meet, socialise and participate in sporting, cultural and social activities. With Al Hamra and its leisure properties being an integral part of Ras Al Khaimah’ ecosystem, we recognise our responsibility towards supporting various segments of the society, especially people of determination and are using sports as a key catalyst to improve the quality of their life.”

Her Excellency Sumaya Bin Hareb al-Suwaidi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Charitable Educational Foundation and General Director of Ras Al Khaimah Club for People of Determination,  expressed her appreciation for this initiative.

“We are working in partnership with Al Hamra Golf Club to achieve one common goal i.e., support the inclusion and empowerment of people of determination.

“This initiative is in line with the vision of the wise leadership to create an inclusive society that ensures empowerment and welfare of people of determination and their families. People of determination are a cornerstone of the community and an integral part of UAE’s human capital. We aim to strengthen our relationship with organisations such as Al Hamra to raise funds that will allow us to offer necessary physical, psychological, and intellectual care and attention to people of determination so that these young people are able to confidently integrate themselves in the society and able to engage in different work sectors, government and private.

“The club also offers activities and development programmes to help them succeed, excel, and match the skillset of other people in the society. We are responsible for creating an integrated environment that enables people of determination to improve their role in serving the country.

“Our club includes over 150 players with different impairments and disabilities and we organise various campaigns to enhance the lives of ‘people of determination’ in the areas of sports, culture, social and education. In Ras Al Khaimah, we are the only club who is dedicated to increasing awareness, promoting the participation and inclusion of ‘people of determination’ in the community.”

For more information, call Al Hamra Golf Club on +971 07 244 7474 or email [email protected].