With Golf Digest Middle East celebrating its 150th issue in January, the future of the global game – and the region’s increasingly influential place within it – has fittingly never been more fascinating.
The title’s sesquicentennial edition focuses on the rapidly evolving power play for the professional game, including the roles that the freshly-minted DP World Tour (formerly European Tour), the Asian Tour, and the also Saudi-financed LIV Golf Investments are playing in the ever-changing landscape.
To mark the milestone, Campaign’s Motivate Media Group stablemate has become the world’s first Arabic language golf magazine.
Not since the Royal and Ancient game first met grass in the Middle East with the opening of Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course in 1989, has the game here enjoyed a more influential, or culturally appropriate, moment.
It is a particularly poignant moment for His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the Chairman of both Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation since 2018.
“Following my recent appointment as President of the Arab Golf Federation, these are just the type of initiatives I want to support in my new role,” said H.E. Al-Rumayyan.
“I am a passionate golfer and therefore I want to introduce this great game to as many people as possible in the Middle East. So, by now having an Arabic language resource which can provide regular updates to an entirely new audience, I am confident that Golf Digest can play its part in growing participation in our game here in the region.”
They are sentiments echoed by Majed Al Sorour, the CEO of Golf Saudi and Deputy Chairman of the Saudi Golf Federation.
“It’s great to see the inaugural Arabic issue of Golf Digest published in both print and digital. In my roles not only in Saudi Arabia but also as Secretary-General of the Arab Golf Federation, I want to support golf’s growth in new markets, particularly the Middle East and I want to work together with other stakeholders to showcase the game’s many benefits to new Arabic audiences. This magazine will help us do exactly that.”
Ian Fairservice, Motivate Media Group Managing Partner & Group Editor-in-Chief, is proud of the multi-media company’s ongoing contribution to the growth of the game across the Middle East.
“The first edition of Golf Digest was published before the launch of the Race to Dubai in 2009 and the title, along with others in the Motivate Media Group stable, has proudly partnered the golf industry on the incredible journey the game has taken in the Middle East ever since,” Fairservice said.
“Golf Saudi’s emergence as a true force in the game, in the region and beyond, has been a huge part of the story in recent years and we’re proud to enhance the Kingdom’s golf journey with the world’s first Arabic golf title. It illustrates our commitment to helping Golf Saudi grow the game in what is undoubtedly the most progressive new golf market in the world.”
Visit GolfDigestme.com to download the historic issue for FREE and to stay up to date with all the latest developments, from the alignment of the regional developmental MENA Tour with the Asian Tour to the DP World Tour-PGA Tour alliance fighting traditions’ corner against the Greg Norman-front LIV Golf.
