12 minute read
Mr Ambassador
What’s the
BIG-HITTING JASON KOKRAK IS EXCITED FOR HIS RETURN TO THE SAUDI INTERNATIONAL AND THE START OF THE 2022 ASIAN TOUR SEASON
it took jason kokrak nine years and 233 starts to claim his maiden PGA Tour win at the CJ Cup in Nevada in October 2020. If you have followed the American’s career, the, ahem, methodical approach to success will come as no surprise. Indeed, each step up golf’s pecking order has taken Kokrak a while to conquer but once he’s made the grade, watch out.
So it has proved on the PGA Tour where the 6ft 4in Canadian-born American has gone on to add two further titles to his tally in a stellar 2021. The victories at the Charles Schwab Cup and the Houston Open make Kokrak one of the players to watch at next month’s PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers – not to mention his ability to thwack a ball with the best of them.
Golf Digest Middle East caught up with the world No.21 to discuss his hot-boil game and his chances at Royal Greens Golf & County Club in the Asian Tour’s $5 million season-opener.
You’ve been in red hot form at the back end of the year with two wins – what has been the key?
I have always been a slow learner but I knew once I could get into the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour that I could do it again and again. It has been that way at every level for me and now I have the confidence I can do it at this level. Plus, I have a great team around and have really relied on my caddie, David Robinson, to help with reading the greens. With DRob on the bag, he tells me where to hit it and I do my best from there. It seems to be working out really well.
How does this change things for your 2022 goals and the level you want to take your game to?
No real change, keep playing good golf and see what happens from there. I want to take the next step and start competing to win Majors and one of my main goals is to make the Presidents’ Cup Team in 2022.
GOLF SAUDI
Golf goes hand in glove with Saudi Arabia’s Vision2030 strategy, the sport’s inherent socio-economic benefits, core values and qualities snuggly fitting the Kingdom’s ambition to unite its population, diversify lifestyles and promote the nation’s overall general health.
Golf Saudi’s role is to unlock the universal appeal of the game across six key pillars in order to create mass excitement with key demographic targets. The pillars are: Access and Infrastructure; National Team and Elite Development; Mass Participation; Events; Tourism and Sustainability.
Golf Saudi’s mission is to facilitate uptake and participation in Saudi Arabian golf through the delivery of world-class facilities, operational excellence, and implementation of best practices while harnessing wider commercial opportunities within golf. The organisation’s goals for 2025 include ensuring 3.5million+ nationals get to try golf for the first time, including more than 135,000 school children. The goal is to create 29,000 regular golfers. Golf Saudi also aims to welcome 5,000 international golf tourists to the Kingdom per annum.
The positive impact of hosting and organising high-profile championships, such as the Aramco Team Series, the PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers and the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF is an important aspect of promoting a modern Saudi lifestyle, where an abundance of entertaining events set out to enrich the lives of many citizens and inspire generations in fields that interest and excite.
GOLF LESSONS
Pioneering Saudi professional Othman Almulla appropriately had the honour as Golf Saudi launched a nationwide tour of schools to raise awareness of the Saudi International.
The 35-year-old MENA Tour regular visited Riyadh’s Tarbiyah Namouthajiyah School in December with the Saudi International trophy and turned teacher as part of Golf Saudi’s push to introduce children to the game. Other star players will tag in at other schools in the countdown to the Asian Tour’s new $5 million flagship event from Feb. 3-6.
“I hope to see a new generation of both male and female golfers representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia across the globe,” said Almulla who led SNAG (‘Starting New At Golf’) lessons.
“We had a great opportunity today to share insights about golf, and particularly the important role that the Saudi International plays in promoting the sport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is just the first step in many big steps coming to tell the community about the sport that I love.
“I think the sport of golf is unique because it gives you an experience to test yourself every day. It teaches you patience, perseverance in tough conditions and resilience. While most sports do that as well, the tests that you see on the course are very similar to the ones these students have to get past in life.”
The innovative and globally accepted SNAG certification programme includes all the basics of golf, helping beginners build skills. It can be played both indoors and outdoors, ensuring anyone can learn, play, and teach golf – alongside the sport’s core values.
Golf Saudi is spearheading one of the world’s most progressive golf development strategies, with its Mass Participation programme forming the cornerstone of this strategy. The programme remains a top priority for the organisation as it seeks to attract and inspire the next generation of Saudis to take up the game and develop future homegrown champions. Ahead of 2025, Golf Saudi has targeted the creation of 2,200 jobs and developing approximately 29,000 new golfers.
“Our goal is always to bring golf to as many Saudis as possible,” said Golf Saudi CEO Majed Al Sorour.
“We want to give young people an opportunity to develop skills and highlight golf’s unique values that can aid their development – both in future careers and their everyday lives. Excitement is building towards our biggest ever Saudi International that will continue to impact the golfing landscape here and inspire more nationals than ever to engage in this amazing sport.”
Do you enjoy the chance to come to the Middle East and play on different tours and conditions?
Yes, last year was my first trip and although the full experience was impacted by COVID, I loved the golf course and style of golf required to play well. I have now played pretty much in every corner of the globe and I like the way my game adjusts when I play in different conditions, on different styles of courses and different grasses. I think my game translates well to whatever the game of golf is going to throw at my week in and week out.
How important is it for you and your fellow pros to have the ability to play where you want and experience the Asian Tour and Saudi?
Obviously, as independent contractors I believe we should be able to enjoy what the game of golf can offer us and, if our play affords us that opportunity, we should be able to take advantage of it. I want to be able to see the world as a result of what I accomplish in the game and playing the Asian Tour and in the KSA is a big highlight for me. Also, I am thankful the PGA Tour has granted me a release to play the Saudi International and I am excited to come over and compete again this year.
What was your experience like previously playing the Saudi International?
In a word, awesome. I can’t wait for this year to get to experience more of the KSA since I didn’t get the chance last year due to COVID. But as far as the golf and the golf course and the amenities the tournament provides the players, it was an awesome, world experience.
For the
Mass Participation forms one of Golf Saudi’s key pillars, with the aim of introducing, educating and entertaining citizens about golf. This will be done through both on and off course programmes to build touchpoints, including:
1Registered Golfers – Golf Saudi hopes to achieve 29,000 registered golfers in the Kingdom via a comprehensive awareness campaign to promote golf and where to play. This campaign is targeting over five million Saudi nationals
2Ladies First Club – The establishment of the club in 2020 inspired participation and represents the progress Saudi Arabia has made in the women’s game, with 1,000 young girls signing up to play the game in just four days. The equality movement is not only a critical element of driving society forward, but core to Golf Saudi’s future plans and crucial for Saudi Arabia’s successful future transformation.
3Let It Fly – Launched in early 2021, this campaign introduced the game of golf to a whole host of new audiences within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. An entertaining and modern approach, which will excite a younger generation of Saudis through the development of urban golf, school programmes, gamification, and group events. Let It Fly is a complementary pathway for any Saudi National to begin playing golf for the first time. 4 Golf Club Membership – Golf Saudi is aiming to increase golf club membership to 20K by allowing price-sensitive access to all forms of the game (on and off course) with golfing experiences becoming available for less than $20.
5First Time Trial – By 2025, Golf Saudi would like more than 3.5 million Saudis to have actively tried golf, by offering regular opportunities for introductory lessons by Golf Saudi/PGA Professionals
6Juniors – Golfing camps are being setup for children, with a minimum of one camp per week at each golf course. Each camp will consist of roughly 30 children. The target is to have five female sign-ups at every golf course in the Kingdom on their respective six-week beginner programmes. This target will increase to 10 sign-ups by 2022
“Quite simply, our goal is to bring the game to as many Saudis as possible, so they are able to experience and enjoy first-hand the benefits and value of the sport,” said Golf Saudi CEO Majed Al Sorour.
“Golf Saudi aims to introduce, entertain and educate Saudis about golf. Our view is that when Saudi citizens play a sport, if they have fun, it is far more likely that they are going to come back, pursue it and potentially become future golfers and that is exactly what our Mass Participation programme aims to achieve.”
GREEN AGENDA
Since its announcement at the Golf Saudi Summit in February 2020, the Green Agenda has caught not just the golf industry’s attention but also mobilised the wider Saudi business community.
The Green Agenda set out policies for an environmental national governance strategy, addressing best-practice principles that allo stakeholders to benefit equally through state-of-the-art sustainability initiatives, guidelines, and operations.
This was followed in November 2020 by an over-arching programme called the National Sustainable Golf Strategy, of which the Green Agenda is now a key component.
The National Sustainable Golf Strategy plans to build a national golf ecosystem with the ambition to grow its international presence and participation, creating jobs for Saudis in the process and establishing the world’s first environmentally governed golf ecosystem.
Progress has been quick with Golf Saudi becoming a signatory of United Nations Sports for Climate Framework in July 2021, as well as agreeing a series of partnerships with STRI Group, Atlas Turf and GEO Foundation to develop and foster respective cooperation focus on the latest technologies, future-proof design, and cutting-edge sustainable thinking.
“Our courses will be regenerative through native green infrastructure, while being low, if not entirely, carbon neutral venues,” said His Excellency Yasir Bin Othman Al Rumayyan, the Chairman of Golf Saudi. “With investment and innovation, we will implement pioneering actions across; Carbon Accounting, Water Management, Turf & Plants and Green Energy & Infrastructure.”
What features of the course and holes really stand out for you?
The layout was great for a long hitter like me so I really enjoyed how it played tee to green.
Is it a bonus to play such a competitive field with the best players from across the globe early in the season?
Definitely is a bonus to play against the best players in the world in different environments, different countries, etc. It is a way for us to grow the game and show the world how talented the best players in the world are.
What do you make of the strides Golf Saudi have made to grow the game domestically and across the world – especially in growing the women’s game with the Aramco Team Series? I was very interested in the Aramco Team Series because it was trying to
▶ red sea delight Royal Greens Golf & Country Club will again host the Saudi International.
bring the women’s game to markets they don’t traditionally play in. I think it did a great job of accomplishing its mission. Additionally, as a Golf Saudi ambassador one of my main objectives is to help develop the game in KSA to juniors and women but also to show the world all the KSA is doing. Hosting big events is just one element. Golf is now being integrated into the school’s curriculum, access and infrastructure are better than ever and the national teams have just had one of their best years ever with talented Saudi amateurs winning some big regional events – which qualifies them for the Saudi International.
What’s your schedule for the early part of 2022?
I will play the first two PGA Tour stops in Hawaii, then take a week off to get ready for the trip to the Saudi International. After that, I will try and play enough so my game is ready for the Masters. Also, I would like to see if I can work in another Asian Tour event at some point during the year.
