General Abdallah Al Hashmi (left), Emirates Golf Federation Vice-Chairman, receives the banner from Pascal Grizot, French Golf Federation President.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

At the 2022 World Amateur Team Championship (WATC) closing ceremony the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) was presented the International Golf Federation (IGF) banner ahead of hosting the 2023 WATC in Dubai, UAE.

In tradition at the closing ceremony of the WATC the hosting federation, in this case, the French Golf Federation President, Pascal Grizot handed over the championship banner to the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF), Vice Chairman General Abdallah Al Hashmi.

In October 2023 the EGF will host the 33rd WATC at the Jumeirah Golf Estates on the Fire Course.

The WATC is conducted by the IGF, where the IGF members (World National Golf Federations) enter one women’s team and one men’s team, made up of three (3) amateur golfers, to compete for the Espirito Santo Trophy (Ladies Championship) and the Eisenhower Trophy (Men’s Championship).

Meanwhile, during the 2022 WATC – Eisenhower Trophy, Khalid Yousuf Aljasmi, Ahmad Skaik, and Abdalla Al Musharrekh represented Team UAE. It was a challenging weekend for the team battling injuries and not playing in many competitive tournaments over the last few months. The UAE Team finished in 68th place.

The championship took place on the Le Golf National course, home of the 2018 Ryder Cup and the Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche course. Both courses tested all players but leading the way for Team UAE was Khalid Yousuf Aljasmi who shot 27-over-par for the championship.

“The Emirates Golf Federation is looking forward to hosting the IGF and world golf federations in the UAE next year. For years the UAE has hosted top professional championships in the sport and now we have the opportunity to host the most respected amateur championships in the world. Hosting the championships in the UAE shows the dedication that the Emirates Golf Federation has to the development of the sport within the region”, said General Hashmi.

During this year’s WATC the IGF hosted its biannual meeting bringing together the delegations and leaders of the world golf federations. At the meeting, the EGF presented to the federations a report on the current progress of the 2023 WATC at the Jumeirah Golf Estates on the Fire Course. The presentation was widely accepted.

Winning the gold medal at the 2022 WATC in Paris, France was team Italy. Sweden won the silver medal and UAE took bronze.