Ava Romero
Golf has never been a big part of Saudi Arabian culture, but the kingdom is now trying to grow the game as part of its
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of golfers in Saudi Arabia | 5,000 |
| Number of golf courses in Saudi Arabia | 5 (grass public courses) with a handful of private courses |
| Golf courses in the pipeline | 13 |
| Vision 2030 | A plan to reduce Saudi Arabia's dependence on oil, diversify its economy, and develop public service sectors such as recreation and tourism |
| Saudi Arabia's investment in golf | $2 billion |
| Saudi Arabia's investment in sports | Formula 1 racing circuit, Newcastle United Premier League soccer team |
| Saudi Arabia's investment in sports washing | $225 million |
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What You'll Learn
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategy includes golf
Golf has never been a big part of Saudi Arabian culture, with only 5,000 golfers in the nation. However, Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategy includes plans to elevate the game in the country. The golf push is part of a larger "Vision 2030" strategy, championed by Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The initiative is aimed, in part, at bolstering the kingdom's entertainment and tourism offerings as the nation simultaneously implements social reform.
Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in golf as part of its Vision 2030 plan, bringing in established designers such as Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman to build new courses. The country has also hosted high-profile tournaments, such as the Saudi International, which has featured top players like Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Phil Mickelson. The goal is to have 13 public-access courses in Saudi Arabia by 2030, up from just five today.
The development of golf in Saudi Arabia is being driven by Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation, led by Majed Al Sorour. One of their initiatives is the Ladies First Club, which aims to teach golf to 1,000 women in the kingdom. This aligns with broader social reforms taking place in Saudi Arabia, including the introduction of physical education classes for girls and allowing women to attend sports events and enter stadiums.
The expansion of golf in Saudi Arabia is part of a broader strategy to develop the country's sports ecosystem and attract world-class talent. Saudi Arabia has also invested in football, motorsports, boxing, and wrestling, hosting major events and signing high-profile athletes. These sports ventures have been described as attempts to sportswash the country's human rights record and divert attention from negative news stories.
To support the growth of the sports industry, Saudi Arabia is undertaking massive infrastructure developments. This includes the new King Salman International Airport, which will increase capacity by 380% to accommodate 120 million passengers annually by 2030. Qiddiya, dubbed the global capital of entertainment, is also being developed with sports facilities and entertainment venues to serve both athletes and spectators.
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Royal Greens Golf & Country Club
Golf hasn't traditionally been a big part of Saudi Arabian culture, but the country is now trying to spark a golf craze. This push is part of a larger "Vision 2030" strategy, championed by Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The initiative is aimed, in part, at boosting the kingdom's entertainment and tourism offerings as the nation simultaneously implements social reform.
One of the key locations for this initiative is the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, which has won numerous awards, including Saudi Arabia's Best Golf Course and Middle East's Best Golf Course at the 2021 World Golf Awards. The club is located in the Al Murooj community of the King Abdullah Economic City, which is situated less than a 2-hour drive north of Jeddah on Saudi Arabia's west coast. Construction of the golf course began in 2008, but the global recession halted proceedings after only 16 of the holes were shaped.
The Saudi Arabia Golf Federation has hosted several tournaments at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, including the Saudi International, which is now in its third year, and a new European Tour event in 2019, featuring prominent golfers such as Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, and Justin Rose. In November 2021, the club hosted the last of four stages of the Aramco Team Series, the first event of its kind on any professional golf tour.
The Royal Greens Golf & Country Club is also involved in initiatives to encourage more people in the kingdom to take up golf, such as the Ladies First Club, which aims to teach golf to 1,000 women in Saudi Arabia.
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Saudi Arabia's investment in golf tournaments
Golf has never been a significant part of Saudi Arabian culture, with only 5,000 golfers in the nation. However, Saudi Arabia has been trying to spark a golf craze as part of its "Vision 2030" strategy, which aims to boost the kingdom's entertainment and tourism industries alongside social reform.
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has made significant investments in golf tournaments and infrastructure. The Saudi International tournament, hosted at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, has been a key initiative in this push, attracting top golfers like Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Phil Mickelson. The event was part of the European Tour but later moved to the Asian Tour's schedule, with an increased prize fund of $5 million.
The PIF Saudi International has continued to gain prominence, becoming the flagship event of the Asian Tour and securing a title sponsorship deal with SoftBank Investment Advisers. The tournament offers a pathway for players worldwide to enter the LIV Golf League through its rankings point system.
Saudi Arabia has also invested in developing golf courses, aiming for branded courses designed by renowned names. Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman are among the established designers involved. The kingdom plans to increase the number of public-access courses from five to 13 by 2030, including the Qiddiya course near Riyadh and the Norman course in Diriyah.
The Saudi golf initiative has faced criticism for potential sportswashing, particularly in light of the country's human rights record, such as the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. Despite this, Saudi backers have provided substantial sums to entice players, with Phil Mickelson reportedly receiving $200 million and Tiger Woods being offered nearly $1 billion. The PGA Tour has resisted these advances, suspending participating players and rejecting a $1.5 billion investment offer from the PIF.
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Golf Saudi's development of the sport
Golf Saudi, the leading homegrown entity driving the establishment of a golfing ecosystem in the Kingdom, has a simple mission: to grow the game of golf. Its Go Golf initiative, launched in May 2021, is a significant leap in the development of golf within Saudi Arabia. The initiative aims to increase access for all Saudis to learn the game and pave the way for many talents to join the national team.
The Go Golf program provides technical training divided into three phases over three months, under the supervision of qualified trainers. The first phase focuses on the foundations of the game, while the second phase concentrates on rules and advanced skills. The third phase develops the competitive skills required in tournaments and sets the selection criteria for qualified talents with the potential to become professional players in the future.
Golf Saudi's programs have supported and provided professional pathways to many homegrown talents who are now among Saudi's top golfers, including Othman Al Mulla, Saud Al Sharif, and Faisal Al Salhab. The organization's first wave of initiatives included the Ladies First Club, with the goal of teaching golf to 1,000 women in the kingdom.
The golf push is part of a larger "Vision 2030" strategy, championed by Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The initiative aims to bolster the kingdom's entertainment and tourism offerings while simultaneously implementing social reform. On the golf front, this means bringing in established designers like Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman.
Saudi Arabia's foray into professional golf is also seen as an attempt to rehabilitate its public image through "sportswashing." The country's Public Investment Fund, controlled by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, recently merged with a Saudi-backed rival golf league, LIV Golf. This move gives Saudi Arabia a controlling stake in professional golf and follows similar investments in the Newcastle United Premier League soccer team.
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Golf's history in Saudi Arabia
Golf has not traditionally been a popular sport in Saudi Arabia, with only 5,000 golfers in the entire country. However, the Saudi government is trying to spark a golf craze as part of its "Vision 2030" strategy, which aims to boost the kingdom's entertainment and tourism industries. The government has set a target of having 13 public-access golf courses in the country by 2030, up from just five today.
The Saudi International tournament, which was first played in 2019, has been a key part of the kingdom's efforts to raise awareness of golf. The tournament has attracted some of the world's top golfers, including Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, and Justin Rose. In addition to the Saudi International, there are also two Ladies European Tour events in the kingdom, including a program called Ladies First Club that aims to teach golf to 1,000 women.
The Saudi government has enlisted the help of established golf course designers such as Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman to build new courses. The Qiddiya course, designed by Nicklaus, is slated to begin construction in late spring or early summer and will be located about 40 kilometers from the capital, Riyadh. The Norman course, which will feature 27 holes, will be built in Diriyah, roughly a half-hour drive from Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia has also provided significant financial incentives to entice top golfers to participate in its tournaments. For example, Phil Mickelson was reportedly given $200 million to join the LIV Golf Invitational, while Tiger Woods was offered nearly $1 billion. However, despite these efforts, Saudi Arabia's golfing ventures have been controversial, with some critics arguing that they are a form of sportswashing, particularly in light of the kingdom's human rights record.
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Frequently asked questions
No, golf has never been a big part of Saudi Arabia's culture. However, the country is trying to spark a golf craze and make the sport more popular.
Saudi Arabia's investment in golf is part of a larger "Vision 2030" strategy to bolster the kingdom's entertainment and tourism offerings and reduce its dependence on oil.
Saudi Arabia is investing in golf courses and tournaments, such as the Saudi International tournament. The country is also bringing in established designers to build new courses.
Yes, Saudi Arabia's investment in golf has been criticised as a form of sportswashing, where a country uses the sheen of sports to whitewash its human rights record.
