Hisham added that the Federation is working to spread the
culture of golf across governorates and establish Egypt as a top destination
for professional tournaments.
He made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the
Egyptian Open at Madinaty Golf Club. The event was attended by Minister of
Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhy, Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber, Asian Development
Tour General Manager Ken Kudo, South African Ambassador Joseph Mission Bay,
African Golf Federation Vice President Ghassan Kabbani, and parliamentary
candidate Mohamed El Hanawy.
Hisham highlighted the historic return of the Middle East’s
oldest golf tournament. He said this year’s edition features unprecedented
participation, with over 130 players from 35 countries.
He noted that the tournament’s inclusion in the Asian
Development Tour reflects Egypt’s rising status on the global golf map. He said
the Federation is transforming tournaments into comprehensive events combining
sports, culture, tourism, and entertainment.
He described the Egyptian Open as a championship with a rich
history spanning over a century. He noted that the tournament has hosted golf
legends from around the world. He added that this edition is the third of four
tournaments the Federation pledged to organize since taking responsibility. The
fourth tournament is scheduled next week on the Red Sea coast.
He praised Madinaty Golf Club, the host venue, as a symbol
of excellence and creativity. The club has been named Egypt’s best golf course
for five consecutive years and Africa’s best course for the past three years.
Asian Tour players also voted it the top golf destination in 2022.
Hisham revealed that the number of active players increased
by up to 30 percent over the past year. He added that golf enthusiasts doubled
through awareness programs and expanded facilities across several governorates.
He said the aim is to build a strong fan base and make golf one of Egypt’s
fastest-growing sports.
He added that the Federation aims to enable Egyptian players
to compete with international professionals and gain the experience needed for
the Olympics. He said media initiatives to promote Egyptian golf on digital
platforms have been highly successful. Recent national tournaments drew over
half a million views in just two weeks.
Hisham said the Federation is expanding media partnerships
with ON Sport and leading international golf platforms. The goal is to promote
Egypt as a global sports and tourism destination combining history, modern
infrastructure, and professional organization.
Ken Kudo, General Manager of the Asian Development Tour,
praised the return of the Egyptian Open after years of hiatus. He said it is
the oldest professional golf tournament in the Middle East and a major boost to
the region’s golf scene.
He commended the Egyptian Golf Federation for reviving the
tournament at Madinaty Golf Club. He noted that the club is one of the world’s
top courses and has won the Course of the Year title since hosting the Asian
Tour in 2022.
Kudo said the partnership between the Federation, the
Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Asian Development Tour reflects Egypt’s
commitment to restoring its position on the global golf map. He emphasized the
importance of collaborating with the Arab Golf Federation and Golf Saudi to
develop the sport and nurture new talent in the region.
Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber said the governorate attaches
great importance to promoting sports as a key pillar of community development.
He added that the Egyptian Open has become one of the region’s most prominent
international sporting events.
He praised the Egyptian Golf Federation for organizing the
tournament and restoring its prestigious status. He said developing sports
infrastructure remains a strategic priority for the governorate.
The governor added that sports represent an integrated
system that builds human capabilities and strengthens resilience. He confirmed
that Cairo Governorate will continue providing full support to the tournament
and all initiatives that reflect Egypt’s positive image regionally and
globally.