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MORE than 110 players will be participating in the 46th Bahrain Open Golf Championship being hosted by Awali Golf Club (AGC) on Friday and Saturday at the Awali course.
A strong local contingent will be augmented by players from as far afield as the US, UK and Australia for what is the oldest open championship in the Gulf region.
A high standard of golfing prowess is required to enter the event with the upper handicap limit set at nine.
Many of the field hold considerably lower handicaps and 12 professional golfers, a record for AGC's Open, will also compete. Among those are the AGC's visiting golf professional David Park.
Last year's winner Andrew Marshall from the UAE will return to defend his championship.
Other favourites for this year's open include top Bahraini players Nasser Yacoub and Abdulla Sultan, members of the victorious Bahrain team at the recent Arab Golf Championship in the UAE.
Both players have previously been winners but there are several new kids on the block who will be looking to challenge their supremacy.
The level of difficulty on Bahrain's oldest golf course is exacerbated by championship tees which add considerable length to many of the holes. Putting on oiled sand 'browns', as opposed to greens, is an additional challenge, especially if the wind blows.
Played over two days and 36 holes, the first players will tee off at 8am on both days and the prize giving is expected to take place at around 3pm.
Spectators are welcome to watch this championship and entry to the course is free.
