Teeing off in Bahrain

The Volvo World Golf Challenge, an international golf tournament active in more than 37 countries that host qualifying events over a variety of top courses, is coming to Bahrain.

Since its launch in 1988 as the Volvo Masters Amateur, more than one million golfers from all over the world have enjoyed competing in the event and national winners are invited to the World Final which is run in conjunction with, and alongside one of Volvo’s major professional titles, the Volvo Golf Champions, which was launched at the Royal Golf Club (RGC) but moved to South Africa by the organisers following unrest in the kingdom.

The 2014 Bahrain Volvo World Golf Challenge will be played all through 2014 at the Colin Montgomerie-designed course on Riffa Views, consisting of six qualification rounds, with over 100 players per event, where golfers get the chance to participate in competitive but sociable and professionally-run events.

The qualified players will compete in a final round in the month of December. The winners of the December finals will receive a complementary invitation to fly off to a five-day World Final programme, featuring a 36-hole two-day final, in January, alongside an opportunity to play with European PGA professionals.

A journey that began with 500 qualifying tournaments involving 70,000 golfers in 37 global Volvo markets will conclude by a final round for all the winners of the Volvo World Golf Challenge across several countries competing for the Final Round.

Last year’s final was held from January 6 to the 10 at the Zimbali Country Club, in South Africa, where 74 amateur golfers from 32 different countries competed for the prestigious honour of being named ‘world champion’ but also for the unique opportunity of playing with the pros in the European Tour event.

This is way beyond anything that a normal pro-am can offer. In Playing with the Pros, each of the leading finishers from the Volvo World Golf Challenge World Final will team up with two top professionals to form a 3-ball and play in the Amateur-Pro Team Competition.

Dr Bijan Majidi, general manager of Motorcity Holdings, which imports and distributes Volvo cars in Bahrain, said: “We are extremely pleased to be part of this global event. The Volvo World Golf Challenge will be one the most anticipated sporting events in Bahrain this year”.

He added that organising a year-long tournament in Bahrain is part of the strategy of Motorcity to position Volvo and present its new range of models not only to the participants but to all visitors and followers of the beautiful game.

Volvo’s overall relaunch is aimed at positioning itself as the vehicle of choice for active families, young professionals, entrepreneurs and companies that appreciate the state-of-the-art technology combined with comfort, luxury and safety.

“The Royal Golf Club team, under the management of Troon Golf, is delighted to be working with Volvo once again on such a highly-prestigious series of events,” added Bernie Morgan, the Royal Golf Club’s director of golf. “I have no doubt that with such a fantastic final prize at stake, every qualifier will be strongly-contested, both by our members and guests. The competitions will be played across 18 holes on our highly-acclaimed Colin Montgomerie-designed championship course.”

Volvo will launch its new showroom in Sitra in February, plus a loyalty programme that will bring significant benefits to its car owners, and a new interactive Volvo website that will enable users to set their service and maintenance appointments on-line, purchase accessories, merchandise and much more.

In addition, Volvo has developed a special 2014 offer including special rates to purchase, lease or rent a Volvo applicable to all the World Golf Challenge tournament participants, and the Royal Golf Club staff and members.

For additional information, call George Williams, sales manager at Motorcity on 17621162.

For additional information regarding the Volvo World Golf Challenge Tournament, visit www.volvoworldgolfchallenge.com, www.theroyalgolfclub.com, www.motorcity.com.bh

The 2014 Bahrain Volvo World Golf Challenge calendar

January 31 – Qualifier
February 28 – Qualifier
March 29 – Qualifier
September 26 – Qualifier
October 31 – Qualifier
November 29 – Wild Card Qualifier
December 5 – Final
Final Volvo World Golf Challenge – date and location to be announced.