Skaik hails impact of HotelPlanner Tour and Emirates Golf Federation partnership

Khaleej Times

04-04-2025

UAE National Team star Ahmad Skaik is eagerly preparing for his return to the HotelPlanner Tour's (formerly Challenge Tour) double-header in the UAE next month, an essential step in his progression toward turning professional.
For the third consecutive year, the DP World Tour's official feeder circuit will grace UAE shores, with the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) co-promoting the two high-profile tournaments.
The action kicks off with the UAE Challenge from April 10-13 at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club, which will host a European Tour Group-sanctioned event for the first time. The tour then heads to Abu Dhabi for the Abu Dhabi Challenge, staged at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club from April 17-20.
These back-to-back events not only showcase rising stars and DP World Tour winners fighting their way back to golf's global stage but also play a crucial role in developing UAE National Team players, along with UAE-based professionals and amateurs.
This progress is made possible through the EGF's long-standing partnership with the European Tour group, which secures 30 tournament spots for UAE players across the two events. This initiative builds on the European Tour group's commitment to nurturing golf in the UAE until at least 2032.
Skaik has been a key beneficiary of these opportunities over the past two years and will once again tee it up alongside fellow UAE National Team players, including Sam Mullane, Jonathan Selvaraj, Rayan Ahmed, Mohammad Skaik, and Neyl Cherrat.
'The partnership has been very, very valuable,' said Skaik.
'I feel like I get better every time I play on the HotelPlanner Tour – I grow my character, I learn and believe I can one day compete and win there. The players on the Tour are a bit sharper, make fewer mistakes and are a bit more consistent – I feel like I'm getting there. I just need to keep practicing and doing what I'm doing, and hopefully one day I can win there and on the DP World Tour.'
Exposure to elite competition has been transformative for Ahmad Skaik's journey toward his ultimate goal of turning professional - possibly as soon as the end of this year, following the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in the UAE.
Last month, the 27-year-old delivered a career-defining performance at the 2025 GCC Golf Championship, where he clinched both individual and team gold medals for the UAE at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in Saudi Arabia. His record-breaking 18-under-par total of 270 set a new benchmark for the lowest score in the championship's history, accompanied by the largest winning margin in the individual category.
This historic achievement was built on the foundation of valuable experience gained from playing 12 HotelPlanner Tour events over the past two years.
Thanks to the EGF's exchange of tournament spots with other golf federations, UAE players like Skaik have been able to compete in HotelPlanner Tour events worldwide, gaining exposure and honing their skills on an international stage.
'Playing these events always helps me stay on top of things,' said Skaik.
'I want to work hard and be confident heading to these events so I can compete. When I'm playing well, I want to play more and more - I love it when I have three or four upcoming HotelPlanner Tour starts as I learn from them and get better as the weeks go by.'
Next month's double-header on the HotelPlanner Tour will offer more than just high-level competition for the EGF's players - it will also mark a new chapter for two of the federation's newly appointed full-time rules officials.
Thai twins Sasinun and Sasikarn Tungbenjapol will make their debut on the HotelPlanner Tour, bringing a wealth of experience from their time as tournament referees on the Thai LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour, and Asian Tour.