Abdullah Kamakhi has been accepted by the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA), which will make him Saudi Arabia’s first natural golf course designer.
The EIGCA represents some of the most qualified golf course architects in the world. EIGCA members have demonstrated through their skill, experience and training that they can design and oversee the construction of golf courses to the highest standards.
From a young age, Abdullah has been fascinated by designed spaces which led him to study Landscape Architecture at Arizona State University. After a couple of years working as a landscape designer in Riyadh, Abdullah joined Golf Saudi in 2019 and began his journey in the golf industry.
Delighted by his acceptance, Abdullah Kamakhi, comments, “I am very grateful for this opportunity and the support Golf Saudi has given me. Since joining in 2019, my curiosity for golf, particularly golf course design, grew rapidly and I was able to work with great golf course architects and agronomists to provide me with invaluable resources to learn from. I am extremely motivated to continue in this career and be a part of Golf Saudi’s incredible vision of designing sustainable environments throughout the Kingdom.”
Creating new jobs and careers for Saudi nationals within the golf industry remains a priority in Golf Saudi’s vision. Significant investments continue to be made to introduce people to these opportunities, from learning from industry experts to supporting professional development through training and qualifications.
Majed Al Sorour, CEO of the Saudi Golf Federation and Golf Saudi, said, “This is one of the most rewarding parts of the job, to see Abdullah thrive in a career that, just a few years ago, did not exist in Saudi Arabia. Abdullah has shown great enthusiasm and a commitment to learning since joining Golf Saudi in 2019 and now we get to see him take the next exciting step in his career.”
“Access and infrastructure,” adds Al Sorour, “form one of the key pillars of Golf Saudi, with the goal of making golf sustainable and accessible to all within Saudi Arabia. Abdullah will be an integral part of the team in the coming years to make this vision a reality. I hope Abdullah’s story will inspire other Saudi nationals to pursue a career in golf and help grow this great game in our beautiful Kingdom.”
Abdullah Kamakhi will begin the two-year course at the European Institute of Golf Course Architects in May 2021 and will become Saudi Arabia’s first qualified golf course architect in mid-2023.
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