A Journey of a Golfing Sensation

From humble beginnings to international fairways

With a perfect blend of precision and elegance, few individuals have captured the hearts of golf fans and left an indelible mark on the sport quite like Issa Abou El Ela, a professional Egyptian golfer whose journey has been nothing short of awe-inspiring. From humble beginnings to soaring success, Abou El Ella's relentless pursuit of excellence has propelled him to the forefront of the golfing world.

The Genesis of a Golfing Dream 

Born and raised in Egypt, Issa Abou El Ela discovered his passion for golf at a young age, introduced to the sport by his father, the Egyptian golf legend Amr Abou El Ela who recognized his son's innate talent. Abou El Ela quickly became enthralled by the game's intricacies. “When I went to study in the USA it was where I found my passion for golf and learnt everything about the sport. After that I came back home, and I now play tournaments on a global scale, and I try to represent Egypt the best I can.”

With unwavering focus and an unquenchable thirst for improvement, with the guidance of his father Abou El Ela set his sights on conquering the world of golf. “My father loves what I have done throughout my career and what I have achieved so far. He expects more out of me because he knows my potential, we both have high hopes for myself and my little brother who also plays on our national team.”

“The best way to put it is that golfing is a series of moments, we enjoy our highs and lows together, we learn from them, and it is ultimately how we grow. At the end of the day there is no pressure, we just enjoy what we do, and it is always a nice way for us to bond together.”

Abou El Ela honed his skills under the guidance of esteemed coaches and mentors who recognized his raw talent and dedication. With each swing, Abou El Ella's skillset flourished, as did his reputation within the golfing community. His natural flair for the game, coupled with relentless practice and a strategic mindset, allowed him to conquer numerous national and regional championships, earning him widespread recognition and acclaim. “This year I won the Abu Dhabi amateur, and I got to play in the Rolex series in Dubai and I got to play in Saudi, and I did a very good job at it and then it just kept going from there.”

Nurturing Talent and Rising Ranks 

The athlete embarked on a journey to compete on the international stage, facing formidable opponents from around the world. Undeterred by the challenges that lay ahead, he showcased his unwavering resolve and exceptional skill set in prestigious tournaments across the globe. With each tournament, Abou El Ella's star continued to ascend, leaving spectators and fellow golfers in awe of his talent and composure under pressure. He confesses that it has also been stressful throughout the years, from expectations from peers to pressures of carrying the weight of an entire country, “when it comes to making sure I stay consistent in my performance and at a right mental head space, it has everything with surrounding yourself the right people. If I start my day with golf, I will just continue thinking about it and I’ll keep overthinking possible techniques or scenarios and it will only get worse.”

Abou El Ela admits that in the past he would stress himself over everything, wanting to perfect every detail, “working with my coaches and finding the right balance of what suits me, we figured out that the best-case scenario is to go there and do my best and relax and to enjoy most importantly what I’m doing. I surround myself with the right people and try to limit the golf talk while I’m in tournaments.”

“Patience is key; people think golf is about hitting the ball further when it is not, I know because I was one of those people. It is more about chipping and putting, and to be able to do that well you need to work on patience and that is what will set you apart from others.”

More than an individual game 

With each triumph, Abou El Ella has not only etched his name into the annals of Egyptian golfing history but has also inspired a new generation of aspiring golfers to dream big and pursue their goals relentlessly. His unwavering work ethic, humility, and sportsmanship have earned him the admiration and respect of fans and fellow competitors alike. “As for anything else I enjoy my tournaments, I’m not there forcefully, I constantly remind myself not to take anything for granted. If I’m given a good opportunity, I take it and like anyone else I appreciate it.”

Since the young age of ten, Issa Abou El Ela has been representing his country with honor, “now nineteen years later I am still representing my country whenever I wear my t-shirt with the Egyptian flag or hear the national anthem I am overcome with joy. I wear my pride just as blatantly as my t-shirt.”

He explains that he wishes to one day be able to win the trophy as a team, something that to the athlete means more than individual wins, “we had two good chances in the last three years, but we fell short which was disappointing. But our federation is working in the right direction, the young players on the team are in my opinion the future of the team.”

“We have now a bunch of young golfers under the age of 20 who are exceptionally good, I am very happy with the path our National team is taking and the players and even the potential players we come upon and I am sure Egypt is going to start winning tournaments again very soon. Considering how well we are doing and the caliber we have on our team I don’t see why or what would stop us from achieving anything we set our minds to.”

As of right now, according to Issa Abou El Ela within the federation, he is given the role of an anchor, the seasoned player that the rest of the team goes to for advice if any pressure situations arise. “I just want to be at a point where I can get all these young people to start getting more comfortable and if they ever need guidance or advice I would like to be the guy they ask or come to for advice.”

Shedding light on a communal narrative 

Beyond his accomplishments on the golf course, Issa Abou El Ella has become a beacon of inspiration for aspiring athletes and dispelling the myths centering the sport. When asked what the biggest misconceptions people have on the sport, he fervently replied by saying, “many people think that you must be rich or be willing to spend large sums of money for the game, while that could not be farther than the truth. Golf is a sport that everyone should try at least once in their life, there is no gender, ethnicity or age boundaries to this game making it an all-inclusive game.”

As a result, the athlete explains the necessary roles and actions the Egyptian Golf Federation has been taking in spending money trying to get new golfers and nurturing their talent as well as immensely growing interest for the game to all age groups.

“I would one day like for the rising stars of golf to look up to me just as I did, I looked up to my dad, Ramy Taher, Taymour Abou ElKheir and others. The great achievements they have done have forever inspired me and I constantly try to learn from them and one day I hope to be that kind of role model for the young generation.”

Abou El Ella has used his platform to champion the importance of perseverance, self-belief, and determination, inspiring countless individuals to chase their dreams and overcome obstacles. The professional golfer concludes, “I just want to start seeing more people enjoy golf because now we have such a big junior squad, we look a lot like a community which is what we want ultimately, and this is all because of the federation. Enjoy what you do because at the end of the day golf is like freedom, it isn’t supposed to be stressful or hectic or anything like that and if it is then you’re doing it wrong.”