The Visionary Vice President of Egypt’s Golf federation

In the land of ancient wonders and cultural treasures, a new passion has taken hold, stirring the hearts of Egyptians and igniting a golfing renaissance. At the forefront of this organization stands Teymour Abou El Kheir, Vice President of the Egyptian Golf Federation.

Abou El Kheir, having graduated from Alexandria University with a degree in finance and business administration, has been instrumental in growing the country’s golf federation and representing Egypt at both national and international levels.

Egypt's golfing landscape has undergone a remarkable metamorphosis. With a deep-rooted love for the sport and a keen eye for opportunity, Abou El Kheir recognized the immense potential of golf in Egypt, both as a catalyst for tourism and as a means of nurturing homegrown talent. Embracing this vision, he embarked on a mission to revolutionize the sport and pave the way for a new era of golfing excellence.

The Vice President recollects his early days playing the sport, noting that his family’s deep-rooted history in sports, particularly his father Sherif Abou El Kheir, who was a national team player and coach for basketball and golf, sparked his interest. “My journey in golf began almost before I could walk, and I have represented Egypt in various teams from 1987 until 2010. Representing my country at World Cups, African, and Arab Competitions has been my proudest moments in my career and the reason I have kept pursuing this career path with the Egyptian Golf Federation. I have a deep passion for the sport and want to see the game growing in popularity across Egypt.”

Egypt on the Golfing Map

Driven by a passion to showcase Egypt's hidden golfing gems to the world, Abou El Kheir has worked alongside the Egyptian Golf Federation to attract international attention and investment to the country's golfing infrastructure. His efforts have resulted in the establishment of world-class golf courses and facilities, drawing golf enthusiasts from far and wide to experience Egypt's landscapes and impeccable fairways.

Egypt already has a rich history in hosting international tournaments dating back to the 1950s, with the Egyptian Open and Egyptian Amateur Open being significant fixtures in the International Golf Calendar.

“Golf should not only be seen as a sport but as an opportunity for employment and development in an industry such as ours. The key to true popularity is the resources to affect change and the critical mass being touched in some way by the sport.”

Nowadays, the Egyptian Golf Federation has regained stature for its Amateur events with The Egyptian Men’s Amateur Open, Egyptian Ladies Amateur Open (Nefertiti Cup), and Egyptian Junior Championships once again becoming international tournaments, offering ranking points and playing opportunities at high-profile global events to the winners.

In 2022, Egypt hosted the Asian Tour International Series at Madinaty Golf Club, proving to be a success. With support from all stakeholders to continue hosting these highly televised competitions, Egypt aims to showcase itself as a premier golfing destination.

According to Teymour Abou El Kheir, the country currently boasts 25 golf courses, each with unique styles designed by some of the world's most famous golf course architects. He explains that even naming some of those individuals would be a disservice to all the amazing golf courses and that Egypt is “truly blessed with some noteworthy golf facilities.”

Cultivating Local Talent

The federation’s commitment to nurturing homegrown talent has fueled a surge of interest in golf among Egyptians. Recognizing the need for a robust junior development program and implemented initiatives that provide aspiring young golfers with access to quality coaching, training, and competitive opportunities.

“We have created a series of Try Golf Sessions around the country, which has brought many people, young and old into the game. With clear strategies in place through our close relationship with clubs in Egypt, we are facilitating the opportunity for more and more people to access and begin their journey in this game.”

Currently, the federation offers great access to golf for any athlete under the age of 15 identified with talent through our try golf programs who want to continue learning the game to play golf at their nearest facility.

“Golf is a game for life where generations like grandparents, parents, and grandchildren can bond and compete in a healthy environment. The one true merit is that it offers a level playing field for all competitors of all ages.”

Misguided Golf Narratives

 Abou Elkheir admits that many people are plagued with misguided misconceptions involving the golfing industry and the sport itself, “people think that golf is not a real sport, but contrary to their beliefs golf is, in fact, an Olympic sport, whereby an average golfer walks approximately 10km per day while playing the game. A match is normally played over 3 or 4 days consecutively, evidently proving that the physical fitness of the athlete is important. Not to mention the strategic concentration and the effort needed to swing the club and guide the ball accurately to its target.”

If we were to ask the general public, many would claim the sport targets the “older” generation as many were led to believe that seeing people commuting on golf carts in real life, movies, or television shows meant that it is an “old and retired people” sport.

Abou El Kheir explains that golf carts on the field are purposed for convenience and have nothing to do with player demographics, “if you look at tournament golf the average age of a professional is getting younger and younger. This can be seen in Egypt where our national teams for both men and women have reduced their average age significantly over the past decade.”

“The main misconception associated is that it is expensive and is only catered for a certain part of society. I feel like this needs to be addressed: all sports if pursued as a consistent hobby tend to be expensive. Golf over the span of many years works out to be just as expensive as court rental and racket purchasing during a person’s squash career. Even the popularity of padel in recent years comes with a price. So, in that context golf is no more expensive than the majority of sports played as hobbies.”

To that, the Vice President confesses, “the initial investment in the sport (equipment, etc.) can be seen as an expensive initial sum, and as part of the Egyptian Golf Federation’s passion to promote the sport within the country, where we will be rolling out in early 2024 an initial program for those that have enjoyed trying golf, where they can have access to golf courses and equipment for a monthly fee. We are also currently discussing with clubs the future of benefits of membership and access to club facilities in the long run.”

A Rising Tide of Interest

The growing interest in golf among Egyptians is palpable. According to Abou El Kheir, the federation’s efforts to make the sport more accessible and inclusive have led to a surge in participation, with golf clubs and academies witnessing an influx of eager enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds.

As Abou El Kheir puts it, “interest in the game has been steadily increasing from people in all walks of life. Golf offers so much more than a competitive environment; it is a journey of self-improvement and self-discovery. The work at the Egyptian Golf Federation, with the vital support of clubs around the country, is aiding us in promoting the sport.”

The Egyptian Golf Federation has many ambitions to grow the game, but at its core is nurturing the junior talent. “We have a national junior high-performance development program in association with the R&A, (the governing body for the sport in Egypt) and run by our national coach and his team of professionals and volunteers. Over the last year, we have seen improvement in the development of our young talent, especially in the age groups of 10–15 in both boys and girls.”

Abou El Elkheir explains they have been busy with their Junior Masters Competitions locally, with tournaments being played once a month, in addition to club Junior competitions that are now being run and supported by the Egyptian Golf Federation. “We also have an international calendar for juniors, and at the end of November, we have 4 National Junior Teams and our Ladies' team represented at the Pan Arab Ladies and Junior Championships at Riyadh Golf Club, Saudi Arabia.”

Investment for Success 

Abou El Kheir’s determination to elevate Egypt's golfing scene goes hand in hand with attracting significant investments into the sport. By forging strategic partnerships with local and international stakeholders, he has secured funding for infrastructure development, training programs, and hosting prestigious tournaments. These investments not only enhance the golfing experience for players but also contribute to the economic growth and tourism potential of Egypt.

“We are developing strategies on all levels of the game, be it mass participation, elite pathways, tourism strategies, and golf education. All of these initiatives would not be possible without the support of our corporate partnerships with Mercedes-Benz Egypt, McDonalds, Dreem, and Concrete. Having the support of the R&A and The Ministry of Sport and Ministry of Tourism advocating our strategies has gone a long way in us being able to deliver on a lot of the goals we have in place.”

In the year 2021, the Egyptian Golf Federation managed to re-establish a new version of the Egyptian Golf League, which now has 10 clubs viewing it out for the honor of being the League Champions of Egypt. “The league has become a real form of camaraderie bringing in passion, friendship, and competitive spirit amongst clubs in Egypt. With the introduction of the EGF Club Cup this year, this friendly rivalry and social interactions between clubs develop friendships for life.”

From bustling Cairo to the serene shores of the Red Sea, golf is capturing the nation's imagination, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie among players and fans alike. With the federation’s strategic vision and efforts have placed Egypt firmly on the global golfing map, enticing enthusiasts and investors alike. As the rising interest in golf continues to sweep through the country, Teymour Abou El Kheir’s commitment to cultivating local talent ensures that Egypt's golfing future shines brighter than ever before. With each swing of a club, Egypt's golfing renaissance unfolds and forever transforming the country's sporting landscape.