EGF Awarded Youth Development Initiative of the Year at 2016 MEGAs; Reema Al Heloo Named National Player of the Year

(Dubai, UAE) – On December 14, 2016, Sport360 hosted the Middle East Golf Awards (MEGAs) at the stunning One and Only Royal Mirage in Dubai. As key stakeholders in Middle East golf gathered for this annual event the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) and United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Player, Reema Al Heloo were among significant winners of the evening.

The EGF received the Youth Development Initiative of the Year for 2016 after producing the very successful EGF Arabic Schools Golf Initiative supported by DP World. The EGF teamed up with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), European Tour, and Golf DXB in order to activate “golf tasters” in high percentage National Arabic Schools with a goal to introduce the game of golf to students and the physical education curriculum. After introducing the game to 6 schools, students were invited to the DP World Tour Championship (DPWTC) to experience a Professional Golf Event.

During the week at Sheikh Rashid School for Boys the EGF and the European Tour invited Professional Golfer Rafa Cabrera-Bello to participate in the initiative. This gave the students and teachers the opportunity to interact with a pro golfer while learning the game.

Also winning an award on the spectator night was UAE National Team Player Reema Al Heloo. Reema was awarded the National Player of the Year for her accomplishments throughout the 2015 – 2016 season. Reema won the Individual and Team Gold Medal at the 2016 GCC Golf Championship in Bahrain. She also placed Top 10 in the 2015 – 2016 EGF Order of Merit in the Junior Net Division and 12^th Place in the Junior Gross Division.

At the age of 14 years old, Reema is a product of the EGF National Junior Development Program that has grown significantly over the past 24 months.

“Reema is the future of UAE Women’s Golf and the UAE National Team. She has worked very hard and will continue to get better. She is a great example of the process and pathway that the EGF has implemented for young golfers. The EGF is proud of her achievement and is looking forward to see future success out of Reema”, said Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi, EGF Secretary General.

To find more information on the EGF National Junior Development Program and the UAE National Team visit the EGF website at www.egfgolf.com and follow the Emirates Golf Federation on social media for recent updates.