In a display of sheer dominance, the UAE’s Boys 18 & Under golf team soared to victory last month, clinching the gold medal at the prestigious GCC Golf Championship hosted at Doha Golf Club in Qatar. Will Kent caught up with the team on their return to Dubai to get the full low down on the experience.
Guided by the triumphant trio of Rayan Ahmed, Mohamad Skaik, and Rashid Al Jassmy, the UAE’s team asserted their dominance over their competitors which culminated in a staggering 54-shot win. This triumph not only foreshadowed future successes for these young talents but also marked a week of notable achievements, including the UAE Men’s team — comprised of Sam Mullane, Thomas Nesbitt, Ahmad Skaik, and Jonathan Selvaraj — securing the Silver Medal.
However, amidst the collective triumph, individual brilliance shone brightly. At just 17 years old, Ahmed showcased his exceptional skill by winning the individual gold with an impressive score of seven over par in tricky conditions, Mohamad Skaik closely followed suit, securing the silver medal, trailing just four shots behind his teammate. Meanwhile, Al Jassmy rounded off the formidable lineup with a commendable fourth place finish in the individual category, further solidifying the team’s outstanding performance.
I travelled to the newly-established GOLFTEC facility in Dubai to catch up with Ahmed and Skaik to find out exactly what it feels like to win a gold medal for the UAE and to discover what’s next for the youngsters.
WWG: Firstly, congratulations, what a win! But before we reflect on your recent success, how cool is this facility that we’re currently stood in?
Skaik: Yeah, I like it. Every time I usually do a fitting they just have a Trackman. They just show me the club, but here I can see what my body is doing. You have everything.
Ahmed: It’s brilliant. It’s the first time I’ve seen technology being used, it’s like a Trackman but way more detailed. You have a full model of yourself. You can change your entire swing if you want to!
WWG: Your recent win in Qatar was pretty special too, how do you reflect on that week?
Ahmed: We both played really well. The course wasn’t boring, it’s very well designed. It’s a DP World Tour event course and really unique which I really enjoyed.
Skaik: The course was very tough. It was very windy, a very good experience for us. The greens were very firm and the pin positions were so tough the whole time. The fairways were tight, and the rough was thick. Everything was hard about it, nothing was easy. The way I played, it was the best week I’ve had in golf. All of these conditions and I shoot these scores, it was a great week.
WWG: Representing the UAE especially at such a young age must be such an honour. What’s that like?
Skaik: It’s a very good feeling. Playing for my country, playing for the UAE, and winning, to be able to show good the UAE is. We also get more opportunities to play international. It’s amazing.
Ahmed: Yeah, I’m really grateful to be part of the EGF. I’m really grateful to Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi and General Abdullah Alhashmi, for them to put me in this position. This is like a dream. Dubai has been my home, and now I get to be called a UAE citizen playing for their team.
WWG: Do you both have aspirations of turning professional in the future?
Skaik: Hopefully, but I can’t plan my future right now. In these next years, how I progress in golf, that’s how I can plan my future.
Ahmed: Yeah, next step is to play college golf at a really high level. From there, see what my golf does. Right now, the plan is just to play as many tournaments as possible to try and get really high national rankings. Get in contact with coaches around the world, to chase our dream.
WWG: And how did this all begin? How did you first get into playing the game of golf?
Skaik: My Dad started first. He took me once to Montgomerie Golf Club. I tried it for the first time. I liked it, but I was just playing for fun. I started taking it seriously very late, which I wish I didn’t do. That’s how I got into it.
Ahmed: I also started pretty late, around 11 to 12 years old, and I’m 17 now. I was first a member at Dubai Hills. My Dad brought me into it, started from the red tees hitting it about 120 yards. I just kept playing every day, I found it really interesting. The following year I moved to the Montgomerie and was a member there, my game has progressed ever since. Now I’m off plus four.
WWG: What does your schedule look like for the rest of 2024? Are you staying here for the summer?
Skaik: We’re going to have a summer camp with the elite team of the UAE. We’ll travel to a country and have a three week camp there. We will be playing every day and practicing non-stop. It’s a different experience for us, being able to play in different weather conditions and on a different type of grass.
WWG: That’s great, and no doubt another useful experience for you both. Beyond this summer and the rest of 2024, where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Skaik: Playing golf on Tour, that’s the goal. We’ll try to make it to the PGA Tour or DP World Tour. Both Tours are very tough, and are also very good places to play.
Ahmed: In 10 years? I’ll be 27. Yeah, I would have turned pro by then hopefully, playing on the Tour as well. That is the life that we both want.
WWG: And finally, who’s been your favourite player to watch growing up?
Ahmed: I didn’t really watch much of Tiger. At that time and because of my younger age, he was past his prime. For me, it’s been Rory. His swing is amazing.
Skaik: For me, Tiger. When I used to watch him, I enjoyed watching him more than any golfer in the world. The way he plays on the course, when he misses a shot, he’ll come back with a par or birdie. Nobody was expecting it from him!
