‘NBO Golf Classic Grand Final will promote Oman worldwide’

Muscat: The organisers of the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, the final event of the European Challenge Tour, are confident of the popular tournament promoting the Sultanate globally as a tourist and sporting destination.
The NBO Golf Classic, which after two successful years as the penultimate event of the Challenge Tour season, was promoted as the ‘Road to Oman’ season-ending tournament in 2015 with the organisers and the Tour sealing a four-year contract, ensuring Oman remains the hosts of Grand Final till 2018.
With this year’s edition scheduled to be hosted at Greg Norman-designed picturesque Almouj Golf from November 2 to 5, Mohammed bin Khalfan Al Busaidi, the chairman of the organising committee, spoke about the possibilities of the event promoting the Sultanate through print and electronic media.
Al Busaidi, addressing the event’s media committee in the presence of the National Bank of Oman and the Ministry of Sports Affairs on Sunday, stressed the importance of the media in promoting not just the tournament but the country as a whole.
Al Busaidi, who is also the chairman of the media committee, said: “There is no doubt that local and international media, both print and electronic, with their coverage of the NBO Golf Classic have been contributing to the promotion of the Sultanate. Last year alone, around 360 million people watched or followed the tournament.”
Speaking about the facilities at the venue, he said: “A special information centre will be established at the venue and will offer all the services and facilities required for the media as well as the arriving guests.”
The organisers have also decided to promote local talent during the event, a decision which last year led to NBO hosting the Oman National Amateur Grand Final during the week of the Challenge Tour’s thrilling finale at the same venue, providing inspiration for the country’s up and coming stars.
Golfers at the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final will vie for a share of a €400,000 prize fund, with the top 15 players in the final Road to Oman Rankings earning playing cards for next season’s European Tour International Schedule.
The NBO Golf Classic Grand Final has quickly become recognised as one of the leading tournaments on the European Challenge Tour. The tournament has undoubtedly put the Sultanate on the global sports map, and NBO has received praise globally not merely for the excellence of the tournament but also for the boost it has given in encouraging the growth of golf in Oman, particularly the juniors who are reaping the rewards of the Bank’s involvement.