Dear Players,
We are very pleased to announce that MEMBERSHIP to the MENA TOUR for the 2022/2023 Season is NOW OPEN and CLOSES at 23:59 Hours Dubai Time on Sunday, October 2nd.
Since the completion of the 2020+ Season in Phuket May 2022 we have been working hard behind the scenes to ensure the future of the MENA Tour, and I am delighted that we will be expanding the schedule for the 2022/2023 season and beyond.
WHAT’s NEW AT THE MENA TOUR FOR THE 2022/2023 SEASON?
* We will have a minimum of 24 tournaments in the 2022/2023 Season. As per our previous seasons, it is likely all tournaments will be played as 54-hole Stroke Play events.
* All MENA Tour tournaments will have a minimum Prize Fund of USD$75,000-.
* The 2022/2023 Membership Fees have been REDUCED to USD$300- per player for both Professional & Amateur Players. All Membership Fees for the 2022/2023 Season must be received prior to 23.59 Hours Dubai Time on Sunday, October 2nd.
* Entry Fees for the 2022/2023 Season have been REDUCED to USD$50- per player per tournament.
* Due to the effects of COVID-19, the MENA Tour has been granted an exemption by the Official World Golf Rankings (“OWGR”) to having to host a Qualifying School for the 2022/2023 Season. All Professional(s) & Qualified Amateur(s) are able to join the MENA Tour for the 2022/2023 Season and soon after Membership is closed we will release Categories that each player that has become a Member falls into. Qualified Amateurs are required to prove that they hold an officially recognized handicap of 1.4 or better at the time of application for Membership to the MENA Tour. We will have a Category re-rank after the first 12 x Tournaments of the 2022/2023 Season are completed.
* Where possible we will play tournaments in PODS like we did in Phuket earlier this year. Back to back tournaments in the same destination will lower your travel and sustenance costs.
* Our Schedule will include new countries & destinations that we have not played in before.
* As in the past, there will be various mid-season playing incentives during the 2022/2023 Season.
* The new 2022/2023 Schedule will be announced during the first week of October and at the same time you will be informed of your initial Category for the upcoming Season. Like any Schedule, this will be subject to change, BUT we are fully committed to the number of overall tournaments in the 2022/2023 Season and the minimum Prize Fund(s).
* We will have a Player Membership Committee made up of minimum of three MENA Tour Members who will work with the Operations Team to continuously improve player conditions for our Tour on an ongoing basis.
* We will hold a Qualifying School for the 2023/2024 MENA TOUR Seasonsoon after the conclusion of the 2022/2023 Season.
OTHER NEWS ABOUT THE 2022/2023 MENA TOUR SEASON.
* As you would all be well aware, the OWGR introduced a new system in August, 2022. It has always been a guiding principle of the MENA Tour that we create the best golfing pathways for our Members. Under the new OWGR system we believe that the MENA Tour is very well placed to become a ‘springboard’ for its Members to exciting new possibilities in the world of golf. A recent example of this is the TOP 10 Professionals from the 2020+ MENA Tour Order of Merit having qualified for the final stage of the 2023 Asian Tour Qualifying School. We will continue to work diligently to create global playing opportunities for all of our Members.
* Any MENA Tour Member that due to COVID-19 was unable to compete in the 2020+ MENA Tour Season and holds a credit voucher can use this voucher for 2022/2023 Membership & Entry Fees.
* All Prize Money won in the 2022/2023 Season will be distributed in USD$ within 72 hours of the final round of each tournament.
WHAT DO I DO NEXT IF I WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE MENA TOUR FOR THE 2022/2023 SEASON?
* You must visit our website: www.menatour.golf and make sure that you have a Registered Account with the MENA Tour…registration costs you nothing.
* Now that Membership is open you must apply to be a memberof the MENA Tour for the 2022/2023 Season and pay the Membership Fee of USD$300- by credit card before Membership closes on October 2nd. We accept VISA and MasterCard.
* In the unlikely event that you are not able to get a start in any of the 2022/2023 MENA Tour tournaments due to your Category or injury, the MENA Tour will give you a credit voucher that can be applied to 2023/2024 Qualifying School and/or Membership.
SUMMARY.
I think it is fair to say that we have all had a challenging few years that have been full of a huge variety of ups & downs, emotions and plenty of soul searching. Throughout this time we have truly appreciated your frustrations as elite athletes trying to further a career in the sport you love. We have also had plenty of time to reflect on what we do well and what we need to work on. We kept coming back to the same obvious solution that we need to continue to create and expand opportunities for you to play golf at a competitive level so you can attempt to fulfill your dreams.
We look forward to you joining us for what will be a journey in a revitalized new era for the MENA Tour.
With kind regards,
David Spencer
