Game changing Ladies First Club returns

To celebrate last year’s debut Aramco Saudi Ladies International – the county’s first ever professional, women-only, international sports event – the Ladies First Club powered by Aramco was created in a world-first to introduce and inspire women in Saudi Arabia to get into golf. The initiative saw 1,200 registrations in the opening four days with all participating women now members of a scheme that aligns with the Kingdom’s wider ambitions under Vision 2030, which aims to get more Saudis regularly active.

There were fewer than 20 female members across the Kingdom’s golf clubs ahead of the scheme. This year in a bold move to take the scheme further than it has gone before, every member of the Ladies First Club powered by Aramco will be invited to Women in Sports Season – celebrating female sporting excellence in Saudi – to document their experience learning golf.

Sony, the global leader in electronics, and Aramco share a commitment to inclusion, diversity and empowering women in Saudi Arabia, and around the globe. In partnership with the Aramco Saudi Ladies International, Sony Middle East & Africa will collaborate with four trailblazing Saudi women who are to helm its initiative: “The Journey captured by Sony”.

Each of the participants will document their journey, as they are introduced to golf via the Ladies First Club powered by Aramco and partake in a year-long partnership, vlogging their experience, and empowered by the Sony ZV-1 camera. The concept will see the ladies document their learnings and experiences. They will also share the progress they make on their own golfing journey, as they attend events and participate in Pro-Am tournaments.  

The Ladies First Club powered by Aramco will return next month as part of two world-class events heading back to Jeddah: the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund (PIF) taking place on November 4-7 followed by the Aramco Team Series – Jeddah (November 10-12).

Hosted at the Royal Greens Golf Club, in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), women attending both events this year will get access to free golf clinics from PGA professionals on-site, with various lesson types on offer, including putting, chipping, full swing and on-course instruction all available. Golf specific gift bags will also be handed out, along with information about follow-up lessons and future Ladies First Club powered by Aramco opportunities across the winter.

High profile golf events are a key feature of Saudi Arabia’s golf strategy and are designed to encourage future generations and transform the Kingdom into a leading nation in the sport. Golf Saudi’s development strategy is female inclusive, and the Ladies First Club powered by Aramco was created as a means to connect newcomers with the game.

As part of the launch of the Ladies First Club powered by Aramco membership, all participants were offered free golf lessons, driving range and golf course access, as well as year-round inclusive social activities to get more women attending golf clubs in Jeddah, Riyadh and Eastern Province. Upon joining, each member was given a digital ‘Introduction to Golf’ education pack, which gave detailed monthly seminars outlining the key aspects of golf for beginners. Golf clinics were held once a month, led by a professional and concluded with an on-course induction for all participants and a 9-hole round.  Off the course, the Ladies First Club powered by Aramco also provided a range of social opportunities, including invites to social mornings, plus the likes of Pilates, yoga, bridge and other wellbeing activities.

Majed Al Sorour, CEO and Deputy Chairman of both Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation, said: “The response to Ladies First Club has been amazing but we want to go bigger and better this year. Inspired by the biggest week of women’s sport in Saudi Arabia to date, we want more women than ever to play golf through these free initiatives – the power of golf is immense and can have such a positive impact on the lifestyle, health and well-being of our population. We remain ambitious and having the world’s best golfers play in the Kingdom will once again demonstrate the number of future possibilities available to Saudi women.”

Hassan Alobaidan, General Manager – Operations at Modern Electronics, said: “Sony has been proactively engaged in initiatives to support women empowerment and promote diversity and we are delighted to partner with Saudi Aramco in providing an avenue for women in the kingdom to enjoy sports such as golf.”

Free tickets are now available for the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund (Nov 4-7) followed by the Aramco Team Series – Jeddah (November 10-12) and can be secured via the Aramco Team Series website (www.aramcoteamseries.com) and the Aramco Saudi Ladies International website (www.golfsaudi.com/en-us/asli-2021).