WORLD AMATEUR MATCH RACE Tournament Magazine / August 2024
AUGUST 2024
Meet Joe Heraty
Our new Event Partner Manager, with over 10 years of experience on prestigious golf tours
Memories from the World Final in April
Thrilling moments and memories from the WAMR Grand Final held in Dubai in April 2024
ExcitingTimesAhead:PlayoffsandNewSeasonStart!
Welcome to the August edition of our Tournament Magazine We are now entering some exciting months with the playoffs starting in early August for Season Start 1, and it's only two months until we kick off Season Start 2
Looking back, it's naturally The World Final in April that stands out as the most memorable event What a wonderful group of finalists, and the finals brought us great excitement with several teams competing for the title.
In this edition of the magazine, we also share more about how our Event Partner concept has grown and taken shape. Our licensed event partners worldwide create various events, from one-day tournaments to series of events, where the winners qualify for the World Final.
We hope you enjoy reading this edition while enjoying the summer and fantastic golf.
StenHaakanAakerlund
Tournament Director & CEO World Amateur Match Race
IN THIS ISSUE
4 Time for the Playoffs!
The Playoffs for Season Start #1 will begin with the Round of 16 starting on August 7, and the players are now only a few matches away from reaching the World Final in Dubai.
6 Meet Joe Heraty
We are excited to introduce Joe Heraty, our new Event Partner Manager, with over 10 years of experience on prestigious professional golf tours
Get ready for the upcoming Season Start #2 in October with a new, local version of our match play competition featuring a much improved format.
The Event Partner concept has expanded globally, allowing Licensed Event Partners to organize local golf events where winners qualify for the World Final.
Exciting memories and exhilarating moments from the WAMR World Final held in Dubai in April 2024. 12 Become an Event Partner
Our focus is always on creating a fair and sporting tournament on all levels and over the years, we have seen the results of this work
The players are now only a few matches away from reaching the World Final in Dubai.
The playoffs are a thrilling knock-out tournament where victorious teams will earn their ticket to
the prestigious World Final in Dubai.
We kicked off Season Start #1 with local group play in 18 countries in May, with a total of over 12,000 sign-ups, clearly demonstrating that our tournament's popularity has a strong foothold among golfers from all corners of the globe.
As the players are now just a few matches away from reaching the World Final in Dubai, the tension and nerves increase with every match
Over the years, our World Finals in Dubai have evolved into an exceptional and distinctive experience. Here, golf on world-class courses intertwines with wonderful camaraderie among finalists from across the globe, fostering new friendships
This blend creates unforgettable, invaluable experiences set against a unique environment and atmosphere, turning this captivating week into a marvelous 360º lifestyle experience that embodies membership in an exclusive club.
TellusallwhoisJoeHeraty?
I played on various Professional Tours around the World for 10 years, including Challenge, MENA, PGA Tour China and finally the Asian tour. With 2 wins in Kuwait and Malaysia, bout with wrist and elbow injuries my career peaked climbing into the top 1000 official world rankings. I’ve played with some great players in my career, Tyrell Hatton, Robert Rock, Jordan Smith including National teammates such as Matt Fitzpatrick and Daniel Brown.
For the two years I was injured I caddied on the DP World Tour and LPGA with a highlight of leading the Women's British Open into the final round.
Didyoustopplayinggolfasaprofessional?
I stepped back from playing competitively on tour in 2024, and wanted to explore new ways I could contribute my love of golf to the game. I still have status on the Asian tour, but now I enjoy playing local events and Pro-Ams
Tour life isn’t as glamorous as it seems, the lonely weeks away from family, the highs and the lows, the cost of travel and tournaments and ultimately the constant pressure of having to perform week in week out took its toll.
ShouldAmateursplayinTheWorld AmateurMatchRace?
Absolutely!
The competitive spirit of golf took me all over the world, I played some amazing courses and met some amazing people that otherwise I wouldn't have experienced if it wasn’t for golf.
The World Amateur Match Race is a great way to experience the best that golf has to offer. You get to compete against and meet local and international players, play golf courses that you would never play and be part of a thriving and growing global community!
Not only that but playing the World Final in Dubai is an experience many golfers dream of. The final of the DP World is hosted here for a reason. The courses are world class, the city is filled with amazing and exciting opportunities to experience and the sunshine is always guaranteed!
Every course in the World Final is amazing, and each course offers something different I’ve played many of them in professional tournaments, in training and socially and their course conditions are always immaculate. The golf clubs themselves have excellent service, quality amenities and memorable experiences every time I visit.
As a pro golfer, I love the Challenge of The Els Club and the Earth Course at Jumeriah Golf Estates The panoramic views of Dubai at The Majilis course at The Emirates and the Montgomerie are incredible.
As a Pro, the number one thing I tell amateurs if they want to improve is work on their short game and putting I’ve seen some of the best golfers in the World with average ball striking win tournaments alone with incredible short game and putting.
Practicing holing out from 6ft and in on the greens is a sure fast way to improve your scores. Those knee knocking par saves and close range birdie putts are crucial to keeping momentum and saving a score.
Being able to get up and down from around the greens is imperative. Explore, experiment and be creative with your short game, you don’t always have to play the perfect chip shot to get a good result Be confident and back yourself, know your limits and skills and work within them!
I recently started to play paddle tennis and love it, its fast paced and my hand eye co-ordination from golf is slowly transferring to racquet and ball albeit I'm still a novice.
Aside Golf my deep rooted passion is for football, I still play every now and then as growing up I played football at a high level. My football team is Leeds United and the highs and lows of tour life definitely resonate with being a Leeds fan
From playing some of the best professional tournaments in the World, I believe I can bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the World Amateur Match Race I know what it feels like to be a Pro and I can apply that same experience to the Match Race and also to the World Final.
I’m an avid golf nerd, so everything from rules, preparation, organization, performance, operation, and evaluation to drive better results is my specialty. Bringing these to the table I know I can help take the World Amateur to greater heights.
The World Amateur Match Race already has an amazing community and being able to connect, compete and enjoy the game in ways that have never been done before on a global scale is already in itself an achievement
Making an impact on the game is my mission from the many amazing things golf has personally given to me in my career. Continuing and improving to offer the best tournament service and accessibility for amateurs from all corners of the globe through the World Amateur Match Race is my goal. The future is bright!
This season, we are launching a brandnew, local version of our match play competition with a much improved format.
The WAMR Local Series is limitedtoamaximum of 64teams, and the competition will take place from October 1st to March 16th in the local area, with the winner earning direct qualification to play in the World Final in Dubai in April 2025.
Season Start #2 begins locally in the southern regions of the USA, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates
Thisnewversionhasmanybenefits:
The maximum number of matches to reach Dubai has beenreducedto6 from 11 and the chanceofwinningdoubled.
The timebetweenrounds are also doubled to 28days since we learned that it often is hard for teams to schedule a match within 14 days
Thedistancesbetweenteams will be shortertoo since you will be matched against the 64 closest teams instead of 128 like before
WIN TO PLAY THE FINAL IN DUBAI
The Mexican team, composed of players Andres Torresi and Alvaro Torres in World Final in Dubai April 2024
The Event Partner concept has expanded globally, allowing Licensed Event Partners to organize local golf events where winners qualify for the World Final.
In just three years, over 50,000 participants have signed up for the World Amateur Match Race, with over 25,000 sign-ups annually and players from over 6,500 different golf clubs worldwide.
As a result of this remarkable success, new cross-marketing opportunities have emerged where, together with our local licensed event partner globally, we provide Exclusive rights to organize your own local golf event, where the winners will qualify for any of the upcoming World Finals in Dubai.
All Entryfee and Sponsorship revenues go to the licensee after deducting the World Final in Dubai costs.
You will have access to our technology, where we will build a webpage for your event, including an integrated card payment solution, also allowing you to easily manage all registrations and receive ongoing payments
You will have access to our Events Partner Package including custom designed marketing materials (Social Media, Posters/Flyers, Emails). Comprehensive guides, budget & checklist templates, communication templates and financial calculator (with live currency converter) to give you a foundation to running a successful golf event.
5 Quick Questions for Joe Heraty, our Event Partner Manager
WhocanbecomealicensedEventPartner?
A licensed event partner can be an individual or organization that has our license to organize and conduct an event. If you have a network of golfers in your area and experience in organizing, we are interested in you as an event partner.
As an Event Partner, you can organize various types of golf tournaments. These can include a one-day golf event or a series of 3-4 events with FedEx Cup style points, where the winning team will qualify for the World Finals in Dubai. In the World Finals in Dubai, you participate as a team of 2 players, which is why you often create a golf tournament with a 2-player team format.
Whichgolfeventformatsarethe mostpopular?
Better/Best Ball and Scramble are, I would say, the most popular formats. We often see one-day events being created, and I'm a bit surprised that not more event series are organized. A series of 4 events with FedEx Cup style points, where you can participate in any number of or all 4 events. The team with the most points after the 4 events will be the winner The more competitions you enter, the greater your team's chances of winning!
This also makes the event more profitable, as you can keep a lower entry fee for participants and thus attract more participants to each event.
Joe Heraty playing at the Lexus Challenge
OthertipsyouwouldliketogivetoanEvent Partner
Including a charity or donations when promoting your event locally can significantly enhance appeal and participation, as people are more motivated to support events that contribute to a good cause.
It also helps build a positive brand image by demonstrating a commitment to social responsibility, which can attract more sponsors and foster goodwill among participants This emotional connection and improved reputation can lead to increased registrations and a larger turnout, making the event more successful overall.
WhatdoyoulikemostabouttheEventPartner concept?
I particularly like how the Event Partner concept creates opportunities for customized and locally grounded events. It gives partners the freedom to organize events that truly reflect their own strengths and networks, while retaining all participant and sponsor revenue from the event. This flexibility and customizable formats allow for reaching a broader audience and creating more personal and engaging events
Upcomming Event Partner Tournament
he qualified players from 12 different nationalities arrived on Sunday, April 21. and Get ready for the thrilling moments of the WAMR World Final.
Tchecked in at one of the hottest spots in Dubai, Palm West Beach at the luxurious Radisson Resort Palm Jumeirah, with a welcome ceremony in the evening.
The final was played over 72 holes across three different golf courses: Trump International Golf Course, Montgomerie Golf Club, and Dubai Creek Championship Golf Course.
On Monday, April 22, the first and second rounds were played at Trump International Golf Course, where we started with individual stroke play, with both players' individual scores counting
The leaders on the leaderboard were chased by teams from Mexico, with Andres Torresi and Alvaro Torres trailing by 1 stroke. The Australian duo Haider Najjar and John Kragounisl were 2 strokes behind, and the Canadian team of Jean Tassé and Erik Moschetta were 3 strokes off the lead after 36 holes played.
The day concluded with a dinner for everyone at Palm West Beach on the legendary The Palm
On Tuesday, April 23, shortly after 8 am, the players began arriving at Montgomerie Golf Club with the finesse of seasoned Tour pros to play the third round, where the format was Better Ball Stroke Play.
The Mexican team, composed of players Andres Torresi and Alvaro Torres, took the lead alongside the South African duo of Jano Plessis and Sean Philips. Both teams were 11 under par net after playing 54 holes.
They were chased by several teams who, going into the final day's play, had the chance to clinch victory and assert themselves as champions Closest behind were Haider Najjar and John Kragounisl from Australia, along with the Canadian team of Jean Tassé and Erik Moschetta.
On Wednesday, April 24, it was time for the final round at the flagship course - Dubai Creek Championship Golf Course, where the DP World Tour held the Dubai Invitational in January.
The Australian duo Haider Najjar and John Karagounis clinched the title of World Champion after scoring 8 under par net in the concluding final round, where we played a 2-player scramble
When the final ball was holed out on the 18th hole, their total score after 72 played holes was 18 under par Net Score, securing them the victory by four strokes ahead of the Canadian duo of Jean Tassé and Erik Moschetta.
The third place was secured by Andres Torres and Alvaro Torres from Mexico, five strokes behind.
The South African duo of Jano Plessis and Sean Philips, who had been at the top of the leaderboard in all rounds, couldn't find their game on the final day at Dubai Creek and finished in 4th place, six strokes behind
At the Prize dinner held at BlaBla Beach Club, the atmosphere was absolutely wonderful, and it was evident that the group had really bonded during their days in Dubai.
On Thursday, April 25, we concluded with a welldeserved yacht party during the day, and later in the evening, many were still in a festive mood. We started at Surfers Club and ended late into the night at the nightclub Five Palm.
On Friday, most faced a long flight, but with all the experiences and new friends made during these days, it might not have been so tough. A big thank you to all the finalists; you were a fantastic group. /Sten Haakan
ano&Sean-SouthAfrica
hank you for treating us so we ever forget all the amazing me e made. We enjoyed every se is experience and cannot wait opefully come back!
JordanLucas -USA
Thank you all for an amazing trip! We thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and cannot wait to get back. We just touched down in the states If any of yall ever come to Florida you will definitely have a place to stay
