The MENA Golf Tour arrives in Morocco this week for the Al Houara Classic (26-28 February), the first of two back-to-back tournaments at the acclaimed Al Houara Golf Club in Tangier – a resort that has firmly established itself among the finest golf destinations in the world.
Designed by Masters champion Vijay Singh and celebrated Aussie-born architect Graham Marsh, the par-72 championship course stretches over 110 hectares between the Rif Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, weaving through golden sand dunes and lush forest to deliver a stern and spectacular test.
MOROCCO TAKES #MENATour CENTRE STAGE …
With the famed Al Houara Golf Club ⛳️at Tangier at the Atlantic Ocean northern tip of #Morocco hosting the first of back-to-back t’ments
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Ranked number two in Morocco and number five in Africa by Top100GolfCourses, and included in Golf.com’s prestigious Top 100 Golf Resorts in the World list, Al Houara represents a fitting stage as the MENA Golf Tour enters the business end of its season.
With the season-ending Al Ain Championship just weeks away, the MENA Golf Tour Rankings battle has reached a pivotal juncture. Chris Wood and Juan Salama lead the standings heading into Morocco, with the notable absence of third-placed Jack Davidson from the Al Houara Classic field opening the door for PGA Aroeira Challenge winner Ludovico Addabbo – who arrives in Tangier looking to build on his victory in Portugal and cement his place in the Rankings picture – and others to make their move in what has been a captivating contest for supremacy.
“This is a beautiful part of the world and Al Houara is a course that demands your very best,” said Wood, who has racked up two victories so far on this season’s MENA Golf Tour. “The competition on this tour has been exceptional all season and Morocco is no different – there are quality players throughout the field. I’m focused on my own game and looking forward to the week ahead.”
Salama added: “Being second in the Rankings doesn’t change anything for me. I’m going to enjoy the golf course, have fun and give my best on every shot. My mindset stays the same and my game stays the same”
The tournament attracts a strong field of professionals from across the tour’s membership, with a significant home contingent of Morocco’s professionals and amateurs looking to make an impression on their own turf. Among them is Ayoub Lguirati, one of the country’s leading professionals and a regular competitor on the Asian Development Tour who has also made his mark at Asian Tour level. Lguirati, who enters the week on a host invitation, is no stranger to performing on home soil – and arrives in Tangier motivated to deliver.
“Competing in a MENA Tour event in Morocco is an important experience for any local player,” said Lguirati. “It’s a chance to test yourself against talent from different backgrounds and to gain valuable experience on a recognised circuit. As a Team Morocco Pro player, I’m motivated to give my best on our home courses. My focus is on my performance, and I’m ready to take on this challenge with full commitment.”
Lguirati is joined in the host invites by compatriots Ayoub Id Omar, Ayoub Ssouadi, Aissa El Kahdri and Othman Raouzi alongside amateurs Carlo Cusumano, Issam Nakrou, Elias Cocheteux and Karim Mahmah, reflecting the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation’s commitment to giving local talent meaningful competitive exposure at international level.
Beyond the home challenge, the entry list reads as a formidable assembly of talent from across the tour’s membership. England’s Tom Sloman and Ben Jones are well-placed to make an impact, while Italy’s Aron Zemmer – a consistent performer throughout the season – and Scotland’s David Rudd add further quality. HotelPlanner Tour representatives including Ashley Chesters, Mark Power and Mathieu Decottignies-Lafon bring additional depth, and a crop of Q-School graduates led by Alex Maguire, Will Marshall and Sebastian Sandin continue to push for recognition.
The tournament is the first of two consecutive events at Al Houara Golf Club, with the Hilton Classic following immediately the week after (2-4 March), giving players the opportunity to bed in at a venue that rewards local knowledge and strategic course management.
Keith Waters, Chairman and Commissioner, MENA Golf Tour, said: “Al Houara Golf Club is a truly world-class venue and a worthy host for the MENA Golf Tour. The course will provide a stern test for every player in the field and the setting is spectacular. With the season entering its decisive final stretch, the Rankings battle is as compelling as ever – and we expect Morocco to produce some outstanding golf over the coming week.”
