RIYADH: Golf Saudi’s CEO Noah Alireza says the Kingdom is pursuing an ambitious plan to expand golf infrastructure and participation ninefold over the next five years.
“We have 5,000 registered golfers in Saudi Arabia. We want to move from 5,000 to 46,000 in the next five years,” Alireza told Arab News on Friday during the PIF Saudi International at Riyadh Golf Club.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, he noted that the tournament had grown significantly since its launch.
He said: “This is the seventh year for the Saudi International, and every year there’s a constant cycle of improvement. It’s a global tournament with incredible players and an incredible field.”
Attendances had surged, he said, adding: “We jumped last year from an average of 8,000 attendees over four days to more than 60,000. This year we have over 72,000 registrations. Yesterday alone, more than 14,000 people came to the course to experience the venue and the WOW Festival (which includes the Saudi International).”
Alireza said Golf Saudi was working to meet growing demand by rapidly building the Kingdom’s golfing infrastructure.
He said: “The infrastructure we have in Saudi Arabia, relative to the rest of the world, is quite limited.
“We have seven golf courses accessible to the public and very limited training facilities. The main focus is building that infrastructure. We’re going from seven courses to around 20-plus courses over the next five years.”
As part of the expansion, Golf Saudi will introduce Topgolf-style multipurpose training and entertainment venues in Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province. Driving ranges are also planned across all 13 regions of the Kingdom.
Alireza said the long-term strategy included integrating the sport into the education system. A new national program, Go Golf, will launch in 2026, offering “12 free lessons for any Saudi,” he said. “Once you complete the 12 sessions, you earn a golf passport.”
The digital passport will reward new players with discounts on equipment, memberships, green fees and restaurants to encourage them to stay engaged with the sport.
Asked why golf had been selected for such a major national development push, Alireza pointed to the sport’s core values. “If you don’t make it as a professional in golf, you have the ingredients to make it as a professional in life,” he said. “It gives you the values of discipline, hard work and honesty because it’s self-governing. If you end up being dishonest in golf, you’re being dishonest with yourself.”
He added: “Golf is a bridge to one’s inner potential. The mentality of every golfer, like any athlete, is a constant pursuit of better. And because it’s a game that requires self-discipline over four hours, you see young golfers who are always ahead of their years.”
Alireza also noted that golf carried significant economic value, with major tournaments aligning with global events and other high-level summits around the world.
He highlighted the impact of partnerships with entities such as Riyadh Season and the Public Investment Fund, and added: “Working with Riyadh Season and the Entertainment Authority, and combining that passion with sports, creates something powerful.”
He praised the vision driving the sport’s growth, saying: “You have passion driven by His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who is pushing the ambition to grow golf locally and globally, combined with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s passion for entertainment. What we’re witnessing here at the WOW Festival is nothing short of incredible.”
