The European Challenge Tour will conclude in the UAE after Ras Al Khaimah was confirmed as the new destination for its finale.
The three-year agreement, announced on Monday, ensures the second-tier circuit culminates in the Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final, with its order of merit rebranded the “Road to Ras Al Khaimah".
This year’s tournament will take place from October 31 to November 3 at Al Hamra Golf Club and features the top 45 players on the Challenge Tour. Competing for a US$515,000 (Dh1.9 million) prize fund, the lead 15 players in the seasonal rankings will then graduate to the European Tour. An additional "Road to Ras Al Khaimah Bonus Pool" of $100,000 will be divided between the top three in the standings.
The emirate has played an integral role on the Challenge Tour already, since the Ras Al Khaimah Golf Challenge had been the penultimate event on its calendar for the past two years. Monday’s announcement means European golf's two lead tours now close in the UAE.
“It is tremendous news for us all that Ras Al Khaimah and Al Hamra Golf Club will host the 2018 Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final on the season-long Road to Ras Al Khaimah," said Nick Tarratt, director of the European Tour International Dubai Office.
“We firstly extend our thanks to Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority and especially to Haitham Mattar, the CEO of RAKTDA for all his support. The players have all been very complimentary about the Al Hamra golf course since first visiting in 2016 and, with the new Troon Golf management team in place, we look forward to seeing a golf course presented in an appropriate manner for the top players for the Challenge Tour Grand Final later in the year."
The Challenge Tour’s Grand Final was previously staged in Dubai, at Al Badia Golf Club in 2013 and 2014, before moving to Al Mouj Golf Club in Oman.
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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Bareilly Ki Barfi
Directed by: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring: Kriti Sanon, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao
Three and a half stars
War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
Rating: Two out of five stars
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Intercontinental Cup
Namibia v UAE Saturday Sep 16-Tuesday Sep 19
Table 1 Ireland, 89 points; 2 Afghanistan, 81; 3 Netherlands, 52; 4 Papua New Guinea, 40; 5 Hong Kong, 39; 6 Scotland, 37; 7 UAE, 27; 8 Namibia, 27
FIXTURES
Fixtures for Round 15 (all times UAE)
Friday
Inter Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Saturday
Atalanta v Verona (6pm)
Udinese v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Juventus (11.45pm)
Sunday
Lecce v Genoa (3.30pm)
Sassuolo v Cagliari (6pm)
SPAL v Brescia (6pm)
Torino v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sampdoria v Parma (9pm)
Bologna v AC Milan (11.45pm)
