SKY SPORTS’ cameras are ready to roll and more than 40,000 players are preparing to tee

off - the Abu Dhabi Junior Golf Championship in association with The Daily Telegraph is ready for the class of 2010.

With a glittering history dating back more than 25 years, this is junior golf’s ‘major’ and with golf clubs hosting qualifying competitions in most counties, every junior in the UK has the opportunity to qualify.

“This tournament is proving to be a winner on a variety of levels,” comments Ahmed Hussein, Deputy Director General – Tourism Operations for the ADTA. “From the nurturing of new golfing stars, to spreading awareness of Abu Dhabi’s golfing credentials to seeding a new generation of supporters for the emirate. Each year, Abu Dhabi’s golfing proposition and the tournament grow in tandem and are simultaneously maturing their highly-prized assets.”

The 11 boys and nine girls who qualify for the 2010 finals are in for a trip of a lifetime. Our top 20 will follow in the footsteps of the European Tour’s finest by playing the finals at the superb Abu Dhabi Golf Club, a true gem in the desert.

This is the course that hosts the Abu Dhabi Championships, from which earlier this year millions watched on worldwide television as Germany’s Martin Kaymer narrowly squeezed out Ian Poulter to lift the trophy.

Some of the performances provided by our juniors in last year’s finals would not have been out of place at a European Tour event. British Boys champion Tom Lewis posted an opening 64, before eventually succumbing to a brilliantly determined display by Bristol’s Chris Lloyd. Nottingham’s Alex Peters won the girls’ event by five strokes over three rounds at the magnificently manicured Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

The field started with 41,000 entries in the 2009 Championship

and there is a chance for everyone to be a part of this wonderful event. Don’t be put off from entering because of these huge numbers, you have to take part to be in with a chance, and the majority of those who have made our fabulous finals in the past never thought they would make it, either.

It could be you jetting off to Abu Dhabi for a week which combines the luxurious qualities of top-class accommodation with five-star golf. Imagine competing alongside some of the best young players in the United Kingdom and meeting some of the best UAE junior golfers, making lifelong friendships and joining an elite club of Junior Golf Championship finalists. If you don’t enter you won’t be there.

The finals take place in late November and there are 20 places on offer for the UK juniors - 11 boys and nine girls. The first step you can take towards securing one of these is to enter one of our qualifying tournaments. It’s a small step, which could just be the first in what turns out to be a fantastic journey. The beauty of our competition is that it reaches out to junior golfers of all abilities. All you need is a handicap and a sprinkling of competitive spirit, so come on – give it a go.

Listed on the championship website will be a list of qualifying competitions taking place this year. There will be more to follow, please keep checking telegraph.co.uk/abudhabijuniorgolf for updates.

Alternatively, if you are a Junior Organiser, contact our hotline to find out more about how you can stage one of the qualifying events and be a part of the Championship, which enjoys the status of being one of the largest entry sports competitions in the world. It now proudly sits amongst amazing Abu Dhabi’s rapidly growing portfolio of sports events.

One former winner is Justin Rose – it’s time for you to follow in his footsteps.

The 2010 Junior Golf Championship tees off

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Chris Lloyd playing in the 2009 final

2009 Champions – Chris Lloyd and Alexandra with Faisal Al Sheikh of the ADTA

For further information on the 2010 Championship, visit www.telegraph.co.uk/abudhabijuniorgolf or call 0161 214 8098

TITLE SPONSOR

Abu Dhabi awaits our 2010 finalists

Abu Dhabi Tourism AuthorityAbu Dhabi, the largest of the seven emirates which make up the United Arab Emirates, is a destination committed to golfing excellence. Already home to the magnificent Abu Dhabi Golf Club – home to the annual PGA European-Tour-backed Abu Dhabi Golf Championship – the emirate’s golfing proposition is expanding.

The destination now boasts the magnificent Saadiyat Beach Golf Club - the Arabian Gulf’s only ‘ocean’ course with several beachfront holes – designed by golfing legend Gary Player. This is the first of two courses planned for the emerging Saadiyat Island destination – the other will be a unique tidal course being designed by Robert Trent Jones II. The emirate is also readying for the opening of a links course on its new Yas Island entertainment destination. Plus, in the emirate’s second city, Al Ain, an existing all-grass nine-hole course is being expanded to 18 holes under the shadow of the dramatic Jebel Hafeet – Abu Dhabi’s highest peak.

And as the emirate moves to expand its golfing influence, it is also looking to build local talent by supporting international and local competitions to spread its following.

Abu Dhabi Golf Club Abu Dhabi Golf Club presents itself as one of the most luxurious golf resort experiences within the Middle East, in full management with the renowned worldwide golf resort management organisations of excellence, Troon Golf. 15 minutes from the city centre and 10 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport, Abu Dhabi Golf Club is perfectly located for domestic and international guests.

An oasis of tranquility carved out of the desert, Abu Dhabi Golf Club features 27 Championship holes of golf, covering more than 162 hectares of land. For more information, visit www.adgolfclub.com

The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group As one of the UAE’s leading brand names, the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group consists of more than 20 companies, offering a diverse portfolio of services and products. The family-owned business is run independently as well as in partnership with some of the world’s leading brands.

With more than 50 years of history and now employing more than 30,000 people, the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group provides a broad and diverse range of products and services through its four core business sectors - construction, commercial, investments and real estate.

The Group is underpinned by a philosophy that puts customer service and the welfare of its employees at the centre of everything it does. The Group passionately believes in Dubai’s growing international status and the part that it

can continue to play in establishing it as one of the world’s leading cities. www.alnaboodah.com

Traders HotelTraders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi consists of 301 stylish guest rooms and suites. Located in the Qaryat Al Beri complex that houses Shangri-La Hotel, CHI The Spa and The Souk, the Hotel is located 15 minutes from Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Yas Marina Circuit and the international airport.

The hotel is designed for frequent travellers and offers in-room technological services including built-in USB connectivity for charging MP3 players and other electrical devices. International all-day dining restaurant Afya offers buffet style breakfast and a la carte options for lunch and dinner.

This stylish new hotel boasts an outdoor lap pool and is the only four-star hotel in Abu Dhabi that sits on a private beach.

Etihad AirwaysEtihad Airways is the national airline of the UAE and the world’s fastest growing carrier, based in Abu Dhabi, the hub that links more than 50 destinations.

Etihad flies brand new, custom-designed aircraft from the UK – daily from Manchester and three times daily from Heathrow. There are three classes of travel – Coral Economy, Pearl Business Class and Diamond First Class – all of which are industry leading with video-on-demand offered in every seat and award-winning food and wines for each guest.

Sky Sports This year, Sky Sports is scheduled to broadcast more than 3,000 hours of coverage from five continents.

There is golf programming during every week of the year, including live high definition coverage of the 2010 Ryder Cup, US Open, US PGA Championship, and every event from the World Golf Championship. In addition, events from the Womens, Champions, and Amateur Tours will be shown. As well as on television, Sky Sports subscribers can watch Sky’s golf programming online via Sky Player and on their mobile phones via Sky Mobile.

The website www.skysports.com also provides the latest news, views and analysis from the commentary team.

Callaway GolfCallaway Golf has led the transformation of the game of golf and become one of the most trusted equipment manufacturers in the world. Through an unwavering commitment to innovation and technology, Callaway Golf creates products designed to make every golfer a better golfer, no matter how talented.

Callaway’s commitment to the sport, from the highest level through to beginners taking up the sport for the first time, is fundamental to its long-term growth. Its team of Staff Tour

Professionals is underpinned with a wealth of young talent, including Englishmen Oliver Wilson and Nick Dougherty and Spaniard Alvaro Quiros. Callaway also sees the development of events like the Junior Golf Championship as a vital link in the search for new golfing talent in the UK.

WoodwormWoodworm is the proud Official Clothing Sponsor of the Abu Dhabi Junior Golf Championship. Since its inception as a cricket company in 2004, it has become a global sports and lifestyle brand renowned for its quality, unique style and innovative products.

Owned and exclusively distributed by The Sports HQ, products are sold directly, meaning unbeatable value and performance that surpasses expectation time after time.

Their latest range is one of the finest on the market and includes golf, cricket, camping, clothing, and much more, and is available exclusively online at www.woodworm.tv and www.thesportshq.com.

The R&ABased in St Andrews, The R&A is golf’s governing body and the organiser of The Open Championship. The R&A is committed to working for golf and operates with the consent of 141 organisations, from the amateur and professional game, and on behalf of over 30 million golfers in 126 countries.

Using funds generated by The Open Championship, The R&A promotes golf development, rules education and best practice for sustainable golf course management throughout the world. Emphasis is placed on both the encouragement of junior golf and the development of the game in emerging golfing nations.

EGUThe English Golf Union (EGU) is the governing body for amateur golf in England, looking after the interests of more than 1,900 golf clubs and 690,000 club members.

Their many development initiatives in 2009 encouraged more than 40,000 juniors and adults to start playing golf and improve their game. Their coaching teams identify and develop elite players through their amateur careers, many of whom go on to become some of the world’s leading professional golfers, such as Paul Casey, Justin Rose and Lee Westwood.

The EGU is at the heart of grass roots golf and is proud to support clubs and players. Grass roots golf is where the quest to be the world’s best starts, as the past five winners of this event will confirm having all graduated from EGU coaching programmes.

Visit www.englishgolfunion.org to see how you can Get into Golf and www.egugolfcentral.co.uk to access membership, great green fee offers and open competitions at more than 1,900 English golf courses.