AMERICAN SATELLITE TOUR PLAYS TWO EVENTS IN MOROCCO

A view of the Jack Nicklaus-designed Samanah course at Marrakech, Morocco with the Atlas Mountains as a magnificent backdrop.

FROM THE e-GOLF PRO TOUR, USA WEBSITE
By STEWART MOORE
Over the next two weeks, the Charlotte, North Carolina-based eGolf Professional Tour will make golf history by hosting two tournaments in Morocco, in turn becoming the first United States-based tour to conduct multiple stroke-play events on the continent of Africa.
The tour, which began its 10th season two weeks ago at the Swiftwick Shootout at Palmetto Hall on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, traditionally contests 18-20 tournaments annually in the south-east of America.
Field sizes for the majority of Stateside events average just over 200 players, with purses ranging from $225,000 to $235,000. For the two Morocco events, fields have been limited to 120 players and purses guaranteed at $250,000 each.
The first of the two events, the Samanah Classic, will be contested at Samanah Country Club at Marrakech, from tomorrow (Sunday) to Wednesday (March 6-9).
Samanah is an award-winning Jack Nicklaus signature design golf course and is one of Morocco's top venues. For this event, players will be staying at the five-star Hotel Kenzi Farah Marrakech, located in the historic and vibrant downtown area of Marrakech.
The second event, the El Jadida Classic, will be contested at Pullman Royal Golf Club in El Jadida, Morocco from March 12-15. This seaside resort has long been the host to the Challenge Tour’s Moroccan Golf Classic, and is known worldwide for their three finishing holes that front the Atlantic Ocean.
The host hotel for this event will be the five-star Pullman Royal Golf and Spa El Jadida, located on the same property as the golf course proper.
“We are honoured to be in Morocco for these two events and to have our stamp on a bit of history regarding American professional golf,” said eGolf Tour president David Siegel.
“The game of golf has worldwide appeal and the onset of the international player has certainly heightened the awareness of the game’s global exposure. We feel that these two events will showcase not only the tour, but the fascinating location that is Morocco.”
The winner of each of the two tournaments will be granted a spot in the European Tour’s prestigious King Hassan II Trophy – to be contested at Agadir, Morocco from March 31 – April 3.
Notable players in the fields for the Samanah Classic and the El Jadida Classic will  include:
Nick Taylor – The 2010 Ben Hogan Award Winner while starring at the University of Washington, Taylor will be making his first career start on the eGolf Tour while in Morocco. Canadian-born player was a three-time “All American” at Washington, a runner-up in the 2009 United States Public Links Championship, and spent 21 weeks as the top ranked amateur in the world in 2009. Finished T36 in the 2009 U.S. Open, in turn earning low amateur honours.
Drew Weaver – The 2007 British Amateur champion will be making the first of two visits to Morocco this month, having already earned a spot in the King Hassan II Trophy after winning the e-tour’s “Race to Morocco” last fall. This former United States Walker Cup team member finished fifth on the tour’s 2010 money list with one win and six top-6 finishes.
Brian Harman – Two-time member of the USWalker Cup team, he finished third on the eGolf Tour’s 2010 money list with one win and 11 top-10 finishes in just 14 starts. Finished runner-up in the tour’s season-opening Swiftwick Shootout at Palmetto Hall to weeks ago after losing on the first play-off hole to Corey Nagy. Played college golf at the University of Georgia, where he was a four-time “All America” selection.
Chris Baker – Won the Challenge Tour’s Moroccan Golf Classic in 2010 at Pullman Royal Golf Club, in turn becoming the first American-born player to win on that tour since December 2009. Also became just the 10th player in Challenge Tour history to win his first Challenge Tour start, joining the likes of Darren Clarke, Trevor Immelman, Martin Kaymer and Edoardo Molinari. This former Iowa State University stand-out captured his first eGolf Tour win at the 2010 River Hills Classic.
+The US players flew from JFK International Airport last Wednesday afternoon (US time) and arrived at Casablanca Aiport at 6am (local time) on Thursday. From Casablance, they were transported by bus the short distance to Marrakech, their base until the Samanach Classic concludes next week.
There is a cut to the leading 60 and ties after two rounds.
All four rounds of the Samanah Classic and the El Jadida Classic will be broadcast locally on Moroccan TV. Daily results will be available each day on the tour’s website: http://www.egolfprofessionaltour.com/ and http://www.scottishgolfview.com/ . Live updates from each round can also be found on the eGolf Professional Tour’s Twitter page (@eGolfProTour1).


THE AMERICANS THINK IT'S SAFE TO PLAY GOLF IN MOROCCO,
SO WHY DON'T YOU THINK ABOUT COMPETING IN ONE OR
BOTH OF THE MOROCCO DOUBLE-HEADER EVENTS IN OCTOBER?

1 The 2nd Morocco Golf Festival: Fly to Marrakech Saturday, October 8. Fly home on Saturday, October 15 (unless you are heading for Agadir).
Based at Marrakech and including three competitions over FIVE different courses in six days, including the Jack Nicklaus-designed Samanah lay-out.

2 The 1st Moroccan international amateur championships at Agadir during the week October 18-19-20-21.
The 72-hole Moroccan international men's amateur championship at the Ocean Course. No cut. Two free practice rounds. Handicap limit 9 on Oct 18.
The 72-hole Moroccan international women's amateur championship at the Ocean Course. No cut.Two free practice rounds. Handicap limit 12 on Oct 18.
The 54-hole Moroccan senior men's amateur championship at the Golf Du Soleil Course. No cut. Two free practice rounds. Handicap limit 12 on Oct 19.
The 54-hole Moroccan senior women's amateur championship at the Golf Du Soleil Course. No cut. Two free practice rounds. Handicap limit 12 on Oct 19.
The 54-hole Agadir international amateur tournament at The Dunes for males and females of all ages and all handicaps up to a maximum of 28 for males and 36 for females. No cut. Two free practice rounds.

+All the details are on the Home Page of Menara Travel's website: http://www.morocco4golf.com/
Mohamed Fakir of Menara Travel will do all the organising of flights, hotel accommodation, transfers from airport-hotel-golf courses and tournament entry fees for no extra charge.
If you have any queries you can E-mail the Tournament Director for both weeks in Morocco - Colin Farquharson - at Colin@scottishgolfview.com