Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

Abdullah Kamakhi on track to become Saudi Arabia’s first golf course architect

Abdullah Kamakhi has been accepted into the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA), positioning him to become Saudi Arabia’s first golf course architect.

Kamakhi studied landscape architecture at Arizona State University before working as a landscape designer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital. In 2019, Abdullah joined Golf Saudi and begun his journey in the golf industry.

“I am so grateful for this opportunity and the support that Golf Saudi has given me,” said Kamakhi. “Since joining in 2019, my curiosity for golf, particularly golf course design, quickly grew and I was able to work under some great golf course architects and agronomists to give me invaluable resources to learn from. I’m extremely motivated to continue along this career path and be a part of Golf Saudi’s incredible vision to design sustainable environments throughout the kingdom.”

Creating new jobs for Saudi nationals within the golf industry continues to remain a priority for Golf Saudi. Investments continue to be made to provide individuals with the opportunity to learn from industry experts as well as through training and qualifications.

Majed Al Sorour, CEO of the Saudi Golf Federation and Golf Saudi, said: “This is one of the most rewarding parts of the job, seeing Abdullah thrive in a career path that, only a few years ago, didn’t exist within Saudi Arabia. Abdullah has shown great enthusiasm and a commitment to learning since joining Golf Saudi in 2019 and now we get to see him take the next exciting step in his career.

“Access and infrastructure forms one of Golf Saudi’s key pillars, with the aim for golf to be sustainable and accessible to all within Saudi Arabia, Abdullah will be an integral part of the team in the years to come to make this vision a reality. I hope Abdullah’s story inspires other Saudi nationals to pursue a career in golf and help to grow this great game in our beautiful kingdom.”

Kamakhi will begin a two-year course at the EIGCA in May 2021 and could become the country’s first-ever qualified golf course architect by mid-2023.

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