Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The R&A worked with the Emirates Golf Club greenkeeping team to provide championship agronomy support during the 16th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC).
Created in 2009 as a joint initiative to grow the game by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), The Masters Tournament and The R&A, the championship is recognised as one of the most prestigious amateur events in the world.
Fifa Laopakdee, a 20-year-old from Thailand, came from a six-stroke deficit to win the 72-hole tournament on the Majlis Course, beating Japan’s Taisei Nagasaki at the third hole of a sudden-death play-off. With the victory, Laopakdee earned invitations to the 2026 Masters Tournament and The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.
As part of The R&A’s growing focus on delivering performance through sustainability, The R&A’s agronomy team works with leading golf venues worldwide to optimise course conditioning, turf performance, and environmental best practice.
The Majlis, home to the Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour, once again showcased its world-class playing surfaces as it welcomed the region’s finest amateur golfers.
Chris Gray, Head of Sustainability and Agronomy – Asia-Pacific at The R&A, said: “We were delighted to support Matthew Perry and the Emirates greenkeeping team in hosting one of the most prestigious amateur championships in the world. Their professionalism, local expertise and attention to detail were exceptional, ensuring the Majlis Course was presented in outstanding condition throughout the week.
“The venue continues to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable, high-performance agronomy, and our role was simply to complement the excellent work already being done by Matthew and his team to align course preparation and championship presentation with international best practice in both playability and environmental stewardship.”
The Majlis Course has played an instrumental role in establishing Dubai as a global golf destination since its opening in 1988 and remains one of the most respected tournament venues in the Middle East.
Chris May, Chief Executive Officer at Viya, said: “It was a huge privilege to welcome the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship to the Majlis Course. The R&A’s Agronomy team brought world-leading expertise, and their support was invaluable throughout the preparation and delivery of the championship.
“Their approach, combining performance with sustainability, aligns perfectly with our philosophy and long-term environmental goals. Emirates Golf Club has always been synonymous with quality, and the way the course played and presented itself during the championship was yet another example of that.”
