Isle of Man to Switzerland: Obscure golf nations highest OWGR part II

Jordan

We’re all familiar with Sergio in the game of golf.

But how about Shergo?

Shergo Al Kurdi is the shining star for Jordanian golf right now. The English-born 16-year-old is one of three from Jordan with an OWGR ranking and the only one who isn’t tied for last.

Al Kurdi is No. 1,500.

One of his last tournaments before competitive golf came to a halt this year was a momentous one. Al Kurdi finished T-2 at Journey to Jordan 1 – Ayla, a tournament in February on the Mena Golf Tour.

Per the Jordan Times, Al Kurdi became the first player from the Gulf Cooperation Council region and the Middle East to earn OWGR points. This could pay dividends down the road.

"“I think it is a fantastic achievement for me to get OWGR points and I am really surprised that I am the first player from the region to do so,” Al Kurdi was quoted. “Obviously, this is going to be a great help for me when I try to qualify for the 2024 Olympic. Representing Jordan in the Olympics has always been one of my biggest dreams in the game.”"

Oh yeah, and did I mention he’s already teed it up in a European Tour event?

At age 14, Al Kurdi competed in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. He was in the hunt to make the cut with an opening 73 before following with an 80. He still finished ahead of English pro James Heath by one and an older amateur from Qatar, Ali Abdullah Rahman Al Shahrani, by four.

Al Kurdi has had a phenomenal junior career with over 100 titles to his name. He’s got a beautiful swing and could become a pro before long.

Golf in Jordan

If you’re looking to play golf in Jordan, you don’t have many options. In fact, you only have two.

The frontrunner is Ayla Golf Club, which opened in 2017 in the southern city of Aqaba. It’s a Greg Norman design that features more of a high-end experience. Housing developments have been sprouting up on the property since 2008.

The course offers beautiful desert views and showcases the topography of this Middle Eastern nation.

If you can’t afford this expensive escapade, you can head to Bisharat Golf Course in the nation’s capital of Amman. The nine-hole course opened in 1989. It’s almost all sand, so players carry artificial turf mats with them to hit from.

Golf is not a popular sport in Jordan, and it appears to be an activity more for the elite and visitors to the country.

Perhaps Sergho Al Kurdi can put a dent in that. Maybe someday when you Google search “Jordan Golf,” the results won’t be all for Jordan Spieth.