The Jordan Mixed Open presented by Ayla’s ‘triquetra’ trophy is unveiled by (L to R) Chris White, Ayla Oasis Development Company; Dr Abed Al-Razzaq Arabiyat, Jordan Tourism Board; Jamie Hodges, Challenge Tour; David MacLaren, Staysure Tour; Mark Lichtenhein and Bethan Cutler, Ladies European Tour
Dr Abed Al-Razzaq Arabiyat, Managing Director of Jordan Tourism Board, was joined by representatives of the European Challenge Tour, the Staysure Tour and the Ladies European Tour at World Travel Market in London this week to unveil the trophy for the Jordan Mixed Open presented by Ayla.
The trophy, which is constructed of 15kg of cut crystal and measures 60cm in height, will be presented to the winner of the very first Jordan Mixed Open presented by Ayla, set to take place at Ayla Golf Club between April 4-6. The tournament will be the first in world golf to see professionals from the men’s, ladies’ and senior’s tours compete over the same golf course for the same prize purse. They will be joined by a leading amateur from the men’s, ladies’ and over-50’s games.
Designed using an ancient ‘triquetra’ shape, the trophy bears a design featuring a circle passing through three interconnected loops. The word ‘triquetra’ is Latin for ‘three-cornered’ and although the exact origins are unknown, examples of its use date back over 5,000 years.
Each loop is representative of the event’s co-sanctioning tours, while the golf ball further emphasises the cohesion between three forces of the sport. This shape is commonly used to represent equality and, using the brand colours of each tour, perfectly encapsulates the underlying principles of the Jordan Mixed Open presented by Ayla.
Upon unveiling the trophy at ExCel London, Dr Abed Al-Razzaq Arabiyat, Managing Director of Jordan Tourism Board, said: “Golf is central to the vision of Aqaba as a tourist destination and of Ayla as one of the world’s most forward-thinking residential and recreational communities.
“Accompanied by the Jordan Tourism Board’s dual commitment to the promotion of Jordan to travelling golfers and to creating new air travel routes in order to welcome more visitors than ever before, we believe the Jordan Mixed Open presented by Ayla is set to be a landmark event which further endorses and showcases our offering, announcing Jordan onto the world golfing map.”
Mark Lichtenhein, Chairman of the Ladies European Tour, said: “The Jordan Mixed Open will be a unique spectacle with both male and female golfers competing for the same trophy and there is no doubt that all LET players will have a keen eye on the Triquetra. The design perfectly reflects the unity of three tours coming together to compete in a brand new format and we thank Ayla for their strong commitment to sporting equality.”
David MacLaren, Head of the Staysure Tour, said: “The Jordan Mixed Open presented by Ayla is an important event not just for the continued development of the Staysure Tour, the Challenge Tour and the Ladies European Tour, but for golf in general.
“We have seen huge levels of engagement when male and female professional golfers have had the opportunity to compete alongside each other, as they do at the Vic Open and in Morocco at the Trophée Hassan II and Lalla Meryem Cup, or against each other as we saw at GolfSixes and the
European Golf Team Championships this year.
“The Jordan Mixed Open adds a new dimension to mixed tournament golf with men competing against women for the first time in a stroke play event and seeing the trophy first-hand has only increased our excitement for next April’s tournament.”
Jamie Hodges, Senior Project Manager, European Challenge Tour, said: “This tournament involving the Challenge Tour, Staysure Tour and the Ladies European Tour is a landmark moment for all three tours.
“Jordan will represent the 50th country that the Challenge Tour has visited, and we are excited to achieve this milestone in a way that will grow the sport globally while furthering our history as a Tour that takes golf to new markets.
“What makes the Jordan Mixed Open presented by Ayla truly ground-breaking is that everyone in the field is competing for one prize, so I am thrilled to see the way the Triquetra Trophy represents this key innovation, while also being just a beautiful standalone piece of artwork.”
About Ayla
Ayla, a dream conceived, the destination sculpted out of the coast of Aqaba and dedicated to inspiring lives by delivering a blend of art, music, sports, well-being, recreation and entertainment activities.
Inspiring lives by Reinventing Seaside Living. Redesigning landscapes, reinvigorating communities, reenergizing lifestyles, AYLA is driven by passion, dreams and life. Passionately sculpted out of the coast of Aqaba and the Red Sea, Ayla is where design and art intertwine with nature providing 17km of waterside living in a vibrant community.
Ayla’s design and architecture are inspired by Aqaba’s natural beauty fused with a modern and eclectic style that delivers a relaxed and comforting environment. Living in Ayla is not just about owning a home in a secure community but also about being part of an extended family, the Ayla family.
Ayla is built around turquoise man-made lagoons surrounded by luxury and boutique hotels, white-sand beach clubs, a world-class marina, Jordan’s first 18-hole signature golf course, as well as exclusive contemporary residential and retail developments.
The private community is comprised of five districts: Marina, Lagoons, Creek, Golf Hills, and Avenue. The contemporary accommodation in each of the districts is designed to give residents and visitors breath-taking panoramic views of the waterfront, green landscapes, and mountains.
Offering a myriad of retail, dining, and entertainment venues, Ayla’s colourful and dynamic community intends to be home to key seasonal events covering art, music, sports, recreation and entertainment activities throughout the year for residents and visitors to enjoy and experience.
