Golf
In pictures: The story of the Muslim Golf Association
By Jack Bantock, CNN
Published 0826 GMT (1626 HKT) October 4, 2022
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Amir Malik founded the UK-based Muslim Golf Association in 2019 to create a space for people of his faith to play the game. The Muslim Golf Association
The inaugural MGA event was held at The Grove, near London, in August 2020. Muslim Golf Association
Open to players of all faiths, MGA events are alcohol-free and offer dedicated worship spaces. Daily Muslim prayers -- Salat -- are performed five times a day. Muslim Golf Association
Food served at events is halal, an Arabic word meaning permissible according to Islamic law. Halal products are typically pork free, alcohol free, and use a specific method of animal slaughter. Muslim Golf Association
The curtain-raiser at The Grove raised £18,000 for charity and strengthened Malik's belief that there was a real passion for golf among Muslim communities. Muslim Golf Association
Partnering with the Marriott hotel chain, the MGA organized a tri-series tournament in 2021 -- The Race to Arden -- kicking off at Worsley Park near Manchester. Muslim Golf Association
The second leg of the tournament landed at The Shire London, home to the only golf course in the UK designed by legendary Spanish golfer Seve Ballesteros. Muslim Golf Association
Warwickshire's Forest of Arden Club, previously host of the English Open and British Masters, set a scenic stage for the tournament finale. Muslim Golf Association
Inspired by the uptake among Muslim men, Malik launched the MGA's women's program. With no dress code at its events, Muslim women were free to try out the sport wearing niqabs (face veil) and abayas (long robes) at a range of taster sessions held across the country. Muslim Golf Association
More than 1,000 participants have already played at the MGA women's taster sessions, and both London events slated for October are already sold out. Muslim Golf Association
Kicking off on the Nicklaus course at Carden Park, Chester, The Race to Belek 2022 men's tournament offers the prize of a seven day, all-expenses paid trip to the "golf paradise" of Belek, Turkey. Muslim Golf Association
The MGA once again returned to The Shire for the second stage, with golfers fighting for points based on their finish at each event of the tri-series cup. Muslim Golf Association
Race to Belek winners Tariq Mahmood, Ahmed Sherman, and Asad Khan celebrate their trophies after being crowned champions at the Forest of Arden Club in August. Muslim Golf Association
Looking ahead, Malik (R) wants to take the MGA around the world. "My global aim is, I want the game to be introduced to every single Muslim man, woman and child in the world," Malik says. Muslim Golf Association
