Looking back at 2022 with Leading Courses Partnership Manager Kareem Kaddouri

• Name: Kareem Kaddouri
• HCP: 12.4
• Home course: None
• Equipment brand(s): Taylormade Irons, Callaway Driver, Titleist wedges & Odyssey putter 
• Favourite type of course: Links course 

I was lucky to play a lot of special courses this year, but my favourite was Koninklijke Haagsche G&CC near The Hague in the Netherlands. It is a dune course in probably the most secluded and quiet piece of land in the whole country. It's regarded as one of the best golf courses in the Netherlands.

My most memorable round of the year was at Marco Simone in Rome, the host of the upcoming Ryder Cup 2023. To be able to play a Ryder Cup course in perfect conditions was a real treat. I was really able to visualise where all the crowds will be placed and the crazy atmosphere that it will create!

For me, the maintenance of the course and the facilities play an important role in the overall experience. A well maintained green complex on a rugged links course is the stuff dreams are made of!

I really enjoyed witnessing the breakthrough of Ewen Ferguson this season on the DP World Tour. I was lucky enough to play with him in the ISPS Handa Pro-Am at Infinitum Golf in Tarragona. He is such a down to earth guy and has a very good sense of humour.

After playing a round with me, he did hit a rough patch in form, so I apologise for that Ewen!

This for me has to be the bunker shot from Matt Fitzpatrick at the US Open. He was under immense pressure to deliver and he played an absolute textbook fairway bunker shot, clipping the ball beautifully off of the sand.

The outpouring of emotions with his family and his younger brother when he won gave me goosebumps. I pictured myself celebrating such a moment in the same way and it made me quite emotional. Go on Fitzy!

I am always collating my bucket list on Leading Courses, adding courses as I go. But to narrow it down to one course, it has to be a links course and it has to be in a part of the world I have always wanted to play golf, Ireland.

Top of the list for me is Cruit Island Golf Club, situated near Donegal. Probably as rugged as it gets, always blowing a gale and a truly pure golfing experience (as I’ve heard). Time to make that a reality. 

My key goals are to play golf in two new countries, play 10 new courses and reach a single-digit handicap.

I have currently played golf in 11 countries, I have a total of 65 golf clubs played and a handicap of 12.4, challenge accepted.