Alan Horne has been selected as the 2009 Gent's Club Captain and Sara Thompson as the Lady Club Captain of the Royal Golf Club.
Horne will be supported in his role by Vice Captain Mark Holmans who will succeed him as Captain in 2010. Thompson was this year's Lady Vice Captain and will take over on January 1 from Emma Boyd as Lady Captain, supported by new Lady Vice Captain Dena Wales.
Horne is from the UK and is the director general of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) in Bahrain. As the first Club Captain of the Royal Golf Club, Horne is tasked with supporting the revival of the old club spirit of the former Riffa Golf Club. He also plans to revive the initiative of one of the past captains in encouraging the youth of Bahrain to take up golf.
Thompson hails from Sussex, UK, and has lived in the Middle East since 1989, first in Qatar, then Saudi Arabia, moving to Bahrain nearly five years ago. She is keen to help strengthen and expand the ladies section at the Royal Golf Club.
"Ladies currently make up around 20 per cent of the club's membership," said Thompson. "Working with head pro Chris Kelby and his team at the Royal Golf Academy, I would like to see this percentage increase. Golf is a great sport and also a great form of exercise for ladies of all ages. I would also like to encourage more Bahraini ladies to come and join us."