A Cairo-based PGA professional is preparing to 'stick it out' after the outbreak of civil unrest in the country.
Richard Phillips, who is the golf development officer for the Egyptian Golf Federation (EGF), is one of 10 PGA professionals working in the country who have seen their daily routine come to a standstill since the anti-government protests began on January 25.
The 33-year-old, who has worked in Egypt for six years, is away from the main trouble hot-spots in the centre of Cairo, but he and his partner Cheryl are subject to nightly curfews and are carefully monitoring events.
"We're still here though a lot of people have chosen to leave," said Phillips, who prior to moving to Egypt had worked at Bearwood Lakes, Clandon Regis and Lavender Park.
"There are a handful of PGA pros in the country, some well away from the trouble in the resorts by the Red Sea. I'm based in Maadi, which is about 15 miles downtown of central Cairo and things here are fairly quiet.
"For the first couple of days things were quite ugly as no-one really knew what was going on. There were a lot of looters on the streets, gun fire and unrest as the police were not around.
"It's quieter now, especially with the curfews in the evening. We're just going to stick it out and see how it goes. If it gets worse then maybe we'll come home but we would prefer to stay here.
"Our lives have come to a halt and like everyone else we're watching it all unfold on TV. We've had a lot of calls from family and friends and the message is 'we're ok'."
Phillips, who works with fellow PGA professional Gerard Bent at the EGF, explained the impact the protests were having on his livelihood.
"As the golf development officer for the EGF I do a lot of travelling around the country teaching try golf in schools and at resorts and clubs," he said.
"That has totally stopped. As for the overall picture, the clubs and resorts around the country are not taking anyone in. A couple of courses, far away from Cairo are open for business but a lot of places are shut.
"This is the peak tourist season but all have gone home and others are not coming so it's gone from 100 per cent capacity to none. The pros are just sitting around or playing golf and just wondering when the next customers will come."
Phillips joined the EGF in September 2009 having previously held a post at Katameya Heights Golf & Tennis Resort. His role is to promote grass roots golf and to encourage more people to take up the game.
Golf is a growing sport in the country and his boss Bent is responsible for coaching the national teams and promoting Egypt internationally. That included getting the Egypt Open on the Challenge Tour schedule, with future plans to stage a European Tour event.
