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Golf was last featured in the summer Olympics games official programme in 1900 and 1904 but the International Olympic body  in 2009 decided to reinstate this event for the 2016 summer Olympics . The event will feature professional golfers, many of whom have expressed interest in having golf brought back as an Olympic sport.

As per the agreement reached between the union  and the major sponsors Kenya Airways in the beginning of the KQ golf series 2011/2012 , the officials set aside KSH.500, 000 of the total 15 million shillings received for development purposes.

The half a million shillings package was  donated to the Kenya golf foundation with an aim of implementing initiatives that would help in promoting golf among the underprivileged youth in the country as well as foresee the growth of junior leagues.

“In order to develop golf in the country, the players need to show intensive commitment and discipline. This should then be topped up with good leadership so as to bring up a generation that can compete in international tournaments and perform well just like we do in other sports such as Athletics,” stressed Gachoka.

Currently the junior league is already ongoing but it’s highly active during the school holidays. He further added that each registered golf club has a junior golfers program running.

Charan Thethy the chairman of professional golfers of Kenya (PGK) also echoed the need of strong junior leagues that will help in nurturing untapped golf talent which can later be promoted to the professional or amateur bodies .This he said will enhance stable continuity.

“Both the adult and junior golf programs are really important for the growth of the sport in the country. There will be no point to have an adult program without the junior one, this will only mean that we cannot tap new and upcoming talent. At the same time, the junior players need clubs in which they can graduate to when they mature in both age and skill,” said Thethy.

With all the development plans running as planned, the union is confident of forming a team that could represent the country in the Olympics come 2016.

Article by Wanjiku Mwenda.

Managing Director for East and West Africa, Adan Mohamed said they decided to extend the sponsorship that was initially supposed to run up to 2013, so that the bank can make a meaningful contribution to the development of golf in Kenya.

The two year extension will see the total sponsorship kitty by the bank shoot up from 44 million to 80 million, with additional opportunities in the sponsorship of golf clinics and other activities at hand.

“Barclays has over the years demonstrated its commitment towards sports and we appreciate this opportunity to sponsor this premier golfing event in Kenya as an opportunity to further illustrate this commitment”, said Mr. Mohamed.

The tournament will be played at the Muthaiga Golf Club starting March 29^th, 2012, with a host of professional players from Africa and the rest of the world expected to attend.

Mr. Mohamed added that they will retain some of the activities that characterise the Barclays Kenya Open, including the longest drive competition; which features players from leading clubs Pro Am and the premier family event on Sunday.

He explained, “I have been working on my drive over the past year, and I am confident that I will give the players from other clubs a run for their money during the Friday event activity”.

Mr. Mohamed said that the bank received recognition from the Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK) in 2011, for the Best Sponsorship campaign.

KOGL Directors, Patrick Obath (Right) and Joe Wangai (2nd Left) during the Launch event

Speaking during the launch event, the Chairman of the Kenya Open Golf Ltd, Peter Kanyago announced that plans to host a world-class Barclays Kenya Open event this year are at an advanced stage. “The course at Muthaiga Gold Club is in tip-top condition and we are hard at work ensuring that all the logistics are put in place as we draw nearer to the tee-off”.

Mr. Kanyago added that they are anticipating a good turnout of players (156 in total), and a similar surge in the number of those who will attend. He explained, “The profile of golf has continued to rise in Kenya, and there are now more players and enthusiasts who are keen to see how some of the best players in the world do it.”

Soon after their arrival in the 1900′s British colonists began developing golf courses all over the country. They realized that Kenya had the year round climate and most beautiful settings to construct some of the world’s most desirable courses.

One of the most appealing features of golfing in Kenya is the variety. From the beach clubs set among palms and casuarinas with stunning views of the sapphire Indian Ocean, to those dominated by the perennial snow cap of Mount Kenya there is a medley of courses each vying for priority as the most attractive for location and interests. One is even built on the slopes of an extinct volcano!

Kenya has over 40 golf courses of which 13 are 18-hole, 10 of which are used for championship events. 6 are within a 20 mile radius of Nairobi – Kenya’s bustling capital. The oldest 18 – hole course is Royal Nairobi Golf Club founded in 1906, the latest is the David Jones design Vipingo Golf Resort on the coast, which opened in July 2009. Kenya’s Muthaiga Golf Club is the host of the Kenya Open, part of the European PGA Challenge Cup. The 18 hole Muthaiga Golf Course was completely remodeled by renowned South African Golf Architect Peter Matkovich in 2003 and a delight to play for professionals as well for amateurs.

There are several new courses under construction and a number are being upgraded from 9 holes to 18 holes.

The weather in Kenya is ideal for golf all year round. On occasions you might need a sweater or a jersey, but you will usually play in a polo shirt.

In the highland areas the temperatures are in the low 20′s and at the coast in the high 20′s or low 30′s. There are 12 hours of day light and, depending on the season, 4 to 9 hours of sunshine. During the two rainy seasons, (April and November) the rain usually falls before 10 am and after 5 PM and almost never when you are playing! More and more clubs have installed sophisticated fairway watering systems to keep the course green during the dry seasons.

Many courses are at an altitude of more than 1500 meters (5000 ft) truly giving you an additional 10% yardage to your stroke. Most clubs have a pro-shop where you can buy whatever you need. Though there are no golf carts available, Kenya has the luxury of caddies .Usually the caddies are very good players themselves and will not only carry your bag and look for your ball in the rough, but advice on local rules, assist with your swing and generally be your companion and mentor.

Most of Kenya’s golf clubs are private membership clubs and organize many competitions, but also at club nights and weekends most courses are closed for visitors, and it is advised to book your tee-times through a specialized golf tour operator, to avoid disappointment if the golf courses are closed.

For the visiting golfer, Kenya has a broad appeal. There is everything for the fanatic golfer, whilst the avid golfer can fashion his safari to include some wildlife viewing as well. A golfer who prefers to laze on the beach can still fit in a game or two and the business traveller, with an afternoon off, can easily play his favourite game right on his doorstep.

Kenya has it all and golf is no exception.

Four new tournaments have also been added to join the Challenge Tour which continues to flourish with a nine-month schedule which incorporates a minimum of 26 tournaments played in 18 different countries across four continents.

The Tour, which marks its 24th anniversary, begins in Asia with the Gujarat Kensville Challenge at the Kensville Golf and Country Club in Ahmedabad from today and culminates in Europe with the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final from October 24-27.

It will also visit South America for the Pacific Rubiales Colombia Classic held at Baranquilla Country Club in Baranquilla, Colombia, from March 8 to 11.

The Pacific Rubiales Colombia Classic, which will mark the first co-sanctioning of a tournament between the Challenge and Pacific Colombia Tours, is the first of four new events on the schedule, followed by Le Robinie Open, held at Golf and Resort Le Robinie in Solbiate Olona, Italy, from June 28 to July 1.

The two remaining additions to the schedule take place later in the season, starting with a visit to Kytäjä Golf Club near Helsinki, Finland, which will host the Finnish Challenge from August 2 to 5, and finally the Challenge de Cataluña Spain, which will be held from September 27 to 30.

Alain de Soultrait, the director of the Challenge Tour, said: “We are delighted to deliver a minimum of 26 tournaments on our schedule in 2012, which is one more than last year, and are confident of adding more events later in the season.

In these still challenging times, that is hugely encouraging and is a testament to the superb efforts of the federations, promoters and sponsors.

“Without their support and the trust they place in us, the Challenge Tour simply could not be as successful as it is.”

     Junior Golf foundation

Kenya Golf Network

Kenya Ladies Golf Union

Kenya Emerges Third in Africa Amateur Golf Team Championship.

Kenya participated in the Africa Amateur Golf Team Championship held at Lake Benoni Golf Club at Gauteng South Africa on 16^th -22^nd October 2011.

The team Kenya was comprised of the following; Stefan Andersen, David Opati, Joseph Karanja and Mathew Omondi.

The Africa Amateur Golf Team Championship is a bi-annual event where top Africa Amateur players compete in a 72-hole strokeplay event. The event is played in the Eisenhower format where the best three scores count per round out of the four.

Kenya finished in third position behind the winner South Africa and Namibia.

Meet the Kenya Team Members

Kenya Wins EA Challenge

The Kenya national Golf Team to East Africa Challenge once made again made our country proud!

The hotly contested event was held at Arusha Gymkhana Club in Tanzania on 8-11^th November 2011. The East Africa Golf Challenge is an annual event played by East Africa Countries i.e Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and Kenya. It is one of the most popular events in the region since it attracts the elite golfers in the region.

The Chairman commended the players for the job well done.

One of Kenya’s best kept secrets is its numerous golf courses. Few places in the world offer such perfect ingredients for a fantastic golf holiday, as Kenya does. The opportunity to play your favourite game, to see wildlife (sometimes on the course!) and to relax on the beautiful white sandy beaches all during the same holiday is unique.

Golf in Kenya dates back to 1905 when the Nairobi Golf Club came into being and is today known as the Royal Nairobi Golf Club, having been bestowed the Royal Charter in 1936. A second course was established in 1911 at Mombasa, the second largest town after Nairobi, the Capital and Kenya’s major port. It is a challenging 9 hole layout and is the only links course in the country.

Geographically golf is well spread from the city of Nairobi to the Highlands north of Nairobi, in the Great Rift Valley, the Lake Basin around Lake Victoria and of course at sea level along our magnificent coastline with beautiful beaches. Currently the country has a total of 38 golf clubs affiliated to the Kenya Golf Union. Of these fifteen of these are 18 hole course and the rest have 9 holes. In addition to
these there are some private facilities.

We have a total of about five thousand amateur golfers in the country and about one thousand junior golfers. Of these junior about 200 are the active golfers who play during the school holidays.

Soon after their arrival in the 1900′s British colonists began developing golf courses all over the country. They realized that Kenya had the year round climate and most beautiful settings to construct some of the world’s most desirable courses.

One of the most appealing features of golfing in Kenya is the variety. From the beach clubs set among palms and casuarinas with stunning views of the sapphire Indian Ocean, to those dominated by the perennial snow cap of Mount Kenya there is a medley of courses each vying for priority as the most attractive for location and interest. One is even built on the slopes of an extinct volcano!

Kenya has over 40 golf courses of which 13 are 18-hole, 10 of which are used for championship events. 6 are within a 20 mile radius of Nairobi – Kenya’s bustling capital. The oldest 18 hole course is Royal Nairobi Golf Club founded in 1906, the latest is the David Jones design Vipingo Golf Resort on the coast, which opened in July 2009.

Kenya’s Muthaiga Golf Club is the host of the Kenya Open, part of the European PGA Challenge Cup. The 18 hole Muthaiga Golf Course was completely remodelled by renowned South African Golf Architect Peter Matkovich in 2003 and a delight to play for professionals as well for amateurs.

There are several new courses under construction and a number are being upgraded from 9 holes to 18 holes. The weather in Kenya is ideal for golf all year round. On occasions you mighty need a sweater or a jersey, but you will usually play in a polo shirt.

In the highland areas the temperatures are in the low 20′s and at the coast in the high 20′s or low 30′s. There are 12 hours of day light and, depending on the season, 4 to 9 hours of sunshine. During the two rainy seasons, (April and November) the rain usually falls before 10 am and after 5 PM and almost never when you are playing! More and more clubs have installed sophisticated fairway watering systems to keep the course green during the dry seasons.

Many courses are at an altitude of more than 1500 meters (5000 ft) truly giving you an additional 10% yardage to your stroke. Most clubs have a pro-shop where you can buy whatever you need. Though there are no golf carts available, Kenya has the luxury of caddies .Usually the caddies are very good players themselves and will not only carry your bag and look for your ball in the rough, but advice on local rules, assist with your swing and generally be your companion and mentor.

Most of Kenya’s golf clubs are private membership clubs and organize many competitions, but also at club nights and weekends most courses are closed for visitors, and it is advised to book your tee-times through a specialized golf tour operator, to avoid disappointment if the golf courses are closed.

For the visiting golfer, Kenya has a broad appeal. There is everything for the fanatic golfer, whilst the avid golfer can fashion his safari to include some wildlife viewing as well. A golfer who prefers to laze on the beach can still fit in a game or two and the business traveller, with an afternoon off, can easily play his favourite game right on his doorstep.

Kenya has it all and golf is no exception.