Emrok Tea Factory CEO Robert Keter (Right) and Tournament
Director Elisha Kasuku shake hands during the launch of the Emrok Tea
Golf Series at Royal Nairobi Golf Club today.

By AMANDA DAMARIS

Local golfers have a reason to smile after Emrok Tea Factory yesterday became the latest corporate company to start a golf series that would reward players for their good performance on the course.

Unlike other series, the inaugural Emrok series, which is geared towards promoting excellence and in the process challenging golfers to post good scores, will not reward players for participating, but for attaining certain scores.

“Just like in athletics where athletes are promised incentives for winning medals, we have decided to start a similar thing in golf to enable our players to always aim for good scores so that they can be reawarded,” said Emrok Chief Executive Officcer Robert Keter, a former 400m national champion.

Tournament director Elisha Kasuku said: “This time it is not only going to be participating, but competing. It will also not be about making the cut, the cash prizes will only be shared among any player who posts a score of two over and better. It will not be a matter of shooting high scores and still winning prizes, that would not help our sport.”

Kasuku said the series was open to national team amateur players and top junior golfers, who were also eligible for a portion of the of the prize.

“We will also open the series for the national team amateurs who are currently preparing for the Africa Zone VI competition and the top juniors, so that they play against the best and be prepare them to face the best golfers outside there. They will as well be eligible for the purse, but we will fete them inform of shopping vouchers,” Kasuku said.

Emrok CEO Robert Keter practices his swing during today’s launch.

The first event of the series will tee of at the par 72 Vet Lab Golf Club March 6 and 7 with a prize money of Sh 200, 000 up for grabs.

So far 37 local professionals and six top amateurs have confirmed participation in the 36-hole competition that would also act as a build-up to the March 23-26 Barclays Kenya Open Golf Championships slated for Muthaiga Golf Club.

“The prize money will be increasing going into every series and if no one wins what is on offer in our first series at Vet Lab, we will us the purse to award the players who will make the cut at the Kenya Open,” said Kibet.

He added: “Emrok started production of tea in 2002 and we want to promote our golf and possibly athletics in future. What I believe in golf is that if a player cannot play under at this level, then it will be close to impossible to play under in international competitions. We will go round the country with the series and depending on how our business is we may consider starting a Sunshine Tour in the country to help our professionals improve their game, because our main wish is to see all the 20 professionals making the cut at the Kenya Open.” cheap air max mens cheap air max mens

CJ Wangai in action today.

By DANIELLA APIYO

PGK captain Charles John Wangai is optimistic of putting up a good show and finishing top ten when the KCB Karen Masters gets underway in 17 days’ time.

The golfer has been having early morning training at Sigona Golf club in readiness for the big event. He believes the Karen Country club course will play a major factor in determining who wins the continental outing.

“Playing sufficiently will be vital in this outing, if you aren’t careful in the front nine you may end up burning out in the back nine, I will also be visiting the course at Karen to understand the technicalities of playing there later in March”, said Wangai.

The golfer says he will play target golf at the KCB Karen Masters.  Karen Country club embarked on greens reconstruction in April last year. Each of the greens has taken about 3 months from excavation, preparation, seeding to opening. The last green will be opened on the first week of March 2017 with KCB Karen Masters acting as the grand opening of the new course.

Golfers will have difficulty at holes No. 6 and 12. Hole no. 6 is the longest Par 4 at 472 yards and it’s Stroke Index 1. It has trees and a bush on both the right & left side and one is playing against the wind.

Hole No. 12 is a Par 4 and has a dam on the left side of the fairway and out of bounds on the right.

Most players have their first shot landing in the water. Karen Country club signature hole is the 14^th boasting of two water features; one between the tee and green and the other on the left of the green.

22 local pros will face international Pros during the March outing aiming to grab major victories. cheap nike air max 95 trainers cheap nike air max 95 trainers