Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario (left) unveils the new PGA Vipingo Ridge Baobab Course as PGA Head of Property and Development Guy Moran looks on.

By AMANDA DAMARIS

After receiving Professional Golfers Association (PGA) status on Tuesday, Vipingo Ridge’s chairman Alister Cavenagh has set a 15-year goal of nurturing a local from scratch to the European Golf Tour.

Cavenagh was speaking after the 18-hole Baobab Golf Course was accredited as a PGA Golf course, a first in Africa.

“We have now set ourselves a target of 15 years to start training locals at an early age in the Baobab PGA academy and have them play golf at the European Tour by 2031,” said Cavenagh.

He added: “I am glad that after seven years of investment at long last we have attained the PGA accreditation which will give us the opportunity to attract PGA members from around the world.”

Cavenagh said Vipingo Ridge invested heavily into developing the Baobab Golf Course so that it could reach the PGA standards and would maintain the high standards for both local and international golfers to get value for their money.

PGA head of property and development, Guy Moran said: “It is for the first time that we are accrediting a golf course on the African continent and we are glad that Kenya has joined the league of PGA branded golf facilities.”

Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario (left) and Vipingo Ridge’s General Manager Mike Round-Turner during the function.

For a golf course to attain PGA accreditation it must have world class standards and that the owners must adhere to certain qualities such as promoting the development of the sport. Vipingo Ridge will also play host a PGA Golf Academy. “The opening of the Academy means that PGA is now present in 3 continents. We are ready to work together with the directors and officials here to develop a programme that will offer training to various categories of golfing fraternity.” Said PGA’s Guy Moran.

This accreditation is a shot in the arm not only for Vipingo who will attract more golfers from around the world, it’ll beef up Kilifi County’s tourist attraction sites and ultimately boost Golf tourism in the continent; an issue that was debated at length at the Africa Golf Summit held in August. To attract more golfers from around the world, the PGA official said there was a need for Kenya to come up with packages which combine both golf and the wildlife. “Kenya should take advantage of the world class golf course to attract golf tourists who are big spenders to generate more revenue and economic growth. Kenya has got a lot to offer compared to other golf tourism destinations since it has warm weather, the stunningly beautiful beaches at the Coast and the wildlife in popular parks such as the Maasai Mara. Most of the professional golfers are high-end visitors and therefore we must upgrade our tourist facilities to world class standards to woo more holidaymakers.” nike air max cheap uk mens nike air max cheap uk mens

KenGen MD Albert Mugo presents overall winner Joseph Mwenda with his prize at the Vet Lab Golf Club.

By DANIELLA APIYO

Joseph Mwendwa needed a second nine score of 23 stableford points to beat Jack Mwangi on count back and emerge the overall of this year’s KenGen Golf Day at the par 72 Vet Lab Golf Club on Saturday.

Mwenda playing off handicap 19 carded 18 points in the first nine before an impressive second nine round of 23 points for a total of 41 points that saw him rule the roost at the day long competition that had attracted a large field of 160 participants.

Mwangi playing off handicap three picked the men winner prize on a score of 41 points made up of 22 points in the front nine and 19 points in the back nine, while handicap 15 Mavji Gorasia was the men runner-up on 40 points (21, 19) and handicap 25 Willy Mastamet was the guest winner on 40 points (17, 23).

Catherine Gachie playing off handicap 24 was unbeatable in the ladies category as he posted 40 points (19, 21) and she was followed in the runner-up position by Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) Managing Director Jane Karuku who posted 35 points (17, 18).

Daniel Tanui playing off handicap 12 was the staff winner on 33 points (17, 16), while handicap six Reuben Langat was the staff runner-up on 31 points (13, 18) and Felix Kirui playing off handicap 28 was third in the staff category on 31 points (20, 11) after losing to Langat on countback.

Tom Chirchir was the first nine winner on 22 points, while Mark Karobia won the second nine prize on 21 points and the best effort prize went to handicap 36 Edah Wangui who managed 14 points (7, 7).

“As a corporate the reason we believe on sports is because it is a way of growing and uniting people. It gives people opportunity to exchange ideas and enjoy life together,” said KenGen Managing Director and CEO Albert Mugo during the prize giving ceremony.

He added: “It is a joy for KenGen to be sponsors of this event and we are thankful for the chairman and management of the Vetlab Golf Club. We are happy that the players agreed to come and participate in the event and this is a demonstration of the goodwill KenGen enjoys among Kenyans.”

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