ASSUMING OFFICE: Alfred Kariuki (right) and Coca Cola General Manager East Africa Peter Njonjo during the launch of the Dasani Golf Gala on Thursday. Kariuki will be the new KGU Chairman today after the Union's AGM at Muthaiga Golf Club on Friday.

By JAMES WAINDI

Alfred Kariuki will be the new Kenya Golf Union (KGU) chairman today after the Union’s Annual General Meeting that is expected to follow the annual KGU Chairman’s Trophy at the Muthaiga Golf Club.

Kariuki who will be taking over the job from Nairobi lawyer and businessman Mwaniki Gachoka has already lined up a series of development ideas meant to help the growth of the sport, top in the line being the development of junior golf in the country.

“We want to recruit more juniors from seasoned golfers and schools to ensure a better future for the sport, because the juniors are the back bone of Kenyan golf,” said Kariuki.

He added: “We are going to decentralize the Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) into zones in order to have centres all over the country, in Kisumu, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nairobi and many more to tap talent.”

Kariuki said there was too much talent in the country that was going unnoticed and that if it was tapped it would turn the country into a golfing giant.

A close source said Kariuki had already planned to form a board to work on the developing of a public course at Kasarani to enable KGU to tap talent from youngsters living in the surroundings. michael kors bolsos michael kors bolsos

RARING TO GO: Coca Cola General Manager East Africa Peter Njonjo (centre), pose with the newly introduced Dasani Cup with Kenya Golf Union (KGU) vice chairman Alfred Kariuki (right) and Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) chairperson Anne Chubi (right).

By JAMES WAINDI

Junior golfers have a reason to smile this year with the announcement that for the first time, junior players participating in the series will be eligible to win prizes and qualify for the Grand finale unlike in the past.

This was announced yesterday by Kenya Golf Union Vice Chairman Alfred Kariuki who is expected to be elected as the new chairman today, during the Union’s Annual General Meeting. Kariuki was speaking during the launch of the third edition of Dasani Golf Series at the Muthaiga Golf Club.

“We want to support the juniors because they are the future of golf; we have decided that this time, the juniors will be eligible to win prizes and even qualify for the grand finale if they play under the same conditions and not teeing off at the junior’s box,” said Kariuki who graced the launch.

The series will this year visit a total of 18 golf clubs around the country and is open to all amateur golfers with official handicaps. It will feature players from 36 clubs across the country. The series will culminate in a grand finale at Nairobi’s Karen Country Club on September 29.

Speaking during the launch, Coca-Cola General Manager East Africa, Peter Njonjo said: “We began the Dasani Golf Gala in 2010 with the intention of taking the game to a wider playing base, fusing accomplished players with those wishing to pick up the game. This has played a major role in helping the aspirations of both sets of players, all driven by the strong desire to realize their potential and chart their own path.”

This year’s grand finale will see the winning team of four players travel to Dubai to attend the Grand Finale of the European Tour, the DP World Tour Championship at the Jumeirah Golf Estates. While in Dubai, they will have the opportunity to see Europe’s top 60 money earners on the 2012 Order of Merit battle it out for a Sh109, 200, 000 (1.3 million dollar) winner’s cheque.

In addition, they will play to some of the best golf courses in the region, including the Dubai Creek Course and the challenging Faldo Course at the Emirates Golf Club, a course designed by former world number one and six-time Major Champion Sir Nick Faldo. air max blancas air max blancas