Engineer Tom Waiharo follows his tee in a past NIC Bank Golf tournament. Limuru will host the bank's latest action on Saturday.

By KGC CORRESPONDENT

Thirty miles North West of Nairobi city center lies the 18- hole course, Limuru Country club which is set to host the second leg of the NIC 2012 Golf Series scheduled this Saturday, May 12, 2012.

Surrounded by the extensive tea plantations and captivating rolling farmlands, the par 71 course is set for a full field of two hundred golfers to battle out in the second edition of the annual series. In Limuru, NIC Bank has included some of their partners, especially motor vehicle dealers. Their partner Isuzu will donate a Captiva vehicle for a hole in one.

The Limuru Country Club captain Lucas Maranga says that the course is in great shape after the rains and golfers will play long as the fairways are extremely soft. “The greens are in very good shape with six new greens,  the old greens have been worked on therefore golfers should not be too worried,” Captain Maranga added.

He however cautioned the golfers against expecting an easy time. “With the new fast greens and wet thick roughs, it may not be as easy as one may think,” he said. Recalling last year’s NIC Limuru tournament, the captain proudly asserts he came in second, “I cannot forget how great last year was, NIC staff, NIC guests and members had a very good time,” he added. “The annual visit is quite helpful as Limuru Warriors are NIC customers,” added captain Maranga.

First tee off is at 7:30 a.m. with the last tee off at 2:00 p.m. and the format remains Stable ford which will feature low and high handicappers. The 2011 champion, Abeid Gatimu is looking forward to defending his title. “Was a handicap–22 golfer last year but I am currently playing off handicap-17, therefore I am quite sure of my excellent performance in the NIC Bank Golf Series,” Gatimu says.

Limuru Captain was the Runner up, he hopes to also clench the title. The immediate past captain, Ken Chege was third. Commenting on the same, Chege says that NIC Bank Golf days are quite popular in Limuru. The hospitality they display on the 19th hole is excellent as well as the great golf prizes.”

The NIC team will be led by the Group Managing Director, Mr. James Macharia. In June, the series moves to Thika and Mombasa. joyas de pandora joyas de pandora

SHOT: Nyanza Golf Club's chairman Daniel Ayulu follows hiss tee shot during the NIC Bank Golf Series at the nine-hole course.

By CEASER MAGAK
Charles Aburi is the winner of the NIC Bank Golf Series’ first leg at the Nyanza Club in Kisumu. Aburi, a handicap-8 golfer played steadily through out his round, raking in pars with abandon.

Playing in calm conditions on the shores of Lake Victoria, Aburi opened his round with three straight pars including a rare par on the long par-4 third hole, the most difficult hole at Nyanza Club.

The champion dropped shots on the long par-3 fourth after missing the green from the tee  and at the par-3 seventh, but he made up for these errors with two birdies on the 6th and 9th holes to finish with 20 stable ford points.

On the back nine, Aburi maintained his composure and made back to back pars from the 10th to the 12th; a dropped shot at the 13th was quickly followed by par and birdie on the 15th. Aburi was however unable to make par on the closing stretch, dropping three shots from the 16th to the 18th to finish with 19 stable ford points and a total of 39 points. Commenting after his round, Aburi said the golf course was playing tough.

“The rains in Kisumu have made the course very lush and as a result it is playing long; the rough is also unforgiving and the greens slightly slower than normal due to the weather,” Aburi said. “I played conservatively, kept the ball out of trouble and I am glad to be crowned the first champion of this second edition of the NIC Bank Golf Series.”

John Orioro, a solid handicap-11 golfer finished second with 37 points. Orioro started off strong, scoring 20 points through the first nine; however on the back nine, the handicap tax-man came calling and Orioro could only manage 17 points for an excellent total of 37 points.

Andrew Kombo finished third with 35 points. The handicap-12 golfer secured 19 points on the front nine and 16 points on the back nine to beat Rana Ali Sultan on count back. Jack Raniga finished fifth with 34 points.

Lady golfer Natal Metto was the lady winner. Metto, a handicap-16 golfer scored an even par 18 points on the opening nine but was unable to repeat the feat on the closing nine, finishing with 14points. Her total of 32points was however sufficient for the lady winner’s crown.

Peter Kimurwa from the Limuru Country Club finished with an excellent 35 points to claim the Guest Winners prize; Tim Gitonga from NIC Bank was the Guest Runner up with 32 points. Speaking at the prize giving ceremony, Gitonga congratulated the Nyanza Club for putting together a great event.

“The Nyanza Club is a true golfing gem and I have to confess I would have played much better had I not been distracted by the magnificent views of Lake Victoria right next to the golf course,” Gitonga said. “on behalf of NIC Bank I would like to thank Nyanza Club for making this first event on the NIC Bank Golf Series memorable. To the winners, congratulations and well done.” nike air max 1 nike air max 1