WELL IN: Golf writer James Waindi putts during the launch of the NIC Bank Golf Series as Railway Golf Club last week where professional golfers gave golf tips to journalists. The series officially tees of at Nyanza Golf Club on Saturday.

By ENOCK NGOME

NIC Bank returns this year to host a golf series that will tour around the country and aims at networking with its corporate customers throughout the country.

The first round of the series will tee off at the Par-70 Nyanza Golf Club, on Saturday May 5, 2012 with a field of over 100 players drawn from Nyanza, Kisii, Kericho, Nandi Bears and Mumias in which the amateurs will win a number of golf prizes.

Last year’s winner Maurice Otieno will be among the top contestants in the popular Golf series. Speaking at the NIC Bank Golf Series Launch last week at the Kenya Railway Golf Club, Director of Retail Banking, James Wainaina said that NIC was committed to supporting sports across East Africa.

“NIC Bank now operates across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and consequently we have designed this golf series to mirror our current market,” Wainaina said. “So in addition to the events lined up in Kenya, the NIC Bank Golf Series will also stop-over in Kampala and Dar es Saalam.”“NIC bank takes pride in promoting sports particularly nurturing amateurs in the golfing industry”, he added.

In the last NIC Bank Golf Series season, the Bank hosted over 2,000 golfers from around the country in exciting golf days that also included some of their partners, especially motor vehicle dealers.

“This year we will be bringing more partners on board to give the golfing fraternity a truly meaningful experience,” Wainaina added. “NIC Bank is a one stop shop; we are determined to replicate our business model in golf, to give our clients and partners a quality experience at each of our golf days.”

According to the host Captain, Osodo, despite the heavy rains that have been experienced lately, the course is in good condition.

“We do not expect flooding and even though the course is wet, it is manageable all the same,” said captain Osodo “We will tee off early as rains pour in the afternoons,” he added.  The first leg of the NIC Bank 2012 Golf Series aims at promoting NIC’s asset finance.

The other host clubs include, Nakuru Golf Club who will host golfers from Nanyuki and Njoro, the Thika Sports Club, who will host golfers from Ruiru, Makuyu, Nyeri and Nanyuki, the Mombasa Golf Club which will host members of the Coastal region, Eldoret Golf Club which will play host to Kitale Club, Sigona Golf Club, Kiambu Golf Club.

The series then moves to Limuru Country Club on May 12, 2012 for the second leg of the golf tournament. air max mujer air max mujer

FINALE WINNER: Royal's Jay Sandhu is presented with the winners prize by Safaricom chairman Nicholas Ng'ang'a after he won the Safaricom Business Challenge Golf Grand Finale at the Vipingo Ridge at the weekend.

By DISMAS ONYANGO

Jay S. Sandhu of Royal Nairobi Golf Club is the winner of the 2011/2012 Safaricom Business Golf Challenge winner.
Playing off scratch handicap on Saturday, Sandhu  carded 33 points after hitting 15 on the first nine and 18 on the back nine.
On his way up, Sandhu parred six times on the front nine and five times on the second nine where he also picked two burdies on the par 5 hole 15 and par 4 hole 18.
And it was a rare double for Sandhu who also chalked up men’s longest drive trophy with a distance of 275 meters.
In winning the prestigious overall trophy, Sandhu who recently led his Royal Nairobi outfit to second place in the 2012 Tannahill Shield tournament, took home an iPad 2 to boot.
Sandhu, a former Kenya stroke play champion and zone six international was all smiles as he was rewarded for the rare double.
The par 72 Vipingo Ridge which is a championship course located in the North Coast gave the amateurs a real test of some challenging golf what with some bumpy fairways and intense windy conditions.
“It was a difficult course but a really nice experience. You really needed concentration all the time. My worst score was in number 6 where  I went in the bush twice and scratched,” said Sandhu.
Sandhu continued: “We really appreciate what Safaricom has done. I wish to thank the course supervisor for a job well done. Its my first time playing here and to win this trophy is a wonderful experience. Its one of the best courses in the world.”
A field of 124 amateur golfers took part in the event. Some 36 qualifiers played with the rest of the guests.
Gracing the occasion was Nicholas Nganga, the Safaricom Chairman. In his keynote speech, Nganga said; “We’ll still continue to reward Kenyans for a service they have contributed for over the years and made us the biggest enterprise in the region. We ask you to continue the support and embrace the new concepts we are bringing to the market.”
The countrywide series which kicked off last year in August at the par 73 Windsor Golf and country club has attracted over 4000 golfers during all the eighteen qualifying rounds with the  top two in each round making it for the grand finale.
Launched eight months down the line, the series was meant to create a good networking and contact sessions between the business and and all core Safaricom Customers all over the country. joyas de pandora joyas de pandora