The Safaricom Golf Tour is matching on and there is evidently increased interest not only among adults but children as well. Sparking interest in the young ones is one of the pillars of the tournament so that perception that golf is for the older persons is managed, and the future of the game is assured.
So far Safaricom has taken golf to Nanyuki Sports Club and Limuru Golf and Country Club, and is now hosting the third leg at the Muthaiga Golf Club this weekend. The tournament has attracted over 200 amateur and professional golfers who will be taking part in the 18-hole, corporate tournament on Saturday with over 100 junior golfers set to grace the course on Sunday.
The Junior Golf tournament will also double up as a US Kids Golf local tour event, which kicked off with the Limuru leg of the Safaricom Golf Tour two weeks ago.
“We have seen some exciting action over the first two legs of the inaugural Safaricom Golf Tour, especially with the junior tournaments. We also continue to hold clinics for young aspiring golfers as we look to demystify the sport and position it as one that is accessible. We already saw the impressive performance at last weekend’s Kenya Open from teenage golfer Njoroge Kibugu who started playing at age 6 which shows that our focus on growing junior golf is certain to bear fruit” Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom.
The Muthaiga leg of the tour comes just a week after the club played host to the 2022 Magical Kenya Open which was won by Chinese pro golfer Ashun Wu. The club has also signed a one-year deal with Safaricom for branding rights in some sections of the club for the next one year.
“We are pleased to host Safaricom here at the Home of Golf and we are proud to see how the company is committed to nurturing and growing talent in this sport. I believe with such commitment to our juniors, we are destined to becoming a better-golfing nation,” said Ronald Meru, Chairman, Muthaiga Golf Club.
Safaricom has invested KES 100 million in the golf tour, which aims at nurturing and growing talent in the country. The tour will be played in 14 golf clubs across the country.
Last year, Safaricom also announced a three-year partnership with the Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) to help nurture and grow golf in Kenya. The partnership also saw the introduction of a US Kids Golf Local Tour Competition which will give qualifying golfers opportunities to play in regional, international and world championship competitions organized by the US Kids Golf Foundation.
The telco has also recently sponsored the Magical Kenya Ladies Open and Magical Kenya Open.