Barclays signs Sh90m sponsorship deal with Kenya Open tournament

The 2016 Barclays Kenya Open will take place between March 17-20 at the Karen Country Club in Nairobi where more than 100 European and 22 Kenyan based golf professionals will be battling for a total prize kitty of euros 220,000 (Sh25 million).

The increase in total prize money follows a new deal between the title sponsor, Barclays Bank and the Kenya Open Golf Limited.

Barclays first supported the championship in 2010 and in 2011 they assumed the role of title sponsors after signing a five-year contract worth Sh80 million.

That contract expired last year and this week the bank announced a new improved, turbo charged three-year title sponsorship contract worth Sh90 million over a three-year period.

Speaking at the launch of the 2016 Barclays Kenya Open Golf Championship, Barclays Bank Kenya managing director Jeremy Awori said the lender would spend nearly Sh70 million on the championship.

“In addition to the Sh30 million going directly to the 2016 championship, the bank will hold another four tournaments that will form a series we are calling the ‘Barclays Centennial Golf Festival.’ These events will form part of our centennial celebrations,” he said.

“We will spend about Sh25 million for activations to publicise the event and another Sh10.8 million will go towards the golf festival.”

The Barclays Centennial Golf Festival will include a Junior Golf tournament, two corporate golf tournaments, a lady’s invitational, which will be held in partnership with the Kenya Ladies Golf Union, a professional’s tournament and the Inter Club Pro Am qualifier.

“At Barclays we want to play our part in helping position Kenya as Africa’s leading golf destination,” he added.

Commenting on the partnership, Peter Kanyago, Kenya Open chairman said he was delighted that Barclays Bank had accepted to renew their sponsorship for the continued success of the championship.

“With a Sh25 million prize kitty and other operational expenses, this tournament would be impossible to host without the support of our sponsors,” he said. “We welcome Barclays Bank and congratulate them on their centenary celebrations.”

The 2016 Barclays Kenya Open is the first event on the European Challenge Tour 2016 calendar and is expected to attract the top ranked players from Europe.

Also expected to play are Kenya’s top elite amateur golfers.

“The Kenya Open gives six elite amateur golfers the opportunity to test their skills against the golf professionals, allowing them to compete under exactly the same conditions; it is a great experience for the selected few.”