Heritage

What Sh62.5m prize cash means for Kenya Open

golf

The 2018 edition will mark the 50th anniversary of the Kenya Open Championship. FILE PHOTO | NMG

With a new prize kitty of Euros 500,000 (Sh62.5m), the 2018 Barclays Kenya Open Golf Championship becomes the richest sporting event in Kenya and beyond and the most lucrative listing on the European Challenge Tour 2018 calendar. The 2018 edition will also mark the 50th anniversary of the event, which has been staged since 1967. For those fact checking, it is indeed the 50th edition since the 1976 and the 2003 editions of the championship were not held.

According to Kenya Open Golf Limited (KOGL) chairman Peter Kanyago, the championship has continued to grow. “The Kenya Open has been played since 1967 and in those days, the visiting European professionals travelled to Kenya, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe and Zambia to play in the Safari Tour. This was during the European winter months,” he said.

“During that period, golfing greats like Vijay Singh, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Sandy Lyle, Brian Barnes, Maurice Bembridge and Seve Ballesteros among others travelled to Kenya and participated. In the 1980s and 90s. The likes of European Tour great Colin Montgomerie and Christy O’Connor also played at the Kenya Open and more recently, players such as the Masters champion Trevor Immelman, Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter, former World number one Martin Kaymer and South African Braden Grace all travelled to Kenya and graced our event. And for that we are proud and honoured.”

The revered Spaniard, Seve Ballesteros won the Kenya Open in 1978 whilst Ian Woosnam was the champion in 1986, both would go on to top the global golf rankings.

So what does this new Sh62.5m kitty mean for the Kenya Open?

“At the conclusion of the 2017 Barclays Kenya Open, His Excellency the President directed us to raise not only the standard of the championship but also the standard of the sport in Kenya,” Kanyago said.

“Our focus is now on two areas; the first, to raise the bar of the Championship, increase participation of local players and attract a higher calibre of players from across the globe. The second focus area is golf development from the junior ranks to the elite amateurs across the country.”

To achieve both broad aims, KOGL reached out and held consultations with the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Arts, the Ministry of Tourism, Nairobi City County, Kenya Tourism Board, Brand Kenya Board and Sports Kenya. KOGL is also having consultations with other sponsors that include Barclays Bank of Kenya, Kenya Breweries Ltd, Safaricom, Nation Media Group, Coca-Cola, DsTV among others.

“As a board we have worked very hard to maintain the standards of this event for 50 years now, and I must thank the Kenya Golf Union, our sponsors, our host clubs, the volunteers and the golf fraternity for supporting this event tirelessly. As we celebrate 50 years, we are opening a new chapter in 2018 and beyond, and we will once more call on all these stakeholders to continue supporting us as we work together to deliver an even bigger championship for the benefit of golf in Kenya,” said Mr Kanyago.

Commenting on the revamped Kenya Open, Sports principal secretary Kirimi Kaberia said the government is committed to support the growth of golf in Kenya. “As the Ministry of Sports, we remain committed to support the Kenya Open Golf Championship and the various development programs of the Kenya Golf Union,” he said.

“We also commend the KGU and KOGL for hosting the Kenya Open for 50 years now. This is a great milestone that is built on the back of good governance and accountability.”

Tourism Principal Secretary Fatuma Hirsi said the Kenya Open Golf Championship has contributed immensely to the promotion of Kenya as a golf tourism destination adding that it continues to play a critical role in positioning Kenya as the preferred golf destination in the region.

“Kenya offers a unique golf tourism product; we have international standard golf courses and resorts, magnificent weather throughout the year and affordable green fees at our golf courses. The Kenya Open Golf Championship has played a huge role in showcasing this golf offering to the world and for that reason it remains an important event for the Ministry of Tourism, KTB and our country,” she said.

The 2018 Barclays Kenya Open Golf Championship will be held at the Muthaiga Golf Club from March22-25, 2018. The total field will be 156 golfers, including about 22 Kenya professionals, six Kenyan amateurs and over 100 European Challenge Tour players.