In Kenya, golf has for the longest time been viewed as an elite sport for the chosen few. This has led to a low uptake of the game more so among young people because people generally view it to be an expensive sport.
However, this narrative is about to change with the launch of the a national Golf series by Safaricom dubbed the Safaricom Golf Tour on Saturday 22nd at the Golf Park – Ngong Race Course. The 14-leg golf series will officially kick off in Nanyuki on 29th January after which will head to other golf courses in Limuru, Muthaiga, Nyanza, Nyali, Eldoret, Karen, Machakos, Kericho, Kitale, Royal Nairobi, Nakuru, Kenya Airforcea and Vet Lab. The grand finale will be held at the Vipingo Ridge Golf Resort in August, 2022.
The tour aims to tap, nurture and grow talent among young golfers across the country while at the same time demystifying the sport and to this end, the telco has invested Ksh. 100 Million.
The tour which will take seven months will include junior competitions, youth clinics and golf outreach programs. These will be run in partnership with the Junior Golf Foundation and Kenya Golf Union. The tour will also feature a caddies’ tournament in partnership with the Kenya National Caddies Association. In October 2021, Safaricom partnered with other corporates to sign an agreement with the Junior Golf Foundation to support them with the training of coaches, local golf tours and nationwide golf development.
The golf tour is part of the many investments that Safaricom has made over the years to develop the talent of the youth in our country. From the investment in music that is the Safaricom Jazz Festival and the Safaricom Youth Orchestra to sports where it has invested in rugby, football under the chapa dimba series to athletics. I do believe that by the end of the series, they will have nurtured the next generation of golfers who are going to take the game to even greater heights.
Keep it here for more information about the Safaricom Golf Tour and how one can be able to participate.