By James Waindi
The thirteenth event of this year’s Zain BlackBerry Golf Challenge has been moved from Eldoret Golf Club to Kitale.
This has been occasioned by flooding on the nine-hole Eldoret course after River Sosian burst its banks. Last week, the annual Manchester Salver championship, part of the Kenya Data Networks sponsored Golfer of the Year series had to be called-off after the first round due to flooding.
The Sosian river, which transverses the Eldoret golf course creating natural water hazards on several holes and adding to the beauty of the golf course, was a blessing in disguise for the nine-hole course in Eldoret.
"The heavy rains in the Eldoret area and rains in the highlands around us led to the flooding of our course. Holes one through to five were covered by water thereby making the golf course unplayable," said Eldoret Club Manager, Major (RTD) Rotich.
"Our members will now play the Zain BlackBerry Golf Challenge at our sister golf course, Kitale," he added.
Over 80 golfers from Kitale and Eldoret have been drawn to play in the daylong event.
Populous club
Handicap 10 golfer Charles Gacheru follows his shot during a Safaricom Festival of Golf event in Nakuru last month. Photo: File |
This qualification event will feature members of the most populous golf club in Kenya, Sigona and members of the Kenya Air Force Golf Club.
"We normally get fog in the morning and this is its season. Hopefully, the early morning groups will not fall victims to this Sigona phenomenon. Otherwise, the golf course is in tip top condition and golfers and guests will enjoy themselves," said Sigona Golf Captain, Amit Sodha.
Ten qualifiers from the Sigona round will make it to the Johnnie Walker Grand Finale on January 17 at Royal Nairobi Golf Club.
Four of the qualifiers will come from Division A (handicap nine and below) and three each from Divisions B (10-18) and C (19 and
above). At the Grande Finale, five winners will win VIP trips to play in the Johnnie Walker Classic Pro-Am in Perth, Australia.
At Nyanza Golf Club, over 100 players battle it out for top prizes during the Safaricom Golf Challenge tomorrow.
Annual event
This follows the first tournament dubbed Safaricom ‘Grow With Us’ Golf Challenge 2008 held at Muthaiga Golf Club in September.
The annual event has attracted businessmen and top managers from Nyanza, Kakamega, Mumias and Nandi region.
Among those drawn for the one-day event are handicap 13, Elijah Adul who recently won the sixth edition of the Safaricom Festival of Golf at Nyanza golf club, Mumias Sugar Managing Director Evans Kidero, Ken Owiti, Wycliffe Nyambogo and single handicap John Tarus from Nandi.
Golfers are expected to battle for top prizes in different categories including the overall prize, lady winner, junior winner, guest winner, gross winner, both men and women longest drive and nearest to the pin.
