KCB's East African golf series to be staged only in Kenya

By Erick Ochieng’

Kenya Commercial Bank’s East African Golf Tour is set to kick off next month with major changes at stake.

First a high level standard of competition is expected in this year’s tournament, which was officially launched in Nairobi on Tuesday.

Competition and Professional Golfers Association of Kenya chairman, Charan Thetty, said the standards will definitely be improved by the six new professional golfers who have come on board to spice up the series.

By Wednesday, 50 golfers had already signed up for the series whose venues have been reduced from the traditional eight to six. Two regions will hold the competition twice to make it an eight series tournament.

Another new development is that the series will not be played outside Kenya as has been the tradition. Instead, golfers from other East African countries will jet into the country where all the legs will be held.

"Due to structural development at KCB, the series competition will only be held in Kenya and in a bid to ease the competition, Nairobi’s Royal Golf Club has been approved and included to hold one of the legs," Thetty said.

Prize money for the competition has also been increased from Sh8.7milion in 2011 to Sh9 million this year.

The first leg of the competition tees off on February 1-4 at the Thika Golf Club and thereafter, the players will compete in eight different courses over the next seven months.

The tour will involve both amateur and professional players and is promising competitive and attractive tournaments in the country.

Other venues and clubs that will host the series include Muthaiga, Nyanza, and Royal and Nakuru Golf clubs.

While announcing the launch, Angela Mwirigi, KCB’s marketing and Communication Director, said the bank has committed a total of Sh9 million to manage the series. Sh6.4million will be used as prize money and the rest Sh2, 600,000 will be utilised in the administration.

"This is inclusive of the bonus for the best placed professional in the KCB Order of Merit. The tour’s grand finale with a prize fund of Sh3million will take place in August at the Nyali Golf club," said Mwirigi.