KGU to develop 47 new courses

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

The Kenya Golf Union plans to develop 47 new golf courses across the country.

The union's chairman, Richard Wanjala, said for the sport to grow, it needed to create its own infrastructure.

“We intend to develop at least one golf course in each of the 47 counties. Kenya has 46 golf courses that were developed by the colonial government,” Wanjala said at the launch of the 2018 Barclays Kenya Open Golf at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre on Wednesday night.

“We can only develop the game if we make efforts to create our own courses,” Wanjala added.

The Cabinet secretary for Tourism, Najib Balala, said the Government would give the Kenya Open Sh100 million.

“Kenya Open Golf continues to put the country on the international map alongside other sporting disciplines such as athletics and rugby. The Ministry of Tourism will consolidate the gains made over the years and make Kenya a must-see destination for international golfers,” said Balala.

Barclays Bank of Kenya Managing Director Jeremy Awori said Barclays had committed Sh82 million to this year’s event.