Kenya Open: They go long or go home broke

Pro-golfer Disama Indiza [Courtesy]

They play the course, not the opponent. That's just one saying around the game of golf, the other one being that it's not your regular sport; that it thrives on the length and breadth of your purse.

The common adage is that, if yours is a lean purse, then it's definitely not your cup of tea.

As the 2019 Kenya Open teed off on March 14, The Nairobian sought to find out more about a game that has been associated with the top cream of society.

Unlike football, golf does not pay salaries to players, or transfer fee of sort to bring them to their fold. Instead, and which may not make sense to most football disciples, golf players pay to become members of a club.

The money comes from either corporate sponsorship or tournaments.

Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) captain CJ Wangai [Courtesy]

But according to Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) captain CJ Wangai, Kenya is not yet at the level where every pro is sponsored - a reality he says has hurt the sport.

“It has been tough for Kenyan pros. Sponsors are yet to put money into the sport or fund individual golfers. It is our hope that a sponsor will soon come on board to rescue the sport,” he told The Nairobian.

Apart from Dismas Indiza, who has enjoyed sponsorship from Mumias Sugar Company, most pros have been solely dependent on tournaments to make money.

“As professionals, we play for cash and therefore. When you play well, you earn good money. In the US and Europe, you can win as much as Sh100 million in one event. Here in Kenya, we are not yet there, but we are picking up. We have Kenya Open Golf Limited, a body that runs the Kenya Open, which has organised a tour for us. The winner takes home close to Sh500,000. We are getting better and hoping to reach those higher levels in the future,” he explained.

Sarah Khanyereri of Royal Nairobi Golf Club [Courtesy]

Other tournaments in which Kenyan pros compete for money include the Karen Masters, Safari Tour, KCB Road to the Masters Tour, Jamii Telecom PGK Masters, Uganda Open, Malawi Open, Rwanda Open and Tanzania Open.

Before one becomes a pro, you must pass through the amateur level, where, interestingly, none is allowed to be paid any cash prize. In fact, the rules dictate that amateur golfers cannot win cash. They only win prizes.

“Top amateurs survive through sponsorships given to them by the clubs they are representing and trading the prizes they win for cash,” Wangai added.

The journey from amateur to pro is not easy. It takes between five to 10 years depending on your hard work.

“You must be among the best amateurs in the country playing off a handicap of zero or better. You must have at least a KCSE certificate, and must have played for the Kenyan national team or have a certificate from a recognised golf college,” the captain said.

And that’s not all. “You must be proposed by a member of PGK,” he added.

According to Tee 1000 Golf, a company which trains golfing in Kenya, a certified golf course or programme costs Sh19,500.

Tee 1000 Golf explains how golf is a sport where people network and seal huge business deals, but one wonders why Kenyan golfers are not big businessmen, investors, CEOs of companies or anything of the sort.

“From a corporate standpoint, we all know that golf is not merely a leisure sport; it is an informal setup where businesses get done,” reads a post on Tee 1000 Golf website.

Eric Ooko of Royal Nairobi Golf Club explains that: “The sport is good for networking because this is where high-profile people meet, but professional golfers only play golf. We don’t do business.” 

This year, 12 Kenyan professional golfers and six elite amateur golfers are in line for Sh125 million collective prizes at the Kenya Open. The 18 are among 156 golfers from around the world.

Kenyan pros 

Greg Snow of Muthaiga Golf Club, Dismas Indiza of Mumias Sugar Golf Club, David Opati of Windsor Golf and Country Club, Rizwan Charania of Windsor Golf and Country Club, David Wakhu and Tony Omuli of Golf Park Golf Club, C.J. Wangai of Sigona Golf Club, Nelson Simwa of Vet Lab Sports Club, Simon Ngige of Thika Golf Club, Erick Ooko of Royal Nairobi Golf Club, Justus Madoya of Great Rift Valley Golf Resort and Philip Kasozi of Uganda Golf Club.

Elite amateurs

Daniel Nduva of Nyali Golf and Country Club, Samuel Njoroge of Railway Golf Club, Mutahi Kibugu of Muthaiga Golf Club, Edwin Mudanyi of Vet Lab Sports Club, Mike Kisia also of Vet Lab Sports Club and Bradley Mogire of Emirates Golf Club.