KGU
18 years categories. Otherwise, we
are losing these kids to this main
stream sports. Unfortunately, there’s
no competitiveness in golf. We are
trying to get it off the ground this
August, hopefully. If it doesn’t, then
we will write a very good program for
December/April and then a big one
for August next year.
Tee-Off. There have been muffled
talks about the setting up of
courses, one at Kasarani and the
other one at Lenana High School,
what is the correct position?
Lenana School course is 60 percent
complete but right now it has stalled
because of funding. We are alive to
the fact that there is a cash crunch
in the country. We are in talks with
the Ministry of Sports so that some
funds can be disbursed within the
third quarter latest fourth quarter
for its completion. Kasarani now,
is a whole different ball-game, the
land is there and available. However,
building a new golf course, will cost
upwards of Sh400million, this is
money that KGU doesn’t have at its
disposal. Kasarani is a government
facility, so getting in private investors
to come in there, that’s a whole
different conversation, which I don’t
think is possible. So, really we are
looking at either government or the
golfing fraternity. Can the golfing
fraternity come up with Sh400million
shillings to fund this project? A public
golf course on a public piece of
land? It is a conversation we need to
have with them. The Lenana project,
am certain will be completed by
mid-next year, for sure. Remember,
kids from across the country will be
able to come and play there. It’s a
beautiful place, beautiful golf course
complete with a borehole. Once it is
complete, it will be for public schools
in Nairobi and not just Lenana
School.
Q: What will be your priority
projects over the next one year?
A: First, is the world handicap
system. You know the rules of golf
have changed. We are moving from
I think six handicapping systems
to a single one and our deadline is
actually march 2020. We shall have
a single handicap system, where you
can play on any course and your
handicap is adjusted in real-time. We
are in the process of tendering and
getting a software provider. We have
two options, we have one system in
South Africa, which is working which
we can actually copy paste here and
those guys are ready. Now, we have
a couple of other local guys who’ve
come forward and demonstrated
that they can build a software, so
we are giving them a chance and we
want to go parallel in the months of
October, November and December
2019 in about three or four clubs in
the country. If it works, then we go
live; if doesn’t, then we go to plan B,
which is the South African system
and we will have that in place by
January. If this seems to work and
has a few teething problems, we
can push it maximum to March. This
is very important for me because
the rules were changed and we
need to abide by them. Secondly,
is Course Rating. You know this
was changed from scratch rating
to bogey rating and slope rating
worldwide. Now, our courses have
not been rated for scratch, so we
have to re-rate them. We’ve given
ourselves a deadline of 2020. Right
now, we’ve done Karen, Sigona,
Muthaiga, Windsor and Limuru. We
have an elaborate timetable to
do the rest and I believe we shall
meet the deadline. Thirdly, is this
International Pairs tournament. I
would like to make it an annual event
where everyone can get a chance
to represent Kenya. It’s a fantastic
outing and very popular. Actually it’s
the biggest amateur event in Europe
currently and for the past decade.
So, I want to get that off the ground.
Such that by the time I leave office,
it’s on autopilot. Fourth, locally we
don’t have a renowned golf vendor
in Kenya like the Woodmead golf
stores in South Africa. You go to
the US; you get the Golf Galaxy or
Golf Warehouse, TDW etc. With
10,000 golfers, I think Kenya is a
big enough market to have one
around here. So, we’ve been in talks
with someone here together with
the captain Karen Country Club,
to have the pro-shop here. I think,
they have one in Zimbabwe and its
doing very well there. We would like
them to come and set-up shop here.
Because they are a distributor of
top manufacturers’, they have very
good discounts on apparels, clubs
and more. So, as you are thinking
of acquiring a set of golf clubs’, you
don’t have to engage someone who’s
traveling to get you one, you can
actually get it here in Kenya. We
have three places in mind, where
we can actually set up ranges, with
a nice warehouse for them to sell
their wares. We are in talks and I
have a feeling, it can actually work.
Bring something here, where there’s
Titleist, Taylormade, Callaway, Ping
and all these major brands to our
doorsteps. Selling here at better
prices than you can get from the
local pro-shops. This is something
we can finalize on and do this year.
They are interested in Kenya; they
sell all major brands. It can be huge
in Kenya if well thought out. I would
like to see that set up here, so that
our golfers can have access to
proper equipment, good apparel and
ultimately better their game at prices
that are not too high.