How KGU is working to better Kenya's performance at the international scene

As Kenya hosted two European Tour events in the last two weeks, Magical Kenya Open and Kenya Savannah Classic, Kenyan golfers continued to play second fiddle to their European Tour counterpart, something that Kenya Golf Union is keen to change going forward. 

From a field of 156 golfers with 13 Kenyan professionals and five amateur players, only one qualified to play in the last two rounds for each event. Samuel Njoroge was the lone player making cut at the Open while David Wakhu held the mantle at the Classic. 

Vincent Wang'ombe, the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who also wears the hat of the Kenya Open Golf Limited (KOGL) General Manager is, however, a man on a mission to change the narrative for Kenyan golf through junior golf development. 

"We are keen to develop junior golf as that is where the talent is supposed to be tapped from. First is to grow the number of golfers and have a bigger pool of golfers playing in the junior ranks. We have very few juniors taking up the sport compared to the developed golfing countries," offered Wang'ombe in an interview with European Tour during the Classic where he served as one of the tournament administrators. 

With golf still seen as an elitist sport and having no public golf courses where access would be easier, Wang'ombe is leading a campaign to make it easier for children to get into the sport and learn while still young. 

"Out of the 37 courses in the country, none is public and that makes joining any club an expensive affair. We have, however, developed a golf curriculum that has been accepted by the ministry of education and introduced to school to have the children learn about the sport early," he explained.

He continued, "Additionally we have plans to have all the golf courses adopt school and on top of that, gave coaches who go around teaching the game." 

Wang'ombe says the two European Tour events would not have come at a better time. With schools closed children were able to follow the two events on TV and draw inspiration from the Kenyans who were playing. 

"We have gotten a lot of feedback from youngsters showing interest in the sport after seeing some young players they can relate with playing. Njoroge, for instant has been a great inspiration to children from rift Valley. They have followed his game and are willing to take up the sport. His journey is inspirational to anyone and goes to show with good exposure, Kenyan golfers can do well on the European Tour platform," he concluded.