Sunshine Tour expands to Kenya with new development golf series
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Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 26.03.25. | 15:08
Participation in the Q-School is a mandatory requirement for earning OWGR points on the East Africa Swing
The Sunshine Tour, one of the leading golf tours globally, has expanded its presence into Kenya and East Africa by introducing the Sunshine Development Tour.
The South Africa-based Sunshine Tour has signed a three-year exclusive agreement with sports marketing agency IMG Kenya Limited to launch this new professional development golf tour in Kenya and East Africa.
The Sunshine Development Tour—East African Swing will give professional golfers and elite amateurs, both men and women, the opportunity to participate in regular competitive golf tournaments organized according to Sunshine Tour standards.
Commenting on the Tour, IMG Kenya CEO Peter Gacheru stated that the initiative will revolutionize professional and elite amateur golf in the region.
“We are excited to partner with The Sunshine Tour to bring the Sunshine Development Tour – East African Swing to the region. We believe this tour will offer golfers a much-needed platform for playing consistent, competitive golf at higher standards, while also providing them with a steady revenue stream."
"Our goal is to improve the quality of professional golf in Kenya and the region, provide elite amateurs and juniors with a development platform, and elevate our profile as a golfing community on the global stage. We believe this tour will transform the local and regional golf landscape, producing globally recognized champions and developing future talent," Gacheru said.
He added, “We look forward to collaborating with other like-minded partners to expand this event, making it bigger, more sustainable, and impactful for the future of golf in the region."
The Tour will feature 10 to 15 events annually and will offer Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, essential for player progression. These points are crucial for local professionals as they offer a merit-based pathway to global golf, as well as qualification for the Olympic Games.
Sunshine Tour Commissioner Thomas Abt said, “The launch of the Sunshine Development Tour marks a significant milestone for golf in Africa as we create unprecedented opportunities for professional and top amateur golfers in East Africa. This Tour will uncover talent and bring new stars to the game. Both the Sunshine Tour and Sunshine Ladies Tour offer global pathways that perfectly support the development of talent in Africa."
He added, "We look forward to launching the Sunshine Development Tour, which is a defining moment for the game in Africa, and one in which we can play a pivotal role in its growth here."
Ahead of the tour, IMG Kenya and the Sunshine Tour have organized a qualifying event (Q-School) from March 30 to April 2, 2025, at the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club. The four-day tournament will feature prize money of Sh1 million.
“Typically, Q-Schools don’t offer prize money, but IMG Kenya decided to kick off the Tour with an incentive for professional golfers,” Gacheru said.
Participation in the Q-School is a mandatory requirement for earning OWGR points on the East Africa Swing, and players wishing to join the tour can register online at easwing.epass.co.ke. Players who complete the four-round qualifier will be awarded tour cards for the 2025/26 season. The top 10 qualifiers will earn invitations to the Sunshine Tour Final Stage Qualifier in Johannesburg from April 8 to 11, 2025.
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