History of Kenya Ladies golf
Rose Naliaka, the first female professional golfer in Kenya and owner of the Naliaka Golf Academy, follows the progress of her shot on February 19, 2019.
What you need to know:
- However, after a few months the advice of the KGU was adopted and at a meeting held in Kiambu in July, 1936, the decision to form a Ladies Union was agreed and in January 1937, this Union was recognized by the L.G.U and cameunder their auspices.”
- With nurturing that was given in the early days by those dedicated lady golfers, the KLGU went through a few more changes.
Ladies golf in Kenya came about in the early 1930s and has gone through
many phases to get to the present.
The 2018 Chair of the Kenya Ladies Golf Union Lucy Muhinga says: “The KGU played a major role in the promotion of ladies golf in this country from the establishment of the ladies union and we are happy that over those 90 years it has been in existence it has put this country on the world map in terms of golf.”
Naomi Wafula tees off from the first tee during Muthaiga Leg Golf Safari Tour at Muthaiga Golf Club on January 13, 2020.
R.W. Hooper writes in his book;
“Up to the early thirties all golf in the colony was controlled by the Kenya Golf Union and much praise is due to them for the encouragement and help they gave the ladies in those early days.
“Indeed, some may miss the light hearted and cheerful manner in which handicaps rose or fell, measured very largely, by the adroitness or otherwise of fellow lady members of their club.
Mercy Nyanchama follows her shot during a past event.
“But as more settlers came to the country and a greater membership was opened, and ladies began to take a prominent part in the R & A game, a feeling started that a unified method of handicapping was necessary.”
Many officials of the KGU helped in different ways and the President was an ex-officio member of the Union Executive Committee keeping a friendly watchful eye on the activities of its younger branch.
However, after a few months the advice of the KGU was adopted and at a meeting held in Kiambu in July, 1936, the decision to form a Ladies Union was agreed and in January 1937, this Union was recognized by the L.G.U and cameunder their auspices.”
Royal Nairobi Golf Club’s Sarah Khanyereri follows the flight of her shot at the Vet Lab Sports Club during the 2019 Kabete Ladies Open tournament on March 2, 2019.
With nurturing that was given in the early days by those dedicated lady golfers, the KLGU went through a few more changes.
Vet Lab Sports Club golfer Chanelle Wangari tees-off from the First Tee during the August Mug at the par 72 Vet Lab Sports Club course on August 8, 2020.
Below is an extract from an article written by Sylvia Fraser, of Makuyu and Thika and wife to Tom Fraser, the KGU Chairman in 1976, on the 60th anniversary of the KLGU:
“However, in March 1977 at Royal Nairobi, an extraordinary general meeting decided that the name of the East Africa ladies Golf Union be changed to the Kenya Ladies Golf Union with Uganda and Tanzania affiliated to the KLGU.”
The transition of the Union to an African face came in 1987 when Clem Ndungu, from Railway and Kiambu, was elected as the first African lady Chairman.
The book Kenya Through the Lens of Golf is available at the KGU offices at Muthaiga, book stores in Nairobi at Village Market, Yaya Bookshop, Westgate and the Karen Country Club Pro-Shop at a cost of Sh4500.
