Friday will be a special day at the par-72 Karen Country Club in Nairobi, as a field of 192 golfers, among them top executives, compete in Kenya’s longest running golf series, the Nation Golf Classic.
Nation Media Group (NMG) could not have chosen a better venue than Karen, where the series was born in March 1985 as part of celebrations to mark the company’s 25th anniversary, popularly known as silver jubilee.
This year, the tournament will celebrate 40th Anniversary. Since it was founded in 1985, the tournament, which is sponsored by Nation Media Group, has played a big role in nurturing talent, and giving local golfers an opportunity to play the game.
Since its establishment the series has been played in numerous venues across the country as a way of offering local golfers not only an opportunity to enjoy the game, but to also contribute to different social activities.
The tournament is not only Kenya’s longest-running amateur golf series, but it is also a proud testament to NMG’s enduring commitment to excellence, community engagement, and the advancement of the game of golf in the region.
NMG has partnered Safaricom, Sanlam/Allianz, Family Bank and Kenya Pipeline Company in the tournament.
Those drawn to play include a number of golfers who have regularly supported the golf series by criss-crossing the various regions where the Nation Classic golf series have been held.
They include Muthaiga’s senior golfers Paul Gondi, and Richard Wanjala, Nyanza’s Don Riaroh, KCB boss Paul Russo, and former NMG CEO Linus Gitahi. Golf Kenya President, Philip Ochola, and Nyali Golf and Country Club chairman, Jayne Githere, will grace the occasion.
Former Nation Media Group Chairman Dr Wilfred Kiboro tees off during the Nation Classic Golf Series at the Nyahururu Country Club in Laikipia county on June 8, 2024.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
The event at Karen is particularly important as it is also an opportunity for NMG to thank the company's former board Chairman Dr Wilfred Kiboro.
During his tenure Dr Kiboro, a visionary leader, played a leading role in shaping both the Nation Classic Golf Series, and the NMG.
In addition to celebrating the legacy of Nation Classic Golf Series and that of Dr Kiboro, the tournament is an opportunity for participants to foster strategic partnerships to secure the future of golf and community development.
Nation Media Group Foundation will use the platform to strengthen its partnerships and initiatives in areas such as sports, literacy, environmental sustainability, community development, and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as well as to drive commercial business partnerships.
Meanwhile, Muthaiga Golf Club will host the 2025 NCBA Golf Series Grand Finale on Friday. The tournament will bring together 250 golfers, 90 of them from the qualifiers held in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
A field of 90 golfers will be competing for the series' top honours in the men's category, ladies' category, and the category for juniors.
The overall winner, men’s winner, and the ladies winner will each pocket Sh130,000. Golfers will also have a chance to take home a JCB Backhoe Loader, courtesy of JCB Ganatra, for a hole-in-one at the par three 13th.
Since the series teed off in January at the Kenya Railway Golf Club, more than 5,102 golfers have participated in the 40 tournaments held so far across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
Mary Karano from Vet Lab Golf Club will be making her third appearance at the Grand Finale, having made a constant appearance in the previous two editions.
"The grand finale marks the culmination of a very successful series this year that has been bigger and better, traversing the region following the inclusion of Rwanda. We have made an effort to be at most clubs this year, whether through a main qualifier, a club night, or a monthly mug,” NCBA Group Managing Director John Gachora said.
Friday’s will be the third time Muthaiga Golf Club is hosting the grand finale since the inception of the tournament in 2021. The grand finale of the inaugural edition was held at the Karen Country Club in 2021, before moving to Muthaiga Golf Club the following year. Sigona Golf Club hosted the Grand Finale in 2023, and Muthaiga Club hosted it again in 2024.
