A new beginning is taking shape at the North Rift based Kitale Golf Club, following recent change in leadership, particularly in the golf section.
Since March, there has been very little or no activity at all in the golf section largely due to Covid-19 pandemic, although on and off leadership wrangles have also kept away even active golfers.
Last weekend, an new interim committee led by past captain Pradip Shah was elected to help bring sanity at the once popular club whose par-73 course, one of the most challenging in the country, hosts major tournaments like Trans Nzoia Open and the Kenya Seed Trophy.
Over the years, Kitale has not only attracted golfers from the region and the country at large, but also from neighbouring Uganda.
Besides Pradip who replaced former chairman Niral Shah, others elected to steer the club are captain Dr. Richard Kiptum who took over from Patrick Kae, and vice-captain Francis Gitau.
Fandi Shiyuka is the handicap manager, while the man in charge of the greens is leading golfer Philip Shiharsy. He will be assisted by Jonathan Cheruiyot.
For a start, the new team would like to put the course in good condition, ready for golfing activities which Pradip says will resume as soon as the Kenya Golf Union gives them the go ahead for club services to fully resume, including the services of the caddies.
“We are trying to put everything in place in order to attract not just the local golfers but also the entire golfing fraternity in the region. Kitale is well known for its beautiful and scenic course as well as accommodation. However, we have had some issues here and there which made resulted in the club picking- up the new team,’’ Pradip, whose team is tasked with bringing the club to its former status, said.
“I am appealing to all the golfing fraternity and our friends in the corporate world to come and support Kitale Club,’’ Pradip said, adding that the course is beginning to take shape and will soon will be ready not just for the leading amateur golfers but also professionals.
Meanwhile, action returns to the nine-hole Nyeri Golf Club course after six months due to Covid-19 pandemic. This weekend, the club stages a monthly mug which has attracted over 100 players.
Back in the greater Nairobi region, fresh from a successful Ladies Medal Number Six and the Club-Nite, the par-72 Vet Lab Sports Club will this weekend host the Stableford Ladies Silver Division title.
Wangari only dropped shots at the first and 17th holes, with a birdie at the 11th, to win by two shots from Mercy Nyanchama. In the Club-Nite also played on Wednesday, handicap one Isaac Makokha shot four under par 68 for nett 67 in a round that included five birdies and two bogeys. The two players are likely to be among those in the hunt for the Stableford title this weekend.
At Ruiru Sports Club, it will be a big day again as the par 72 course hosts the Ruiru Classic, which has attracted over 200 players.
Away in Kakamega, some fabulous prizes including a Kisumu/Nairobi return air ticket will be at stake during the Piga Mingi 2020 tournament hosted by Piga Mingi Classic of 2020. A field of 100 players drawn from Kakamega, Kisumu and Nandi Bears will battle it out.
