Golf

Schools ask for more Golf Championships to grow the game

by
Mike Barasa
May 31, 2023

Junaid Manji Premier Academy

There was an increase in participating schools this year
Directors want inter monthly competitions
They are seeking to popularize the game more

The second edition of the inter schools golf tournament attracted 23 schools, an increase from the 20 that took part in the first tournament played in March 2023.

The second tournament at the Windsor Golf and Country club saw a mixture of high schools, primary schools, international schools, children’s homes and even kindergartens entering teams for competition.

“In the first tournament, schools entered three teams, this time it was a maximum of two teams because the number of schools increased. We can do a maximum of 150 players; we had 140 players this time. For the next tournaments, we might have to look at getting into clubs that can give us a full day. That way we are able to do 180-200 players because the demand is there,” observed Regina Gachora, the Junior golf Foundation president.

The schools’ directors are now asking for monthly interschools tournaments. This is a good headache for JGF who have to go back to the drawing board and adjust the calendar, if possible, to fit the demands of the schools.

“They want to see their children playing for the schools on a monthly basis as they see this as an opportunity for them to grow in the game of golf. They also see the opportunity of scholarships for their juniors in the future. It is a roadmap that we need to work on, it is exciting!” observed Gachora.

More opportunities for kids

Malaika Kasio Hill Crest

She added that this will be more opportunities for golf and, and it is for the JGF to figure out this with the schools.

The US Kids local Tour that has held eight tournaments in 2023has sharpened the juniors who are a class above the rest who are not playing in the tournaments. This has raised the interest from schools who now want their children enrolled in the US Kids Local Tour programme.

“They want to become JGF members so the schools have said they want to make sure that their students all become JGF members. They want them to play in school clubs where they take their players with their school buses to golf courses to practice. They’ve asked us to see how we can get them into the US Kids programme because they can see those who play more are performing much better in these tournaments and they are trying to catch up,” explained the president.

Some of the juniors are now playing in the senior tournaments and are winning. Gachora says they are not worried of losing players to the seniors’ tournaments because they have a lot of juniors from as young as five years old. It is all about filling up the pipeline and ensuring that golf has longevity in Kenya. They junior golf foundation is up to the age of 21 years.