Kenya Open Notebook

Dismas Indiza of Mumias Golf Club follows the progress of his tee shot from the first tee during the Barclays Kenya Open Golf Tournament on March 22, 2018 at Muthaiga Golf Club. PHOTO | FILE| NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • This year’s Barclays Kenya Open in the richest in history of the event that is celebrating 50 years since inception.
  • The winner of this year’s tournament that ends on Sunday will pocket a cool Sh11.5 million, up by almost 200 per cent from last year.

NOT QUITE A MINUTE'S SILENCE IN HONOUR OF RHINO 'SUDAN'

They play what is described as a “gentleman’s game”, but golfers can at times produce ruthless tackles especially at the famous “19th hole.”

Wildlife Principal Secretary Margaret Mwakima got to taste that side of the golfers during the pro-pm prize presentation at the Muthaiga Gold Club on Wednesday.

After a lengthy speech that golfers are not used to, Mwakima requested the golfers to stand up for a minute of silence in honour of the famous white rhino, Sudan, that died on Monday.

But her calls were met by uproar from the reluctant golfers, who, nevertheless, still stood to observe the minute of silent. The golfers said it was strange for a minute of silent being observed for an animal.

THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT THE RICHEST IN THE 50-YEAR HISTORY

This year’s Barclays Kenya Open in the richest in history of the event that is celebrating 50 years since inception.

The winner of this year’s tournament that ends on Sunday will pocket a cool Sh11.5 million, up by almost 200 per cent from last year.

The organisers have put aside Sh62.5 million as prize money, making it the richest event in the European Challenge Tour this season.

The Kenyan government through sports and tourism ministries have put in Sh100 million while the title sponsors, Barclays Bank, gave out Sh80 million. Kenya has a dream of having the event on the European main tour but tournament director Patrick Obath said it will take over three years to achieve the status since a lot is required.

‘BIG FIVE’ EXPERIENCE A TEE-OFF AS KTB RALLIES GAME SUPPORT

Players at this year’s Barclays Kenya Open are enjoying a unique encounter with the “big five” game, not at the country’s famous game parks, but at the tee offs zones.

Thanks to the Kenya Tourism Board’s “Magical Kenya” promotion , organisers have come up with unique sculptures as tee off markers on all the 18 holes at Muthaiga Golf Club.

Magical Kenya tee off sculptures include “king of jungle” the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and the buffalo.

The tee markers are a reflection of the diversity of Kenya’s tourism products which are globally acclaimed.