Mombasa Golf Club hosts Chairman's Prize tourney
Mombasa Golf Club chair Jane Githere (left) receives a prize during a past tournament. She will host Chairman's Prize on March 2, 2019. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- Club chairman Jane Githere last year made history by becoming the first lady golfer to be elected chairman of the only links course in South of the Sahara after 107 years.
- The historical Club which has rich history, is the second oldest Club in the Country having been started in 1911, five years after the first ever golf club in Kenya, the Royal Nairobi Golf Club which was started in 1906.
- A stiff competition is also expected in the ladies section where most of the lady golfers from both Mombasa and Nyali are drawn in the stableford event.
The 108-year old Mombasa Golf Club, located along Mama Ngina Drive, will this weekend host the Chairman’s Prize tournament, a week after it played host to the Captain’s Prize last weekend.
Club chairlady Jane Githere last year made history by becoming the first lady golfer to be elected chairperson of the only links course south of the Sahara in the club’s 107-year history.
Githere said early this week: “The club has grown in status and part of my goal was to complete the construction of the Pavilion. The work is now 95% complete.”
One of the club members, Yobesh Oyaro, connected the club to Mombasa Cement who in turn sponsored the construction of the pavilion.
“Our plan is to open a Sports Bar which will be very beneficial to the club. I put a lot of energy and time fighting for the recovery of our land which had been grabbed over the years and though we are still in court battling it out for one of the plot, the second contentious plot is now sorted,’’ added Githere, while thanking club members for their tremendous support with special mention of the board, which helped her attain half of her goals thus far.
The club, steeped in rich history, is the second oldest club in the country having been started in 1911, five years after the first ever golf club in Kenya the Royal Nairobi Golf Club was started in 1906.
Githere says that her wish is to see Mombasa Golf Club be integrated into the Mama Drive Ngina beautification plans to aid it in areas such as irrigation of the course.
“Once done Mombasa and indeed Kenya will have a Dubai Creek Golf Course look- alike,” she opined.
During last weekend’s Captain’s Prize, handicap 18 golfer Wilfred Wanjui posted nett 68 and 30 for a differential of 38 points to beat a field of 110 golfers and claim the overall title and is among the 120 players drawn for this weekend’s event.
He is likely to face a strong challenge from Gregory Koech, Miqdad Walji, Gurbux Singh, Eric Nyongesa, Jimmy Kingori, Martin Wahome, Nyali vice captain Evans Manono, and youngster Andrew Wahome.
Stiff competition is also expected in the ladies section where most of the lady golfers from both Mombasa and Nyali are drawn in the stable ford event.
They include former lady captain at Nyali Joyce Masai, current lady captain Susan Stokes, former Nyali chairlady Christine Ockotch, Alice Wahome, Mary Kandu and Florence Karimi. They will be taking on home players Hildah Mugure, and out-going lady captain Mary Mariga.
At the par 72 Ruiru Sports Club, club captain Peter Mwaura Kimani winds up his successful term with the Captain’s Prize which as expected, has attracted a record entry of 300 players.
Kimani, a former employee of the Nation Media Group, is being supported by a number of corporate organisations led by Pay television provider MultiChoice Kenya, which announced its sponsorship towards the event early this week.
There will also be special prizes for media personalities, juniors, pros, detour members, clergy, guests from neighbouring and reciprocating clubs, former golf captains, sponsors and club members.
“The course is in good shape and the greens are freshly cut for an amazing experience. We are looking forward to hosting arguably one of the biggest golf tourneys in the country. We will be celebrating what has been quite a successful year for the club,” said Kimani.
Meanwhile, action resumes at Machakos Golf Club with the Kenya Defence Forces golf tournament that has attracted over 100 players drawn from various clubs including Kenya Air Force, Eastleigh, Nakuru Golf Club, Kiambu, Thika Barracks, Railway, Golf Park and Ruiru Sports Club.
Back in Nairobi, Vet Lab Sports Club will be the venue for the Kabete Ladies Open which has attracted players from most of the clubs in the country.
A few weeks Royal Nairobi’s Serah Khanyereri beat a big field to take the Sigona Ladies Open Silver Division title, and she is the player to beat this weekend where she will be taking on home players Mercy Nyanchama, Mary Karano, Agnes Nyakio and Esther Chumo.
