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GOLF IN KENYA UNDER COVID-19 GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS

This is a follow up to our letter of 1* May 202t. We have, in consultation with the Ministry of Health, reviewed the use of caddie services as an integral part of the game of golf and in the spirit of allowing the
caddies a livelihood .

Golfers who wish to use the services of caddies on the golf course will therefore be allowed to resume, but on the following conditions:

1. All Clubs are encouraged to arrange for the testing of the caddies for COVID-1-9
2. All Clubs must provide hand sanitizers at the starters huts for use by both the players and the
   caddies
3. All players must provide their caddies with a little bottle of hand sanitizer for continuous use during
   the round
4. Caddies will be allowed the use golf trollies, and must not carry golf bags on their person
   Kindly abide by the rules set by the Union and the Ministry of Sports

The new World Handicapping System will replace six existing handicap systems including CONGU. WHS aims to encourage more people to take up the game and enable golfers of differing abilities, gender and nationalities to compete on a fair basis anywhere in the World.

Under this new system all golfers will be given a new decimal handicap called a Handicap Index which will be changed into a Course Handicap depending on the Slope Rating of course and set of tees one is playing.

The Slope Rating is a measure of the difficulty of the course from a particular set of tees for a higher handicap (or bogey) player compared to a scratch player. Each set of tees on every golf course will be allocated a Slope Rating for men and women.

New golfers can get a WHS Handicap Index through returning three 18-hole cards. These can be six 9-hole cards, or a combination of 9 and 18-hole cards. The maximum Handicap Index for both men and women will be 54 and your Handicap Index will be valid anywhere in the world. Once you have a Handicap Index you will only lose it if you are no longer a member of a golf club. New golfers will get a WHS Handicap Index through returning three 18-hole cards. These can be six 9-hole cards, or a combination of 9 and 18-hole cards. The maximum Handicap Index for both men and women will be 54 and your Handicap Index will be valid anywhere in the world. Once you have a Handicap Index you will only lose it if you are no longer a member of a golf club.

Individual scores over 9 or 18 holes, returned in competition or friendly golf (general play is the term used under WHS) will count for handicap purposes. Rounds must be played by the Rules of Golf and in the company of a marker. Matchplay, foursomes or fourball scores cannot be used for handicap.

The WHS computer system has mechanisms to take into account playing conditions on the day and to guard against major fluctuations in your Handicap Index. You will be able to access information on your Handicap Index through your mobile phone and it will be every player’s responsibility to play off the correct handicap.

The Handicap Committee of your home club has the power to adjust your initial Handicap Index if it is not a true reflection of your ability. The Handicap Committee may also adjust or freeze your Handicap Index at any time to ensure that all players are treated fairly and consistently

All Kenya clubs will submit the CONGU handicap records of all their members to the centralised system up until the transition date. The best eight scores of the last 20 scores on your handicap record will be used to calculate your WHS Handicap Index.  Your Handicap Index will be the simple average (to one decimal place) of those eight scores. Under the CONGU system, you have a decimal handicap; under the new system you will have a Handicap Index.

So, if for example the best eight scores of your last 20 scores are:

16, 18, 13, 14, 19, 15, 16, 14 = 125; 125/8 = 15.6 = Handicap Index (HI). You do not need to do any calculations manually or have a record for your scores – it will all be done for you.

Under the CONGU system the difficulty of a course was measured by the Standard Scratch Score (SSS) – the score expected from a scratch player. The SSS will now have a new name: Course Rating.  Under WHS the difficulty of the course is be based on what is expected from the “average” or “bogey” golfer compared to the scratch golfer and this is called the Slope Rating.  Your Handicap Index will be changed to a Course Handicap and it may go up or down depending on the difficulty of the course you play as measured by the Slope Rating.

Each set of tees on each course will have a slope rating for men and women. The table below gives an example of a course with three sets of tees of varying lengths. Men and women will be able to play off any of the three tees and their handicap adjusted accordingly because the Slope Rating will be different for men and women for each set of tees.

Clubs are encouraged to use numbers for their tees instead of colours to get away from the concept of men’s and women’s tees. Each club will have a look-up chart called a Course Handicap Conversion Chart which will allow you to convert your Handicap Index into a Course Handicap for whichever set of tees you are playing.  The chart uses a simple formula to do the conversion.

 Course Handicap = Handicap Index x Slope Rating/113. But you don’t need to remember this formula or do any calculations manually because the Conversion Chart at the club will do it for you.

The “average” golf course (world-wide) has a Slope Rating of 113. So, if the set of tees you are playing from has a slope rating of more than 113, that’s more difficult than average and your Course Handicap will be higher than your Handicap Index and if you are playing from a set of tees with a slope rating of less than 113, easier than average, your Course Handicap will be lower than your Handicap Index.  

One year since going to the United States of America, Serah  Khanyereri has recorded tremendous success on and off the course and is confident of achieving her dream of playing in the LPGA, the ladies’ most competitive and prestigious golf circuit. Serah who is in the US on a golf scholarship courtesy of Africa Golf Programme, formerly Rose Naliaka Academy, has already won two competitions on the college circuit, a move that has seen her formally listed on the World Golf Ranking currently lying in position 3161 .

Sarah Kanyereri who is now playing for St. Thomas University women’s golf team had played for the Kenya Ladies Golf Union National Team for more than 4 years before she proceeded to the US in 2019. She is so grateful to Rose Naliaka who natured her over the years.

Former Junior Golf Foundation national team player has now won two events;   In Georgia, she finished in first place shooting 75&72 gross.  At the Webber Fall Golf Invitational at the Sun & Lakes Golf Course, she shot 78 &71 gross.

During the 7th Annual Golf Gala Awards Ceremony held in Dubai, Kenya was named as the best Africa Golf destination.

The World Golf Awards which was founded in 2014 recognizes and rewards excellence in golf tourism, courses, and golf destinations. Kenya now has 36 private Golf Courses and 1 public golf course, of this, Karen Country club scooped the award of the best golf course while Great Rift Valley Lodge was awarded as the best golf resort in Kenya.

https://worldgolfawards.com/nominees/2020/africa

17th – 20th September 2020

Vet Lab Sports Club will from tomorrow 17^th – 20^th September 2020 host the 98^th edition of the Kenya Amateur Matchplay Championship. The event which counts towards the world Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) has attracted 108 golfers.

The Kenya Amateur Matchplay Championship, organized by Kenya Golf Union (KGU), is the oldest and most prestigious match play events in Kenya. Since 1910, the tournament has been played each year except for 1915-1919 during the First World War and 1940 – 1945 during Second World War.  

All eyes will be on defending champion Paul Muchangi from Limuru Country Club who clinched the title last year after a tight contest. Other players to watch will be Simon Njogu, Jay Sandhu, Isaac Makokha and John Lejirma.

The event has attracted 19 juniors including the top junior in the country Mutahi Kibugu alongside Njoroge Kibugu, Daniel Kiragu, Taimur Malik, Njogu Kung’u , Ali Wassim among others. The tournament has also attracted Celestine Nsanzuwera from Rwanda and Sigmund Haland from Norway.

The tournament will start with with a 36-hole strokeplay knockout rounds and only 32 players will advance to play in the matchplay rounds. After the four-day tournament the winner will get an automatic slot to play in the 2021 Magical Kenya Open that is scheduled to take place in March at the Karen Country Club.

“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we have received a good field from all over the country. We will ensure that the guidelines provided by the Ministry of Health as well as the Ministry of Sports to help curb the spread of COVID -19 are followed.” said the Tournament Director, Peter Kiguru.

“The tournament will be played without caddies as directed by the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Honorable Mutahi Kagwe, and there will be no formal presentation at the end of the competition.” added Kiguru.

END