Larry Ngala
28 January 2005
Nairobi — This year's Festival of Golf will be sponsored by Prime Bank Limited.
The sponsorship deal worth millions of shillings was announced in Nairobi yesterday.
Prime Bank's chief executive Vasant Shetty said his bank had agreed to sponsor the series because of its historical importance.
"We feel very privileged that we have been given an opportunity to be part of the development of the game of golf in the country" said Shetty.
He said the bank in the past had been involved in the sponsorship of various sports activities including golf, because that was part of its corporate and social responsibility.
Shetty said the sponsorship package which includes providing prizes and other give aways for 20 events will be reviewed annually.
He said the grand prize to the 2005 national champion will be a trip to Mauritius for the Pro-Am of the Mauritius Open in December.
"We believe with the support of every one involved, the Festival of Golf will retain its status of being the best golf series in the country," Shetty said.
From 1976 until 2000 the Festival of Golf series was sponsored by Kenya Breweries. Kencell Communications (now Celtel) then took over the sponsorship until last year.
Launching the series, an Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Social Services Alicen Chelaite thanked the bank for agreeing to sponsor the series.
"I can assure you that your association with the golfing fraternity will certainly bring you good returns," she said.
She said unlike other sports federations, the KGU had demonstrated a high sense of integrity in its management of the sport.
Chelaite said her ministry would continue its clean-up of sports bodies found to be involved in the mismanagement of their federations and other evils that have contributed to the lowering of the standard of sport in Kenya.
She said the corporate world had shown faith in organisers of golf because of the way they organise events like the Festival of Golf.
Kenya Golf Union chairman Harrison Kinuthia said the Festival of Golf had over the years helped to produce through the Junior Golf Foundation many young and talented golfers.
He said the previous sponsors had in addition to the money paid by players through entry fees, chipped in additional funds, and hoped that Prime Bank would do the same.
"We are still discussing to see how much more they can assist besides this sponsorship" said Kinuthia.
The first event in the series now to be known as the Prime Bank Festival of Golf takes place at Karen Country Club next weekend.
It will be followed by another at Kenya Air Force Golf Club on February 9. A total of 11 pre-qualifying events are set for the Nairobi region between February and August.
In the other regions, events will take place at Nyeri (Mount Kenya), Thika (Central), Nyali (Coast), Kitale (Northern), Machakos (Eastern), Nyanza (Western) and Nakuru (Rift Valley).
The Nairobi finals will be held at Karen on August 27.
For the first time in the 34 year history of the series, the national finals will be held outside Nairobi. This will be at Leisure Lodge and will be played over 36 holes on September 3 and 4.
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