The Barclays Kenya Open is truly a national treasure

So the directors of the Kenya Open Golf Limited (KOGL) have knocked on many doors looking for sponsors and endured several hours of meetings to deliver what is promising to be a true Kenyan gem.

At 50 years, the Barclays Kenya Open is one of the most distinguished events in Kenya today.

It is, somehow, insufficient to simply talk about some of the legends that have graced the fairways of Muthaiga Golf Club or Karen Country Club over the years as the achievement the Kenya Open Golf Limited. Or even the prize money that they have been able to put together.

The Barclays Kenya Open is bound to be another exhilarating golfing event this week. In the light of the talented golfers that the Open has been able to attract this year, I will be expecting to see record-breaking golf played this week at Muthaiga Golf Club. Nnumerous requests

Indeed, the tournament was so popular this year that Patrick Obath, the Kenya Open Golf Limited Tournament Director, had to go through very many emails of numerous requests from international golfers who wanted to participate at the 50th Open.

There were many golfers who felt that they were good enough to participate in this year’s Open.

Many of the golfers were seeking for the direct invitation from Patrick Obath. This led to the KOGL holding a pre-qualifier tournament on Monday the 19th to separate the wheat from the chaff.

The tournament held at Vet Lab Sports Club, had 50 entries. The top three golfers from the pre-qualifier were guaranteed slots at the Open.

One of the entries at the pre-qualifier and who, sadly, did not perform as well as the leaders was Oliver Wilson, a golfer who has had an illustrious career. He has won a number of European Tour events and even represented Europe at the Ryder Cup in 2008.

With all the experience and talent that Oliver Wilson possesses, it was not enough to secure him a place at this year’s Open.

That is how competitive it was.

There will be many notable golfers playing at the 50th Open. Kenyan spectators who will turn up to watch the event will be spoilt for choice on who to watch.

Personally, I would be like a child in a candy shop. I would like to watch Victor Perez, who I had the pleasure of playing in a pro-am at Ras-al-Khaimah Open last year.

He impressed me thoroughly and I reckon that it just a matter of time before we see him winning in major tournaments. Another notable golfer is Laurie Canter, a perfect gentleman who I had the pleasure of watching closely at the 146th Open Championship at the Royal Birkdale last year.

He not only made cut at The Open Championship, he managed to come in at position 37, to tie with last year’s Masters champion, Sergio Garcia.

Then there is the team of Kenyans.

They get more support than some of the top European golfers who grace our courses. The Kenyan fans are very loyal and have always supported their own.

However, it sometimes looks like our golfers get overwhelmed by the “love”.

As well as being the golf course where the Kenya Open started in 1967, Muthaiga Golf Club fortunately seems to attract more spectators.

This year, there will be grandstands on a few of the holes to give spectators a great view of golf shots.

One of the grandstand will be at the 13th hole where there is a brand new Mercedes GLC 250 to be won by the first golfer to get a hole-in-one.

The hospitality area is also well prepared to present some great entertainment away from the golf.

Apart from staging the Open, the KOGL have marketed Kenya as golfing destination. Over the years, as the publicity of the event reaches different corners of the world, Kenya is slowly but surely emerging as the second golfing destination in Africa after South Africa.

All that we need to do now is develop programs that will see Kenyan golfers excel on the world stage. The first step is to get involved in the development of top golfers that our youngsters can look up to as role models.

Our Kenyan professionals will not go far if they rely on weekend golfers for wagers and hand-outs. The Open has now come of age.

The board of the KOGL has proven that their faith in success is far much greater than their fear of failure.

They have gone and announced to the world that Kenya has come of age in hosting a golfing event that can be equal to some of the best.

It is no wonder that the Kenyan government has recognised the Barclays Kenya Open for what it is — a national treasure.