This archive report was first published on 27 December 2019.
As we celebrate the festive season, it's a good time to reflect on the past year and look forward to what's in store for 2020. For Kenya's golf scene, 2019 was a year of firsts, with several significant milestones achieved.
The Magical Kenya Open Presented by Absa, held in March, was a groundbreaking event that marked the first time a golf tournament was televised live on Kenyan TV. KTN News played a crucial role in broadcasting the event, allowing Kenyans to follow the action from the first tee shot to the final putt.
The tournament's success extended beyond Kenya's borders, with the event being broadcast in 296 million households worldwide. The advertising value of the live TV coverage was a staggering $57.4 million, equivalent to Sh 5.74 billion in Kenyan currency.
Another notable event in 2019 was the Magical Ladies Kenya Open at Vipingo Ridge, which was also televised live on KTN News. The event was a resounding success, and its organizers, led by Alastair Cavenagh, deserve praise for bringing the first-ever Ladies European Tour event to Kenya.
As we bid farewell to 2019, we look forward to the introduction of the World Handicap System in June 2020. This new system will bring significant changes to the way golf handicaps are calculated, with a focus on making the game more accessible and enjoyable for players of all levels.
The Kenya Golf Union has been working tirelessly to prepare for the introduction of the new system, and we can expect to see significant changes in the way golf courses are rated and handicaps are calculated.
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and the festive season, we take a moment to appreciate the progress made in Kenya's golf scene in 2019 and look forward to the exciting developments that 2020 will bring.
— Wang'ombe, General Manager of Kenya Open Golf Limited
