Sports

Junior golfers learn crucial skills from Pros in Vipingo tourney

Monday, February 6th, 2023 11:00 | By
Junior golfers learn crucial skills from Pros in Vipingo tourney
Golfer Nancy Wairimu trains a young player at the sidelines of the Magical Kenya Ladies Open in Vipingo Ridge. PD/EDWIN OTIENO

A total of 16 junior golfers from Vipingo were yesterday treated to a golf clinic on the sidelines of the ongoing 2023 Magical Kenya Ladies Open at Vipingo Ridge’s PGA Academy in Kilifi County.

The clinic was sponsored by Safaricom’s M-PESA GlobalPay, in partnership with the Junior Golf Foundation, as part of their commitment to growing the game in Kenya.

During the clinic, a team of Ladies European Tour professionals, Kenya’s star players and global influencers engaged the young aspiring golfers, training them on various aspects of the sport such as swing techniques.

 Among the professionals, Alexandra Swayne, Vani Kapoor, Laura Beveridge and Pasqualla Coffa took part alongside Kenya’s five entries to this year’s tournament - Vipingo Ridge’s PGA Academy star Naomi Wafula, Mercy Nyanchama, Chanelle Wangari, Jacqueline Walter and Nancy Wairimu.

The young golfers from the Future Hope Montessori School in the local Vipingo area, under the auspices of the Vipingo Village Fund, were each taken through a one-on-one skills session and enjoyed some entertainment as the Pros displayed their favourite trick shots.

The Vipingo Village Fund is a grassroots initiative supported by Vipingo Ridge as part of a Corporate Social Responsibility campaign to find and nurture the next generation of Kenyan golf talent through weekly lessons at the PGA Academy.

Vipingo Ridge’s Director of Golf Saleem Haji, who coordinated the clinic said, “The young golfers of today are the future of our sport. The clinic provided an invaluable opportunity for them to learn from the best and develop the skills to succeed in golf and life.

“We are grateful to our partners for making this happen as it will go a long way in ensuring the juniors’ talents are nurtured.”

Junior Golf Foundation (JGF)President Regina Gachora said, “These are juniors who have never had a chance to play golf and today have had the opportunity to meet and interact with some of the best female golfers in the world who taught them the basics about the game of golf.”

On his part, Safaricom’s Michael Mutiga, Chief Business Development & Strategy Officer said that the clinic was part of the company’s commitment to supporting the development of golf in Kenya.

“We believe in transforming lives as part of our purpose as an organisation. Golf for us is something we want to ensure is inclusive and that more Kenyans are allowed to play.”

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