Selected local players fine-tune at the driving range as greens, walking paths and fairways are prepared ahead of Magical Kenya Open,
With slightly under nine days before the Magical Kenya Open Golf Championships tees off at the Muthaiga Golf Club, event organisers have intensified their final touches and are leaving nothing to chance as they plan to deliver one of the best championship in the DP World Tour.
The four day tournament running between March 3-6, will be making a come back at Muthaiga after several years and yesterday, the venue was a beehive of activities, ranging from practicing golfers on the range to green keepers ensuring that the lawns are in good shape before action begins next week.
Speaking during a Directors tour at the course yesterday, Tournament Director Patrick Obath registered his pleasure on the process of fine-tuning the surface and indeed buzzing up the atmosphere ahead of the tournament proper.
“The Organising team have done a marvelous job on collaboration with the groundsmen at Muthaiga Golf Club. Last time we had a tournament here, we were still at the Challenge Tour level, but now it has been upgraded to the European DP Tour. We have had about six months preparing the course and so far we have measured the whole play area and put in relevant necessities.
“The greens are looking lush and nice because we have been giving them regular treatment. Security aspect is top notch so players and fans visiting should be rest assured of a nice show,” Obath told People Sport yesterday as he revealed that players especially foreigners will not be in a bubble and that from Tuesday next week the whole lot of 156 participants should all be at the course awaiting the tee off.
Meanwhile local pro-player Greg Snow is looking forward to a good battle having prepared for weeks the Championships venue which turns up to be his home course. Speaking to People Sport at the sidelines of his tee shot practice on the range, Snow stated that he was keen on making his own personal mark at the competition.
“We are ready and we have been preparing well. We were at Muthaiga last week for the final leg of the Safari Tour golf and we had lots of practice here as well so it feels good for the event to be back. My main target is to go out and try to win and at the same time enjoy the moment. We have a good group of eight local professionals which hopefully can catapult us to great tidings in this tournament. There is definitely pressure playing at home but I know we can cope,” he said.
Wildcard player Dennis Maara on his part was elated at getting a call-up promising to give his best during the tournament. The tournament debutant has been working more on the stamina bit and is confident of making an impact.
“First of all, I want to thank the KOGL Management for giving me the opportunity to represent my country. Obviously I got in through the Wildcard system after playing well in the Safari Tour. So far, everything is good and I have been working on my stamina and nutrition levels which is important so that my energy flows during the Tour.
“This is a high profile event so pressure is imminent but I am giving myself the target of making the cut and also finishing top amateur. Next week, I believe after having another final feel of the course,I will be good to go,” he said,
