For professional golf in Uganda, these are times to savour. A few years ago, there were positively no events of note.
UPGA tournaments were few and far between, while the more proactive golfers opted to board buses to travel across the border to compete in Kenya.
This year, however, things have taken a beautiful turn. It has been a busy calendar under the leadership of Davis Kato, with professional golfers competing regularly in events spread throughout the country.
“So far, nine events have been played and we have a lot more tournaments loading,” UPGA Chairman Davis Kato noted.
Kato is particularly enthused by the Pearl of Africa-Sunshine Development Tour tournament set to be held at the par-71 Entebbe Club between September 16–19.
“It is an event that will offer official World Golf Ranking points, and because of it, the level of competition will be elevated for both our local golfers and the best in the region.”
While Ronald Rugumayo is unanimously acclaimed as the top professional golfer in the country, the emergence of Grace Kasango this season has turned the circuit into an enthralling two-way battle.
The latter, in particular, has shown that he can hold his own when the chips are down against every other golfer in the country.
However, the POA-SUNDEV event will be a different kettle of fish, with a host of golfers set to fly in from across the region.
Still, the form of Rugumayo, Kasango, and Rodell Taddeo Gaita provides a source of optimism for the UPGA, alongside rank outsiders David Kamulindwa and Philip Kasozi.
With the Uganda Professionals Open due to take place at Kitante next week, the country’s top golfers will not be short of game conditioning or a competitive mindset for what promises to be a thrilling inaugural POA-SUNDEV tournament.
