Ugandan golfers gain inspiration playing with pros at Karen Golf Club

Ugandan amateur golfers soaked up new lessons and pure joy as they played their rounds shoulder to shoulder with seasoned professionals at the Magical Kenya Open Pro-Am, held at Nairobi's Karen Golf Club on Wednesday.

The Absa-sponsored golfers included Kenneth Tumusiime, Darwin Angundri, Joshua Odongo, Hellen Lunkuse, and Alex Wandera, who all got to play with at least two professionals each, one on the front and one on the back nine, in the one-day event, which used the Tour Scramble format.

This format is a popular, high-scoring team game, usually played in groups of four: everyone takes a shot, the best shot is chosen, and then everyone hits from that spot until the ball goes in the hole.

The Ugandans were on the brink of missing out due to the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) strike over pay and poor working conditions, which caused delays to Kenya Airways flights to and from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The Ugandans should have touched down in Nairobi at 3.45 pm on Tuesday, but they arrived 11 hours later, with little rest before taking to the course.

At the end of the day, the best-placed Ugandans in twelfth with a score of -27 were the team of Darwin Angudri, Alex Wandera, and Kenneth Tumusiime, who played alongside professionals, Scottish Euan Walker and Italian Francesco Laporta, on the front and back, respectively, in the morning session.

Lunkuse and Odong, who partnered with Absa Team’s Isaac Mariera alongside pros Fillipo Chelli and James Morrison, placed 11th in the afternoon session with a score of -25.

“Being magical, we had to make the best of it despite arriving late. problem We didn't have enough rest, and we had to get here very early to try and beat the Nairobi traffic. But we got in, and we had some good pros, and the game was indeed magical,” Tumusiime said.

“I have no complaints with what I returned. We have experienced the lovely Karen course, the weather was very good, a bit windy, but perfect weather for golf, and the game was good. I was worried about fatigue, but the game was good.

“I missed an eagle on hole three, but I had three buddies, I returned 87, which, with my very huge handicap on this course, equates to 13 under par, which is pretty good for a first timer on this course,” Tumusiime stated.  

“What you learn from here is that you need to be consistent, you cannot have a good hole and a bad one on the next, so when you play with people like this, people whom you watch on TV, and the big screen, it humbles you and it tells you that anything is possible.”

He said he had picked a few tricks which he will apply to his game. “We thank ABSA for the opportunity, one, to play the Pro-AM in Lugazi, where my stable ford score was 45, and now here in Karen, my stable ford score has been 48, so the opportunity to play,  hopefully I will be able to do well and come back next year, but now I intend to enjoy myself and I see how the next couple of days are going to pan out.  

“We thank Absa for this opportunity. The organisation has been spot on, the support has been spot on, and they were with us when we were suffering with the travel delays.”

Angudri said he had had a great experience, enjoyed his round of golf, and learnt a lot from the professionals.

“I got one birdie; unfortunately, I missed about three of them, but generally it was a beautiful round, and we had fun,” Angudri said.

“The course is, I must say, easy compared to what we have back home. The greens are deceptive; you may think they are running, yet they are slow, more like our greens back home in Lugazi, but generally, it was a great experience. Besides the debriefing on our own games, we picked up a lot from the pros. Both pros were supportive; they kept giving us a few tips here and there, and I must say, it was really good. Angudri said he hopes to improve his tee shots, stance, and swing.

“I think my handicap will definitely go down. I must say I've learnt a lot; it's one of the best courses we have in East Africa, and it's not that difficult to score. "These DP Tour pros have given us great tips, so this will have a positive impact on my handicap. I hope to get better at the game, and I pray that this year I'll do my best and come back for the same,” Angudri, who plays off handicap 15.8, said.

“To Absa Bank, thank you very much for this opportunity, and we hope you continue sponsoring this game, because it's really exposing the Ugandan golfers and placing them on the international scene.”

Wandera said despite his poor start, he grew into the game and improved on the back nine. “I have scored five pars, and mainly in the second round, at least I have played like I did in Lugazi. I have picked a lot of inspiration from the professionals.”

They have advised us on how to control the game, how to contain pressure especially after a bad hole.  This outing has given me a very big experience, as it is my second big tournament to play in. I first played in the Uganda Open, and now I have played in the Kenya Magical Open.”

“We thank our sponsors, Absa Bank, and mainly my namesake, Mr Wanderer, the MD. We thank them so much for this opportunity. Whatever cost they have incurred to ensure we participate in this tournament, we are very glad and thankful to them.”

The only lady on the Ugandan contingent, Hellen Lunkuse, was excited for her performance having produced some good shots that she was proud of. “It was quite a nice experience. I found out how the pros are so humble and friendly. They make the game look so easy. They were talking to us. It's something I didn't expect,” Lunkuse noted.

“They were supportive and guided us well. It's an experience I wish everyone could participate in. I have enjoyed the ambience, the reception, and how we've been received and cared for by Absa. The course is beautiful, although we didn’t get time to practice on it beforehand. I believe it is easy and playable.

“I also realised that being a pro is something that requires patience, resilience and practice. I am so bad at chipping, and I am looking forward to improving after the Karen experience. I am so thankful to Absa for this enriching experience and for taking good care of us.” Joshua Odong from Lira Golf Club was also wowed by the experience.

“I really enjoyed It was a new golf course, quite challenging. But we enjoyed it.  The birdies were there (3), and the game was good. And the pros we played with were so kind to us. It was really nice.

“With the advice I got from the pros, the biggest thing I would love to improve in my game is the approach shots and the chipping. Because my tee shots are good, but my game gets spoiled on the fairway.”