‘I SAY SO’
Oct 24, 2004
<b>Medal play’s our undoing</b><br>TO many golf fans, proceedings at the picturesque Kitante 72-par course in Kampala, must be like a sweet dream from which many Ugandans would rather not awaken.
Medal play’s our undoing
TO many golf fans, proceedings at the picturesque Kitante 72-par course in Kampala, must be like a sweet dream from which many Ugandans would rather not awaken.
The golf fraternity was first treated to first class four-day action in the MTN 63rd Uganda Open that wound up on Saturday.
Barely two days after the 72-hole showpiece, we are in for even more thrills as top Kenyan, Rwandan, Tanzanian and Ugandan golfers converge at Kitante again for the East African Challenge.
That there is even yet more to come next month in the Uganda Ladies Open and next year's All Africa Challenge competition at the same venue, should make Kitante the place to be.
The enthusiasm is understandable. In a country where the golf calendar is loaded with medal play events, two weeks of almost non-stop stroke and match play are like a sudden burst of fresh air.
But while spectators bask in entertainment, the scoreboard has so far been a source of despair for our golfers.
But this better not surprise anyone. Ugandans had better realise that results could have actually been worse.
You can't expect much from a country that depends on casual weekend outings in the name of competition.
An army of Kenyan stars led by David Odhiambo deservedly commanded the spotlight relegating our top player Charles Yokwe to sixth position.
It was form that is largely explained by our neighbours' ever growing departure from the crippling medal play.
As someone put it, in Kenya, the enthusiasm with which stroke and match play is embraced is similar to Ugandan golf authorities' passion for nett scores.
But it's not only the vast exposure to the gross score game that has set our colleagues across the border in a class apart.
There is an element of seriousness among the Kenyans that would make any professional envious.
While Uganda's stars extended their prowess to the 19th hole (the bar) daily, the Kenyans, under the watchful eye of coach Charles Farrar, made the best of every ounce of rest after play.
It's however not too late for the people who run our golf to draw some lessons from the Kenyans.
They should not doubt that old saying that change is not a threat but a welcome challenge.
Another for Ugandan golfers to take note of is, while Kenya had Farrar as national coach, the local golfers fended for themselves on individual merit status.
Any team of more than two players really need a commander to plan strategies and when need for reorganisation arises when faltering, the leader adjusts.
Ends
TO many golf fans, proceedings at the picturesque Kitante 72-par course in Kampala, must be like a sweet dream from which many Ugandans would rather not awaken.
The golf fraternity was first treated to first class four-day action in the MTN 63rd Uganda Open that wound up on Saturday.
Barely two days after the 72-hole showpiece, we are in for even more thrills as top Kenyan, Rwandan, Tanzanian and Ugandan golfers converge at Kitante again for the East African Challenge.
That there is even yet more to come next month in the Uganda Ladies Open and next year's All Africa Challenge competition at the same venue, should make Kitante the place to be.
The enthusiasm is understandable. In a country where the golf calendar is loaded with medal play events, two weeks of almost non-stop stroke and match play are like a sudden burst of fresh air.
But while spectators bask in entertainment, the scoreboard has so far been a source of despair for our golfers.
But this better not surprise anyone. Ugandans had better realise that results could have actually been worse.
You can't expect much from a country that depends on casual weekend outings in the name of competition.
An army of Kenyan stars led by David Odhiambo deservedly commanded the spotlight relegating our top player Charles Yokwe to sixth position.
It was form that is largely explained by our neighbours' ever growing departure from the crippling medal play.
As someone put it, in Kenya, the enthusiasm with which stroke and match play is embraced is similar to Ugandan golf authorities' passion for nett scores.
But it's not only the vast exposure to the gross score game that has set our colleagues across the border in a class apart.
There is an element of seriousness among the Kenyans that would make any professional envious.
While Uganda's stars extended their prowess to the 19th hole (the bar) daily, the Kenyans, under the watchful eye of coach Charles Farrar, made the best of every ounce of rest after play.
It's however not too late for the people who run our golf to draw some lessons from the Kenyans.
They should not doubt that old saying that change is not a threat but a welcome challenge.
Another for Ugandan golfers to take note of is, while Kenya had Farrar as national coach, the local golfers fended for themselves on individual merit status.
Any team of more than two players really need a commander to plan strategies and when need for reorganisation arises when faltering, the leader adjusts.
Ends