UGU to rate all golf courses in Uganda

GOLF

In a bid to improve playing conditions on the different courses in the country, the Uganda Golf Union will soon start giving ratings to all courses in the country.

The newly elected executive headed by union president Moses Matsiko has formed an ad-hoc committee to ensure this is implemented.

"We have formed an ad-hoc committee of highly skilled people headed by Level-3 R&A Rules official Edwin Tumusiime, and Gad Musasizi, who is also course developer and certified rater, as well as Collins Nuwagira who are going to work under the supervision of UGU secretary Anthony Agaba," said Matsiko.

The secretary will then make recommendations on what needs to be done on a particular course.

On courses such a Mbale, Masaka and Soroti that have been encroached on, Matsiko said they will have to do a lot of fact-finding about the right ownership of the land before they can help the clubs prefer legal action where necessary.

 "The rating does so many things because it improves the playing conditions and also informs us of what needs to be improved on at a particular course.

"So we will do a lot of technical support and recommendations through this course rating exercise, and if it wasn't for the coronavirus pandemic, we would now be done with Kihihi and Kabale," added Matsiko.

Nonetheless, he was happy to note that a number of the active courses had improved tremendously.

"Uganda Golf Club has improved a lot, Entebbe has tremendously changed and is one of the best, Palm Valley is being worked on, Tooro is looking good and the introduction of the Lake Victoria Serena means now we can host tour events.

"By the end of the year, Mehta will be a full 18-hole course. So the standards and playing conditions are improving and the membership is growing, and all this put together, we should see golf further growth in the near future," noted Matsiko.