Kenya’s golf hope tees up for LA28
By Samson Ateka, July 28, 2025Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) Chairman John Wangai argues that focusing on improving fundamental skills, playing regularly and analysing performance through the newly established Player Development Program (PDP) is a deliberate move to target stronger opponents, learn new strategies and practise consistently to enhance players’ skills and climb the global rankings.
The Equator Tour, recently started in Ruiru, is supported by six corporates, whose sponsorship will see players taken through a rigorous mental coaching process, a fitness programme with a nutritionist in mind and exposure to golf swing simulators.
“Why we did this is that for many years, we have taken our professionals into competitions without preparing them the best way possible, and therefore we have incorporated this into the support initiative of our Equator Tour,” Wangai explained.
To qualify for the Olympic golf tournament, players must be ranked within the top 60 of the Olympic Golf Rankings (OGR), which are derived from the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
Asked what it’ll take for a Kenyan to play in the Olympics, Wangai explained: “We signed a three-year deal with the corporates, and we are looking forward to the Equator Tour giving our players world ranking points. By the time we reach the Olympic year in 2028, we hope to have at least five of our pros ranked in the top 60. So that dream is still valid. In fact, we are dubbing the Equator Tour ‘The Road to Los Angeles 2028 Olympics’ because that is our goal at the end of the day.”
PGK recently launched a programme to foster professional golf by partnering with various corporate sponsors.
This initiative, which includes the Equator Tour, aims to connect Kenyan professionals with international events and potentially qualify them for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“Since we launched the corporate teams and held our first event in Ruiru, we started ranking the corporate teams based on how the players are performing. Now we have companies supporting the players, kitting them so that they can represent them in the best way possible,” Wangai said.
He added, “As of now, we have finalised with four companies and only two remain. This is a clear indication that the corporates are committed and would like their teams to perform well, by and large. There is Safaricom, NCBA, VISA, Diageo and Nation. We are trying to get even more, as our target is 10 corporates.”
Wangai is happy that now professional players in Kenya are better exposed through the PDP, with improved fitness and a better swing.
He asserts that this is a great opportunity for players, who are now more exposed and better prepared, which in turn means they will perform better.
“We signed a contract with the corporates so they provide caddy fees, transport, accommodation and other incidentals to help them play in tournaments. Over and above that, some are even being given golf bags,” Wangai said.
The number of events Kenyan pros play compared to visiting pros who come for the Kenya Open is worlds apart.
Wangai explained: “Between one Kenya Open and another, these visiting pros play a minimum of 30 events. For a Kenyan pro, tournaments are few and far between, and they can play a minimum of only three events. So that’s the first gap.”
To expose our pros further, Wangai continued, “Through the Equator Tour, we are looking to reciprocate with other global tours so that some of our members on the local tour can get the opportunity to play in international tours in other countries that are higher in ranking. We have written to the Asian Tour and also have the East Africa Swing, which is a gateway to the Sunshine Tour.”
“Because the EA Swing is connected to the Sunshine Tour, it means all the events carry world ranking points. After the first two events, we saw some of our players moving up the ladder in the world rankings, and I think this is a major boon to the players.”