NAIROBI, Kenya, April 15 – Ninety players will converge at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club for the 90th Tanahill Shield golf tournament through the Easter weekend.
The players will be drawn from nine golf clubs; Muthaiga, Sigona, Karen, Windsor, Mombasa, Limuru, Western, Railways and Royal in the round robin competition.
Speaking when launching this year’s event, Royal captain Karim Pisani said the tournament will have a competitive edge since teams will be fighting to avoid relegation.
“This tournament is acknowledged as the premier amateur golf event in the country and it’s usually very competitive.
“So to allow other teams like Kiambu and Vetlab to participate in future, the team that finishes last will be relegated to pave way for the next team that will be selected by the club’s committee members,” he explained.
“The course preparation is underway and it will be ready when the tournament kicks-off on Friday, we started working on the greens three months ago and with the help of the rain it’s in good condition to host the event,” Pisani added.
Title sponsor Coca-Cola injected Sh2.3m (USD 26,558.9) to this year’s event, Sh200, 000 (USD 2,309.5) up from last year.
“Coca-Cola entered a partnership with the Tanahill Golf tournament last year where we signed a three year deal worth Sh7m (USD 80,831.5) that will run until 2015. We hope the slight increase will have a great impact in the event.
“90 years is indeed a long time and to consistently attract and maintain first class standards that have made the event what it is today, is not an easy task,” Coca-Cola Marketing Manager Mona Karingi, said when unveiling the cheque.
Since its inception the tournament has accommodated nine teams with the host club committee inviting the club of their choice.
Muthaiga and Sigona Golf Club are the defending champions after tying in 2013.
