‘UPGRADED‘ KENYA GOLF OPEN RETURNS TO KAREN IN MARCH THIS YEAR
(Posted 27th January 2019)
The Kenya Open Golf Tournament, with prize money totalling Euro 1.1 million, equivalent to KShs 126 million, is now part of the European Tour. Top Golfers from all over the world will play it out at Karen Country Club between 14th and 17th of March for the biggest prize money ever in the entire East African region. Live international TV coverage on all the four tournament days will make the Kenya Open a great promotion for Kenya as a superb Golf Destination.
Tobs Cohen of Kenya Golf Safaris has developed a promotion around the Kenya Open to order to improve overseas interest for Kenya as a superb Golf Destination even more.
The “Watch and Play” Golf Package offers golfers globally the opportunity to watch the inaugural European Tour Event at Karen Country Club and tee off at Muthaiga, Limuru or Sigona Golf Clubs or play a round at Vet Lab Sports Club before and after the tournament. This attractive package cost around US $1000 per person and includes 5 nights in the new luxurious Trademark Hotel, a season ticket for entry to the tournament on all 4 days, tee times and all transfers.
Paul Carrigill, European Tour Tournament Director said: “We have national and international television this year live on all the four tournament days, that will make a massive difference and a great advert for Kenya. Kenya will be seen on the TV screen and the beautiful scenes here at the Karen Country Club will be passed around the world for everyone to see with the tournament being watched across the world by millions of viewers.”
He added: “The total prize money for this year’s tournament will be 126 million Kenya Shillings or 1.1 million Euros, a move expected to attract the interest of top golfers from around the world.”
Tobs’ Kenya Open “Watch & Play” Package is promoted globally to all 2750 members of the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO), on https://www.kenya-golf-safaris.com/kenyaopen, on Facebook, as well as through an email campaign to Golfers in Africa.
10 years ago, Kenya won IAGTO’s prestigious Award for the Best Undiscovered Golf Destination, while Tobs Kenya won last year’s Africa’s Best Golf Tour Operator Award. The Kenya Open as part of The European Tour is another recognition that Kenya is a true quality Golf Destination.
Tobs Cohen hopes – as does everyone else – that the Kenya Tourism Board capitalizes on this event and finally develops a five-year golf marketing plan, including a strategy and a budget. Kenya should be on the map as a world class Golf Tourism Destination, as big revenue for Kenya can be generated from the golf tourism market but has seen little action from the official marketeers similar to other promising niche tourism segments. Notably does Kenya host the entire region’s only PGA rated golf course, the Baobab Course at Vipingo Ridge – itself the venue of a Ladies Pro-Am tournament with leading players from the European Tour.
Tob said to ATCNews: “South Africa gets 100.000 golfing tourists per year, while Thailand, Spain and Portugal receive more than 750.000 golfing tourists each. Kenya has the potential to attract at least 50.000 golfers yearly, if marketed properly. In combination with the award winning Masai Mara, super white sand beaches, a friendly English-speaking population, excellent weather the whole year-round, Kenya can do so much more to get its share in this very lucrative niche of the tourism industry.”
IAGTO’s membership comprises 2753 accredited golf tour operators, golf resorts, hotels, golf courses, receptive operators, airlines, tourist boards, approved media and business partners in 106 countries including, at its core, 703 specialist golf tour operators in 65 countries.
