TEN YEARS AND COUNTING FOR VIPINGO RIDGE
(Posted 07th March 2018)
It is already 10 years since the vision for a coast side golfing estate by a handful of forward-thinking entrepreneurs began to be realised.
The opening in 2008 of the Baobab Golf Course created by design guru and golf celebrity, David Jones, was a laid back affair held at the temporary ‘Sundowner Bar’ on the 11th hole. But it was a true celebration of what happens when inspired people are determined to make a dream come true.
Ten years on and Vipingo Ridge is today recognised as Kenya’s premier golfing estate and officially the number one course in Kenya, as well as the only PGA branded course in Africa.
What was once a 2,500 acre sisal estate has been turned into a world renowned tourist and golfing destination, as well as undoubtedly, the most upmarket and secure property development in Kenya.
The estate is surrounded by 3 metre high walls and is patrolled around the clock by highly trained security personnel. Aside from the 18 hole golf course with its challenging 72 par course does Vipingo Ridge incorporate multiple water features, an enchanting mango forest and has breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean on one side and the Chodari Hills on the other.
At the pinnacle of the estate is the stunning Moroccan-inspired Clubhouse, the central location of the development, where last weekend the owners and management are saying thank you to those who have sustained The Ridge over the last ten years.
A landmark ‘invitation-only’ golf tournament sponsored by Porsche, was being played, followed by a rooftop dinner for homeowners and Vipingo Ridge’s staunchest supporters.
Notably was Porsche offering a Cayenne E2 II Platinum Edition 4 wheel drive for a hole-in-one on the 8th green, one of the most exciting and valuable golf prizes ever offered anywhere in Africa.
As part of the celebrations for the 10th anniversary of Vipingo Ridge, over 80 players took to the PGA Baobab Golf Course last Saturday to play in the inaugural Vipingo Classic.
Perfect conditions prevailed with an overcast sky as the first players tee’d off at 8.00 am. Tension was high throughout the day on the 8th hole, as the players, who had travelled from as far afield as the UK, took that all important swing. Several came nail bitingly close, but the beautiful car remained at the 19th hole as the prize giving kicked off.
The winners of the golf day were:
Men – Aniz Popat with 38 points
Ladies – Terry Obath with 37 points
Vipingo Ridge member – Sheena Round-Turner with 34 points.
Congratulations to them for their accomplishment on the day.
Guest of Honour was Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Najib Balala who spoke of the country’s renewed confidence that boom times lay ahead for the tourism industry and for estates like Vipingo Ridge, a concept now copied at other locations in Kenya.
The 10 year anniversary also celebrated the fact that Vipingo Ridge has successfully developed an integrated golfing residential community which has proved to be a sound investment for all stakeholders and property owners. With construction of the long awaited dual carriageway from Malindi to Mombasa commencing this year, accessibility and demand for property at the Ridge is expected to increase significantly with an accompanying increase in property values.
The estate’s golf offering is backed up with additional sports and leisure facilities. Attractions including a nearby Beach Club on an award winning marine conservancy, a state-of-the-art conference centre, luxury holiday villa’s, a private airstrip with a daily scheduled flight to and from Nairobi and a helipad, all help to bring together a range of elements for a desirable lifestyle at an affordable price.
Vipingo Ridge’s employees come to 85% from surrounding communities and CSR programmes have been put in place to improve lives through community education, water and sanitation for a harmonious coexistance.
Conservation is a central part of The Ridge’s ethos. There is an abundance of wildlife cohabiting with the community on this large-scale development. The success of the part the staff and community have played in rehabilitating injured indigenous birds in the region for example, proves that it is possible to not only integrate with wildlife, but also help conserve it.
Over the years, numerous successful events have been hosted at Vipingo Ridge – weddings, conferences, team building events, golf tournaments and plenty of parties.
However, this formal 10th anniversary celebration last weekend aimed to be something even more special – a thank you to one of Africa’s foremost golfing estates’ staff who are the backbone of the operation, the resort’s business colleagues and the partners, including key media organizations, who worked with them and the people who had the faith to invest in the dream over the past 10 years.
For additional information click on the links below.
https://atcnews.org/2017/10/15/vipinigoridge-celebrates-its-10th-anniversary/
https://atcnews.org/2017/12/01/kenya-wins-four-world-golf-awards/
https://atcnews.org/2015/07/04/new-mombasa-north-coast-air-service-to-cut-hours-off-journey-time/
