Golf enthusiasts are gearing up for an exhilarating season as the highly anticipated I&M Bank Katogo Golf Series makes a triumphant return, bringing with it a fresh wave of innovation and unique playing experiences.
The four-event series will tee off on March 9 at the Entebbe Club before taking a two-month break for the second round, which is scheduled for June 29. The penultimate round will take center stage on September 28, the same month I&M Bank will mark its golden anniversary. The series will climax on December 7 to complete the four rounds.
The launch event, held on Thursday at the I&M Bank Head Office at Kingdom Kampala, was a spectacle of anticipation as organizers unveiled innovative play formats set to redefine the local golfing landscape.
The tournament’s first round adopts the ‘In Regulation’ format, emphasizing individual play with a requirement to land on the green in regulation. A missed regulation results in a penalty stroke, but scoring a par or better on the hole negates the penalty. Transitioning to the second round, the ‘Tee for Me’ format transforms the event into a pairs’ competition. Both players tee off at each hole, switching balls for the second shot. The net score determines the team score, with each pair designating six holes for individual play, counting the worse net score.
Round three introduces the challenging ‘Russian Chicago Stableford’ pairs event. Players accumulate individual points per hole, multiplying them for the team score. The final round’s ‘Double Bogey Danger’ format spices things up as players face consequences for scoring a double bogey or worse. Each instance leads to the decommissioning of a club, only restored with a subsequent par.
The new Katogo captain, Elly Kibuuka, told the media that they expect huge turnouts throughout the series now that all the events are open to golfers from various clubs and not by invitation.
“The Katogo Series is an open and accountable product. We believe that having all these partners on board reflects how well the series has been run. We thank the sponsors for believing in us,” Kibuuka said, adding that with the assurance of the sponsors and partners, golfers should expect a good experience both on the greens and at the 19th hole.
I&M Bank, known for its commitment to excellence and creativity, has injected a new level of excitement into the upcoming golf series. They unveiled a UGX 490 Million cheque for this year’s series.
“This tournament has grown rapidly, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and I think that’s what Katogo is all about. The exciting news is that we are involved again and committed to this series for the next three years,” I&M Bank Uganda CEO Robin Bairstow, who attended last season’s finale, said, adding that; “I’m grateful for the warm welcome I’ve received from the Katogo team, and they have inspired me to dust off my clubs, so see you on the 9th.”
I&M Bank Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs Annette Nakiyaga has urged all eligible golfers to participate in the series, citing a healthy lifestyle, competition, and credible partnerships. “There are a lot of prizes to win from different sponsors on top of a variety of business opportunities. Golf isn’t just a wonderful way to make friends and keep fit; building business relationships and closing sales on the golf course is now common practice,” she said.
Having built a reputation that has seen it earn recognition on the Uganda Golf Union calendar, the objective is to transform the I&M Bank Katogo Golf Series into a top regional tournament, attracting the best golf talents while promoting the sport.
The series is also boosted by its partners, including RwandAir, who will provide air tickets worth UGX 30 million to winners, Mitsubishi Motors, which has staked an Xpander as a hole-in-one prize, GA Insurance, who are the insurers of the hole-in-one prize, Johnnie Walker, who is the drinks partner, Fenon Events, and Goldman, who will enhance the 19th hole experience.
As the series unfolds, golf enthusiasts can expect to witness skillful maneuvers, strategic brilliance, and, most importantly, a celebration of the sport’s evolution. The I&M Bank Katogo Golf Series has truly returned with innovative play, promising an extraordinary season that will leave a lasting impact on the golfing community.
