The inaugural NARO Equity Bank Golf Open will climax on Saturday, 13th November at Marylouise Simkins Memorial Golf Club, Namulonge and it will be capped with a subsidiary showpiece. However, professionals and amateurs will be in the mix on Thursday, 11th and Friday, 12th at the club’s par-71 nine-hole course.
The event was officially launched on Wednesday, 10th November in Namulonge and it was graced by sponsor representatives and officials from the club.
Namulonge Captain, Collins Bulafu says that everyone in the club delights in witnessing the first major tournament played at their home course and believes that it will be a turning point for the club.
“I want to assure you that from today onwards, Namulonge is not going to be the same,” Bulafu said at the tournament launch adding that the event will be held with SOPs in place.
“We’ve had an over subscription but we are going to limit the numbers. We’ll have a morning and afternoon session. We’ve changed format of play from medal to stableford,” Bulafu noted adding that on Sunday, 14th November it will be the Equity Social/Golf Day.
George Kato, Head of Retail Equity Bank says that their involvement in the tournament says a lot about their commitment towards sports and also how they relate with National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), a partner on board for the event.
“We have the passion to support sports, but to make it better, we encourage people to come and enjoy the game, play the game,” Kato said adding that they had a similar tournament in Fort Portal.
“Sports is healthy and we are out here to support our customers and Ugandan golf both in business and health,”noted adding that; “NARO researches in agriculture and as the bank, we are keen on agriculture, we are injecting a lot of money into agriculture.”
Namulonge Lady Captain, Charity Atuhaire and and Club Chairman Martin Nsubuga also graced the tournament launch and were upbeat.
26 professionals and 13 amateurs will tee-off proceedings on Thursday.The pro kitty is Shs6m. 85 subsidiary players will cap the competitive part of the tournament on Saturday before the Sunday social.
