Nairobi: Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) plans to introduce regional golf schools in all the six JGF regions across the country.
According to Kenya News Agency, the JGF President Vincent Mukiri stated that the game plan from 2025 has shifted, prompting the Foundation to broaden its focus beyond the national team.
"What we will then see in another one or two years, is a national team made up of members from across the regions and not just Nairobi as is the case right now," Mukiri explained. He further noted that Junior Golf Foundation tournaments are now averaging 140 players per event, reflecting a new surge of junior golfers taking up the sport.
Mukiri announced that the Foundation has established a dedicated pipeline to maintain consistent participation in tournaments, even as the national junior golf team remains in camp throughout the year and occasionally misses some events. In a press statement, he highlighted that the Foundation's top players are being trained to supply talent to the national team.
Moreover, Mukiri pointed out that the international arena is beginning to offer opportunities to junior players in the country, with plans underway to provide a structured path for players as they reach ages 18 and 21. "Where do they go to college for their golf, do they become pro golfers, or do they take up a career they love? The pathway is being refined continuously to ensure that no junior golfer gets lost," he emphasized.
The Foundation is also focusing on strengthening grassroots training in the regions, involving coaches and teachers in all areas. Mukiri elaborated, "We are looking at what has been done in training in two ways; first, we are requiring the coaches to start giving us objective reports that include the people they are coaching, the skill level they are at, and what the coaches think in terms of their development."
In addition, he mentioned that JGF is developing a method to measure the progress of junior players based on their grade and skill levels. In the recent tournament at Thika Sports Club, Peter Gathogo excelled in the boys 13-14 years category with a score of 77, while in the Girls 11-12 years category, Aria Dodhia emerged victorious with a level par 72. Randy Turi clinched the Girls 13-14 years category with a score of 81.