40 pros on course for scratch golf tour  

TANZANIA: ALL is set as NCBA Golf Series bring to Tanzania the first-ever scratch golf competition at Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club in the city today as a 3m/- cash prize awaits its overall winner.

The 18-hole competition will see amateur golfers with scratch handicap and professionals battle it out for the cash prize.

Iman Alfayo, one of the event’s organisers, told the ‘Daily News’ in Dar es Salaam yesterday that preparation has been finalised for today’s competition with over 40 pros and amateurs expected to tee off in the 18-hole battle.

“The bank has prepared hefty prizes and the winner will pocket 3m/- prize money,” he said.

This is the first scratch competition to be organised in the country since the golf governing body the Royal Golf Ancient Club (R&A) of Scotland amended the competition rule that among others allows scratch golfers to compete for a cash prize.

A scratch competition in golf refers to individuals who do not need to adjust their scores through the use of a handicap.

According to the new golf rule an amateur golfer may play in a competition as an amateur while competing for a cash prize above the prize limit, without losing their amateur status.

“We introduce scratch handicap competition as this suits the sponsors NCBA Bank new campaign ‘The numbers that matter’ as in golf every stroke counts and that’s why our scratch competition is open to any player with a course handicap 9 and below,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, Alfayo said besides the scratch competition,  over 140 amateur golfers have been registered for the Saturday NCBA Golf Series tee-off at the same course.

The top three golfers including two men and a lady winner will book a place for the grand finale to be held in Kenya later this year.

Alfayo said that NCBA Bank will foot all expenses for the winners during the Kenya finals which will also include series winners from Uganda and Kenya.

He said there will also be hefty prizes for the Dar es Salaam series winners including a return Rwanda air ticket and two-night accommodation at Sea Cliff Spa and Resort of Zanzibar.

The NCBA Golf Series not only aims to promote golf across the East African region but also strives to forge a stronger connection between NCBA Bank and its customers through their shared love for the game.