Open: Serena Kigo Golf Course fires an eagle…

The 2019 Uganda Open Golf Championship has enjoyed the distinction as the first to be held at the world class course at the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa.
And true to form, the par-72 course has been picturesque and a glorious wonder for the ladies who played there last week in the Castle Lite sponsored event and the amateurs whose final day was yesterday.
Located on the banks of Lake Victoria, the course has impressed, dazzled and bamboozled golfers of all skill levels. But they have nothing but admiration for Uganda’s newest course. National team captain Joseph Cwinyaai was waxing lyrical about it after the Open.
“The Open here can’t be compared to any other in the country,” he remarked. “Uganda Golf Club (UGC) is good, Entebbe too is good but the Serena course is top, top quality.”
Lady golfer Wendy Angudeyo had her troubles playing it during the Open but had no complaints. “Despite my horrible rounds especially on the opening day, I must say the Kigo course is spectacular with very smoother, fast greens.”
Brian Toolit, who will be one of the Ugandan professionals competing starting Wednesday, said it was the country’s ‘only course’.
“UGC and Entebbe are non-standard courses but with Kigo, you can’t complain. “It is a good course to compare with any I have played on out of the country.”
Toolit said complaints about the wind around the course are misguided. “Wind is a factor you have to play in on any course anywhere in the world.”
However Toolit decried the cost of playing on the Serena course.
“Naturally it is not affordable for most players be it amateur and professional but that has got nothing to do with its magnificence.”
Professional golfers have been charged $130 as green fees for the Open while amateurs parted with Shs360,000 to play in the tournament. Toolit’s comments were echoed by fellow professional Deo Akope who called it ‘the best course in the region’ but wondered whether it would benefit the local game. “It is a high-end area but it won’t benefit local golf because not many can afford to play on it. The caddie fees and the green fees are too pricey and that means that most local, humble golfers are left out,” said UPGA captain Akope.