McTim

Uganda's newest course (in the making)

2009-09-23T20:53:00.003+02:00

While it may not have looked like much in June 2009, the recent purchase of this course in the offing by the Serena folks ensures that this will be a very nice resort some day.

How uptight can you be: Why I refuse to join UGC

2009-01-16T06:25:00.003+02:00

Deo Akope wins the prize for Uganda's most uptight golfer!

We thought we would start the new year off right with a round in Kampala. We underestimated the stupidity of the rules that may or may not be enforced at the Golf Club in Kampala.

Four of us showed up for a 9:30 round, but were met by a randomly enforced "dress code". So poor Steve, who is used to playing in jeans and a t-shirt in Fort Portal had to buy a shirt from the pro shop AND borrow a pair of 3/4 length trousers from the locker room attendant. "Appropriately attired" (or so we thought, we teed off and played 3 holes before we were confronted by the Assistant Teaching Pro who had watched us come down #3 from the driving range.

I imagine we insulted his notion of the "etiquette of golf", as we play what we call "Fort Portal Rules", a more relaxed version the R&As rulebook. What we do is play "ready golf", where you can hit when you are ready, as long as another player isn't about to hit. This speeds up the game tremendously, something that is desperately needed at UGC.

His ultimate complaint was that Steve, whose borrowed pants had an elastic waistband had no fly on his trousers, and thus had to be "discontinued"!! Andy walked off the course in sympathy, while Micki and I carried on for another few holes until it was clear that our disgust at this episode had ruined our round.

This has to be the most randomly enforced, arbitrary rule in the history of golf. The notion of what is "proper" is so deeply ingrained at the UGC, that they seemingly would rather focus on what one wears on the course instead of the condition of the golf course itself (shite) or good corporate governance (large sums of money regularly go missing from the clubs coffers).

Indeed, the notice boards at this course are filled with minutiae regarding what one can and can't do at this club. However, there is no dress code posted as there is supposed to be on the boards.

Amongst other stupid rules found in the "Uganda Golf Club Rules and Regulations" are:

"It is an offense to induce any member of staff to leave the services of the Club"

"Members, or guests are not allowed to sit in the Captains Chair or ring the Captains bell"

The strangest rule is that you "must have a bona fide handicap" in order to play, yet is seemingly impossible to get a "bona fide handicap", since the handicapper is rarely around, and when he does give a handicap, he seems to pick a number at random.

I've been playing there as a guest for 4 years, played in Club Nites (and even won some prizes) yet have been unable to get a "bona fide handicap". Several members I have spoken to have also been unable to get one of these elusive identifiers.

From my discussion with lapsed and prospective members, it seems to me that more folks would join the club and play more often if the club had reasonable and imartially enforced rules.

Our Long National Nightmare is Over Invitational and Family Picnic

2008-11-10T16:19:00.007+02:00

To celebrate Billy's birthday, and the victory of Hope over Despair, we decided to make our monthly round a family affair.

Namulonge is a perfect place for a family outing, acres of space, security, nice people...and a golf course (of sorts), what's not to like!

The fairways were long after a lot of rain and the usual " the tractor is not yet fixed". the green were as bumpy and as unpredictable as always.

Big thanks to uncle Gary for his driving and BBQ skills

Ugandan Independence Day Dutch vs. English speakers Entebbe Invitational

2008-10-15T19:32:00.000+02:00

Ugandan public holidays are both the best and worst days to play. Usually the big clubs will have a competition, so play is slow, on the other hand, there is no traffic, and one can drive to golf in a reasonable time. The solution to the conundrum is to either play early OR go to a smaller course. (Lugazi or Namulonge). In mid-October we tried the early route with mixed success.

5 of us met up and played Entebbe at 0900 in 2 groups, the Dutch crew included Billy (an Englishman who lived in Belgium for 10 years, McTim, and American with 7 years in Amserdam, and Olav, one of the flower growers from Wagagai Farm. Simon and Andy were the English team, but they went off the back side, and by the time they got to the front nine, the pace of play was glacial, so they retired to the 19th hole early.

The cloggies slogged it out and finished (well almost, as we skipped a hole and a half, dropping our balls 120 yds from the pin on 18 and turning it into a par 3). It was the only hole on the course where we all managed a par!

Entebbe has the best fish n chips of any course in Uganda, altho, now that I think about it, it maybe the only course where you can get fish n chips, but it's still quite good, and good value.

1st Annual Barack Obama East African Eid ul-Fitr Match Play Invitational

2008-10-01T03:48:00.007+02:00

I'd forgotten how difficult the Mehta Club course is for those who have never played it before. I took 7 unsuspecting high handicappers to Lugazi yesterday for the "1st Annual Barack Obama East African Eid ul-Fitr Match Play Invitational" and, well unsurprisingly, I won the Obama for President t-shirt. To be honest, I left the prize at home, so didn't tell them about it, as I didn't want to disapoint them. I'll give it away next time (when we play Entebbe, hoepfully ont the 9th of October, our next public holiday). The guys (and Clare) couldn't help but pull out their drivers on the tees, and of course found that Lugazi will bite you if you challenge it. Lot's of time spent looking for lost balls in woods/swamp/long grass. Here are some of the worst offenders ;-)

Personally, I played a very conservative course management round, irons off the tees, and got 10 pars and a birdie, with only one double for an 81 (I think). The wheels came off a bit on the last four holes for me and my team, and our string of 5 straight pars gave way to 4 bogeys.

Good thing we played Criers n Whingers or the score would have been truly astronomical. We played morning and afternon matches a la Ryder Cup, with Clare and I dominating Simon and Aubrey 4 and 3, while Steve n Billy beat Micky and Andy 2 and 1 in the morning Fourball.

After a huge Indian lunch, We played threesome BestBall against each other, and I believe that Micky, Billy and I (team score 39) crushed Aubrey, Simon and Steve. A tropical downpour put paid to adding up the scores, as we rushed to pay the caddies and get in the cars before the storm broke (some made it and some did not).

The wettest ones found their bladders stimulated by the sound of so much falling water, so we made the Collne Hotel in Mukono our 19th hole. When we got tback to the Game, we found Steve's car had been clamped, but got that sorted easily.

All in all a fine day of golf, the Ndali Lodge crew were amazed to find what a little gem Lugazi is. They claimed that the Toro Club is just as hilly, but I remain skepitcal. Next time. I hope to get them to play a Shambles at Entebbe. We'll try and pull in the Entebbe Dutch flower crowd for this one.

We also need to investigate Ranch on the Lake, as they appear to have a very ambitious plan! This would be ideal for a weekend round, as we could all take the kids and leave them poolside.

Namulonge Redux

2008-09-18T10:00:00.002+02:00

During Golf Around Uganda, I played Toro Club with Simon, Bill Reynell, Andy Roberts, Aubrey Price and met Clare Murumba both involved in the Uganda Golf Initiative, a group I'm hoping to help do more outreach with to caddies/youth around UG.

The Kampala-ites in that group are shaping up to be my new weekly match.

Our first game, (Billy, Simon and I) was a hilarious return trip to Namulonge, where we played a mix of Skins/Bingo, Bango Bongo and Match Play, as it was Ryder Cup week.

Next week, we'll go to Lugazi, where Andy, Clare, Aubrey and hopefully new man about town Micky will join Simon Billy and I for a full round and Indian lunch. I'm hoping to convince them to play Bag Raid !!

Virtual Golf Around Uganda

2008-08-21T14:23:00.007+02:00

In order to share part of my experience during Golf Around Uganda: The UG Golf Quest 2008, I have created a virtual tour of golf (and a few other non-golf places) in Uganda which can be played in GoogleEarth. In order to view this tour, you will need to have Google Earth (or it's ilk) installed. If you are in Uganda, please take the file from here. If in another country, this link will be faster.

Enjoy!

Uganda golf courses; a subjective rating

2008-08-01T11:17:00.004+02:00

There are 4 natural "tiers" that golf courses in Uganda fall into. The tiers and the clubs that belong to them (alphabetically) are:

BIRDIES

Mehta Club
UGC

PARS

Entebbe
Jinja
Kabale
Kinyara
Mary Louis Simkins
Toro Club
West Nile Club

BOGEYS

Mbarara
Tororo

DOUBLE BOGEYS

Kasese
Lira
Mbale

Ranking them in numerical order is more difficult, and of course highly subjective. My rankings with reasons for placement:

UGC - overall condition, best manicure, attention to detail
Mehta Club - speed of greens, beautiful park, best food
Entebbe Club - difficulty, length, views, termite damage
Jinja Club - unique location, views, well maintained, except for greeens
Toro Club - nice views, parklike setting, longest history, greens bumpy
Kinyara Senior Staff Club - fab facilities, best pool, awful to putt
Kabale Sports Club - wildlife, views, good course, greens are shite
MLSMGC: Namulonge - flora, creative use of space, shaggy greens
West Nile Club - putting surfaces awful, but a very nice loop
Tororo Club - lack of maintenance, smelliest bog
Mbarara Sports Club - needs a good thrashing
Kalembe Mines Golf Club - needs several good thrashings
Mbale Sports Club - maize planted on course, zero maintenance
Lira Golf Club - it's a cow pasture/school/taxi stage/football stadium

Past and Future Golf Course

2008-08-01T10:07:00.006+02:00

In addition to the places I played during "Golf Around Uganda", There are some former courses, most notably Gulu and Soroti, where housing development has taken precedence over golf, and the courses have been lost.

In Masindi (right), a former colonial course is being revived, although will now be only half its former size. A group of dedicated golfers has gained title to the land, but no design or major funding yet. With Kinyara so close, it will be difficult to sustain another course in the area.

Bulago Island folks had grand plans for a 18 hole championship course there, but realism scaled it back to a pitch 'n putt course. They never would have gotten the traffic to make it pay.

There once was a course between Entebbe and Kampala, somewhere east of Entebbe Road. The signs for it have gone, and even when they were up, the ex-course was impossible to find.

However, a new course is being built on the west side of Entebbe Road by the Akright housing development company. Allegedly it won't be a Uganda Golf Union club, but a resort course. On my way back from Entebbe, I did find evidence of course building (left) at Akright, although not a great deal, and it looks like it will be years before it's ready!

If you are a parent of the International School of Uganda, there is a small golf instruction area near the main gate, wedge work is all you can do here, but it's what I need to do most, so it works for me.

Entebbe Club

2008-07-31T19:11:00.004+02:00

It's the longest course in Uganda, beating UGC by 350 yards. It has 2 very long par 3's, the longest par 4 in UG, and 5 par 5's. Play in the cool of the morning and bring water....lots of it.

Water is a main attraction here, although there is none on the course itself, Lake Victoria is just a short par four away, and you get beautiful views from many of the holes (bad light today, so maybe a picture next week). In addition, you play along the Rhino enclosure and near the chimp island of the Zoo, so that's a bonus, as is the view of State House and a lovely old chapel and the cricket oval, with its art-deco pavilion lies in the middle of the course. You get the occasional jet fighter screaming overhead as well. All in all a busy visual golf experience.

It's got some very cute tee markers, the holes are named after club members

as usual, clicking on the small image gets you a large one

I've played Entebbe many times, even won a prize at a tournament last month, but never looked at it with a critical course design eye before. Entebbe is a monster, long, heavily bunkered and full of mature trees. Despite the dry conditions (I hit a 390 yard drive today!!!, well 290, with 100 yds of roll) the course still plays long. On 17, the longest par four, I hit a very good driver and a well struck 3 wood, and wasn't quite pin high. I even had to hit fairway woods on 2 of the par 3's!

Besides length Entebbe also defends its honor with dozens of bunkers in the fairways, rough and around the greens. They are well raked now, but it's heavy lake sand, not the light fluffy stuff, which makes for a harder sand save, especially if you try to "pick it clean". I'm a decent bunker player, and I was in the same bunker on 2 different occasions ON THE SAME HOLE today. Thank God it wasn't this one (left).

The Main challenge however is the trees and the high grass that grows around them in the rough. New stands of pine have been liberally planted around the course, which are a real menace to play out of. It's the mature trees that are the real obstacle though, forcing you to shape your shot around them or avoid them altogether. Besides the usual driving into a gap, several of the par 3's holes here force you to hit OVER very tall (and wide) trees or stands of trees .

If you go to Entebbe, bring plenty of ammo, you WILL lose balls here, and you WILL spend a lot of time looking for them. I guess that's part of what makes it so tiring. It's a real slog, but they do have a cart they will rent you for 30k UGX, they seem amenable to negotiate this price ;-)

The clubhouse is large, has a limited, though very good menu and a well stocked "pro shop". Snooker has it's own room (which seems par for Uganda), which it seems to be sharing with the flags for some reason. Perhaps they were lonely on the course?!

There are plenty of caddies here, but not early in the weekday mornings. Caddy Day is Monday, and caddy fees are 4/6k for Junior/Senior caddies. There are 5 caddies who own their own clubs (hand me downs), and all the caddies share them. Green fees are 4k if you are a UGU club member, 30k for non members. Clubnite is Fridays, and it's 5k (going up to 8k soon). I like Entebbe, it's a laid back, never busy and has a lovely setting. I think the termite damage to the greens may be the only thing that keeps it out of the top echelon of Uganda courses.

Uganda Golf Club: Kitante, Kampala

2008-07-28T19:00:00.007+02:00

This course, at Kitante in Kampala, is widely regarded as the best course in Uganda, and at the moment, it certainly is! Hosting the Interregional tournament in August 2008 means that the course is in fantastic shape in July.

A great deal of effort has been put into the course and clubhouse facilities over the last few years, and it really shows. The greens are fast and true, the tee boxes are shaved, bunkers raked, rough mowed to a reasonable level, (they are punitive normally) and other facilities have been upgraded.

The showers for example, are the best anywhere in Uganda, unlimited hot water, seats to rest on and even monogrammed towels!

The wealth concentrated in Kampala allows the club to charge 2 million UGX as a joining fee, and membership is 1 million per year. Those fees plus some corporate sponsorship allow the club to maintain the course and clubhouse to a very high standard. The downside of course, is having billboards splashed all over the course, and clubhouse:

They do the basics right, things like built in sprinklers, and proper tee boxes

but the attention to detail is also well done, with things like numbered flags and tee markers with benches

I have seen the course in drier conditions, but never in such peak shape, the greens are immaculate (below left) and holding, even in the dry conditions. You get extra roll when it's dry, I hit driver and then just a 5 iron into the downhill par 5 8th (below right), normally a driver/5 wood/wedge hole for me.

What makes this course such a thorough examination of your golf game is the layout in a valley, which gives lots of hilly lies and slopes to hit towards for a favorable bounce. Kitante Creek runs through many of the holes, and it's possible to hit into the water twice on several of the holes (I have done it many times). The front nine is easy compared to the back side, which is much steeper and fatigue enters into the equation at about the 12th hole, which I think is the signature hole on this course.

12 (right) is a longish par 4, with trees left and right off the tee, O.B. right, swampy hazard left, Kitante Creek running diagonally right to left across the hole, and a large Mango tree in the fairway. The hole plays more like a par 5, as a short drive makes you think about laying up, or aiming a long iron/fairway wood at the big lipped bunker short and right of the green.

If you carry the bunker (left) and land in the 5 meters or so just past it (or aim at the pin, and risk going in the water), you will have a birdie putt on a green that slopes right to left and back to front.I parred this hole as part of "Golf Around Uganda: UG Golf Quest 2008", thats only the second time in 3 years I have gotten a par. There is no place to miss here, as over the green is very bushy, guaranteeing a lost ball. Four is an excellent number here, and IMO is not the hardest hole on the course (that's #15 in my book).

This is urban golf, with some interesting cityscape views, including my favorite of the Kibuli mosque, and Garden City, which is O.B. on two holes.

I would join this club in a heartbeat, if they had a pool for my kid. Another downside is the amount of play that Kampala gets. Weekends a round of golf takes ~6 hours, far too long IMHO, slow play on the part of the members is also part of the problem. Fridays are often reserved for corporate tournaments, so the course is closed often.

Caddies are "professional", they have a dress code (of sorts), set fees (6k, but give them 10), and are alloted by a Caddie Master, unless you have a favorite, then you can specify who you'd like. Ask for Henry, if he is not there, Pius or Nelson are also good.

Monday is Caddie Day, they play for free, but only have one set for dozens of guys. The caddies are, as usual, generally better players than the members. There are one or two tournaments for caddies annually, some have turned pro, but very few have sponsorship to do so. Caddies aren't allowed to play in some tournaments, in many cases, they are treated as second class citizens, both in person and as a class.

UGC has lots of good young players, I see groups of youth practising on occasion, but do not know the details of the Youth Program. I played earlier this summer with a 14 year old girl who kicked my butt!

Mary Louise Simkins Memorial Golf Course: Namulonge

2008-07-26T17:56:00.004+02:00

Namulonge is a private course 32 km from Kampala. It's in fantastic shape (except for the greens, which are UG standard shaggy). The layout is set in the midst of the National Agricultural Crops Research Institute, 12km from Gyaza. M.L. Simkins was a USAID spouse, living on the grounds and she was the driving force behind either it's rejuvenation or building, depending on who you ask. I had always heard it was built in colonial times, but my caddie told me that Mrs. Simkins did it.

It's not a club as such, but a private course where green fees are 5k, and caddie fees are 3k per nine. Ball boys get 2k per nine, but will try you on for 3. No special day for the caddies, but they play free whenever they can, which is whenever balls and clubs come their way.The course is available for rental, as are the bungalows surrounding it. Both Sheraton and DFCU have organised tourneys here in the past, but there are none scheduled this year. (click pictures to see full image)

There are two swimming pools on the grounds, neither of them operational, but I'm sure that Mrs. Simkins had them well run. There is an eco-tourism resort 6km away, but also guest houses on the grounds which rent for 15k per night (bring your own food). Ask at the administrator's office (above right).

The course itself is lovely, and well tended, as one would expect from agriculturalists. There are mature Kyatuns, Mavula and Mango trees, as well as some flowering shrubs. Allegedly greens are cut on Fridays, but I played on a Saturday and they were still too long. Fairways are in immaculate shape however.

The challenges here are tight driving holes, and smallish greens, it's a shortish course, so one has to think your way around, which is difficult for a "grip it and rip it" power hitter like me.

The signature hole here is #4, a short par four (above right) that would be easily drivable IF there wasn't a HUUUGE tree directly in front of the tee box that forces you to play a dogleg left. You CAN try to punch low iron thru the trees or hit a lofted wood over the trees, but the risk is high, and reward unlikely.

All in all, a lovely course that is easily reachable from KLA, is great value for money and deserves much more play than it gets. This is especially true now that the roughest parts of the murram road to the course is being fixed.

Lira Golf Club

2008-07-25T13:02:00.001+02:00

To call this place a golf course is extremely generous, although once it was a colonial course, it now has 9 "holes". Where once stood a clubhouse, complete with swimming pool, there is now trees in the pool and remnants of a foundation. Apparently the club was a victim of a battle between the Obote and Okello forces, as it is adjacent to the barracks. (click on pictures for larger image)

Golf in Lira has been victimized by war and poverty as has much of Northern Uganda. There are ~30 members, some who live in Kampala, and are not active at all. CPAR built on part of the course, but the club has come to an amicable agreement with them to use part of the building as a clubhouse for events. Grazing and teaching school are other more common activities on this land these days, but golf is played, although not regularly.

My sense is that without active support from the corporate community in Lira, the course will continue to struggle. Here are shots of the first tee and green.

If you want to play, contact the Captain of the club, Okai Wilson (0782326268), an extremely helpful man, and he will arrange caddies and a tour. Mr. Wilson and others try to teach the kids, how to play and caddie, but has no kit for them to use.

Membership is 60k per year, green fees are 5k, membership is 60k per year. At the moment, members are being asked for additional donations for diesel and tractor hire. You can see why in this photo:

Thrashing is done every 3 months allegedly, but it looks like longer than that to me. Greens are temporarily sand "browns" that you don't putt on, you just add 2 and pick up your ball. The second hole has an actual hole tho, so you can putt out there.
The original greens are still there, but are barren, in need of seed, fertiliser and care.

A football stadium, complete with corrugated roofing fence has been built on a par four, so that you have to hit over (or into) the "stadium", threading the needle between the two trees. I hit a monster draw into the gap, amongst cries of "playah" and "U de Man!" from the bodaboda cyclists who formed my gallery for that hole. I was pin high in one, chipped on and picked my ball and par at the same time. This is signature golf at it's most absurd, a unique hole, to say the least.

The UN is once again feeding people in Lira, due to last year's floods, but lots o folks have bikes here, and they cost 150k each, so there is some economic activity going on. The road to Lira is shocking, all the more reason to fit two truckloads of stuff onto one truck!

West Nile Golf Club: Arua

2008-07-24T17:39:00.000+02:00

What a joy this course is, lovely park like setting, well maintained fairways offering great lies and very friendly people. The road from MFNP to Arua is beautiful, not a single pothole and spectacular views of savanna and mountains all the way.

The challenges here are the shaggy greens (as usual), and some tight driving windows. Despite this, McTim carded a 3 over par 38, on a soggy course he had never seen before. he was well chuffed!
Once you get past the trees of the tees, the fairways are quite generous:

The club itself, started in the mid 1950's, is healthy and active, with ~120 members, of whom ~30 play. The course gets half a dozen rounds per weekday, 2 to 3 times that on weekends. Caddies are students, who are allowed to play weekends and holidays when not in school, The club got 29 sets of clubs from the R & A for the kids. I can't help but think that they can only use a few of these at a time, and that Kasese, Tororo, Lira and Mbale could use the balance of the kit for their kids.

The clubhouse is interesting in that it is part of the ground floor of the NSSF building in Arua. The club did a deal with NSSF so that they would build the building, the club gets to use part of it, and after 24 years, the ownership reverts to the club (for a hotel I gather).

The club plays a monthly mug of sorts, and have in the past hosted the Nile Open every year. There are 3 caddie tourneys every year, and former caddies pay 30k per year to join instead of 120k. All in all, the beginnings of a solid, youth/caddie program.

As in many places, the colonial era golf course is reduced in size, as the municipality that owns the land felt that too much land was given over to golf. They were probably correct, given the limited resources of most clubs to maintain 18 holes. I would rather 9 well maintained holes than 18 in an overgrown cow pasture.
The course is lush at the moment, with the tee boxes and bunkers overgrown, despite the fantastic fairways, preferred lies are in play.

A club member, Emmy gave me lots of information, and has played every course in Uganda in the year 2006 (while I am doing it in a month).

Since Arua is near the DRC and Sudan, it was a bit dodgy, but in fact, it is safe as houses, even has some first class accommodation.

Murchison Falls; the Ultimate Water Hazard

2008-07-24T07:24:00.004+02:00

While at the top of MF, I hit some old balls over the falls, to this "island green". I designed a 3 holer in my head. Since the footbridge has long since been swept away, this course will remain a thought experiment, but what a hole this would be!

4 courses in 4 days seemed a bit rushed, so I gave myself a treat, and overnighted at Paraa Lodge in Murchison Falls National Park.

I am very glad I did, as the place is gorgeous, and full of beasties, including a herd of 37 Tembo at the ferry to Paraa. Seeing this many elephants in one place is unusual at MFNP.

In addition, there are loads of birds, baboons, hippos (this one charged a stupid girl who still has no idea how close she came to being killed), giraffe, antelope of all sorts, warthogs, monkeys, sausage trees and a variety of other lovely things to see and do. (click on small pix to see larger versions).

Elephants come to the swimming pool at Paraa Lodge to drink:

game drives bring you face to face with these majestic animals.

This has got to be the best park in Uganda, the boat trip to the base of these incredible falls, where the Nile rages through a 10 foot defile, is a must.

Kinyara: The sweetest course in Uganda

2008-07-22T23:03:00.000+02:00

A beautiful place set amongst the cane, Kinyara is an extremely difficult course. The greens here are tiny, probably the smallest I have ever played on, and in dire need of a roller/cutter (as is the case with all the greens in UG, except the UGC in Kampala). O.B. is a danger on many holes as well. The first 2 holes are wide open, but the next 7 are set in a spectacular, undulating, plantation of trees.

The facilities are the nicest feature of this club, gym, perfectly clean swimming pool, huge verandah, BBQ pit, bar, pool table, darts, bar, tennis courts, poolside bandas, etc.

It's very much a "country club", subsidized by the Kinyara Sugar Works (as it's also the Senior Staff Club for the company).

The course design was done by Eric Anderson, also the designer of the Lugazi course.

In addition, this club is perhaps the most hospitable in Uganda, proud of what they have built and keen to show it off. Green fees are a minimal 2k per round, with 2k for the caddies (plus a soda). Membership is 60k per year, (much cheaper if you live and work there). If you want to play, arrange this before hand with the Club Captain, Mr. Duncan Were. The recent sale of the club to a group of Indians may bring cost cutting measures to the Senior Staff Club, but if they want to keep up with Mehta (Lugazi), they need to keep things as they are. They have a youth program, whereby the caddies become members when they reach adulthood. IIRC, they also have clubs from the R& A for the kids.

The long straight rows of planted gum trees provide a world of hurt, but to be fair, the fairways are quite generous, but from some of the tee boxes, the trees are intimidating. I hit the ball very well here, but couldn't figure out the lush greens. lots of bump n run here, as the greens are hard under the new growth, despite it being fairly wet.

The signature hole here is #7, a very short par 3 over a swamp (smelly sewer drains into it). It's just a wedge for me, but the swamp and a long bunker with a steep lip is visually intimidating off the tee.

On the whole, people here are better dressed, healthier looking and seemingly better off than the staff at Lugazi (I'll be buying Kinyara sugar from now on), and they all ride bicycles to and from work, in this, it reminded me of Holland! Club members were quite unfazed when I pointed out this huge fire, a controlled burn of the cane:

Lake Bunyoni

2008-07-20T09:48:00.005+02:00

If in Kabale, Lake Bunyoni is THE place to stay, despite a number of good accommodation options within walking distance of the golf course.

I stayed at a cozy little place, Crater Bay Cottages, directly across the bay (a 5 iron) from Bunyoni overland Camp.

The only completely crocodile, bilharzia and hippo free lake in Uganda, I actually swam in this freezing water.

I can see a gorgeous golf course here, with shots over bays, island greens, canoes as golf carts, etc.

While it was hazy during my stay, and not great for photography, the terraces of Kigezi District are beautiful, not to be missed!

Queen Elizabeth National Park

2008-07-20T08:12:00.002+02:00

QENP is a must visit if you are in Southwestern Uganda, the crater lakes, ease of game viewing and beautiful lodges are all easily seen in a day. I entered at the Queen's Gate, with this pavilion and a cyber cafe run by Conservation Through Public Health, an excellent NGO.

After a drive on a rough track through a series of crater lakes:

ones gets to Mweya Lodge:

Where you can do some game driving, but as there are warthogs, mongoose, tembo and birds at the lodge, game drives are hardly needed.

The concessionaire's of this lodge have proposed building a golf course on the Mweya peninsula;

They already have a cart, the first seen on "UG GolfQuest2008, GolfAroundUganda"

As it's elephant/lion habitat, I think the proposed location is a non-starter. However, since the UWA HQ is leaving Mweya soon for a spot close to Katwe, the land that houses the UWA will be available for a golf course.

From Mweya, the launch trip is good value and let's you see birds:

hundreds of Nile Paarden:

Waterbucks and other ungulates (thousands of buffalo)

Crocs

and elephants;

Kabale Golf Club

2008-07-18T17:39:00.006+02:00

Lovely course in Kabale, close to Bunyoni, making it a natural golf destination with the lake and gorilla trekking nearby.

Lots of bunkers, trees and roads on this course, much harder than it looks. One of those 9 holers that you want to go round twice. As an added bonus, it has lovely birds, at least two nesting pairs of Crested Cranes.

The clubhouse itself was built in the 30s, is very small but has the usual darts, pool and a bar. The club has ~40 members, hosts Hot Loaf and Crane Bank tourneys every year as well as a monthly mug. Monday is caddie day, but there are no clubs for the caddies to use. Joining costs 20k to apply and 100k per year. Greens fees were 5k, and caddie fees negotiable 5 for 18 holes seems to be the norm.

The course is in good shape, lush but maintained. There are many roads and crossroads to play over, but these are not hazards. The hazards here are trees and bunkers. Since there is no water, trees were planted to make the player hit narrow windows between them.

There are several of these "tight squeezes", most notably on #'s 1 and 9. No water, so trees were planted to make one shape their shots. You are actually supposed to drive over the small tree on the left, but under the large tree just off the tee box in the below photo of #1.

#9 is a very scary uphill 400 yard par 4. Here is the view looking back from the green, this has got to be the tightest driving hole I've ever seen

Holes 6;

and the tight 9 are all lovely, each of them could be the signature hole, but my favorite is 7, a long uphill par four that plays like a double dogleg par 5 on the back side.

This course is NOT easy at all, but it is a fair test of your game, especially your short game, as the greens don't hold in the dry season, despite their luxuriant growth. It's one of those 9 holers where you actually DO want to play the full 18. A cute feature is that mid-round, golfers are encouraged to buy tees and gloves at the White Horse Inn adjacent to the third green.

Would absolutely play this course again!

Mbarara Sports Club

2008-07-17T23:30:00.005+02:00

The Mbarara Sports Club is not what one would call a thriving Golf Club, but it does gets a few rounds of play per day, some maintenance and has squash, tennis, darts, etc. It's got the usual rundown clubhouse with the prize for the smelliest urinal of any club in Uganda.

It's a 9 hole layout that you play twice, caddie fees 5k (mzungu price) and greens fees 3k. With only about 50 members (30 handicapped), so there is no army of caddies waiting for you to show up, so I had John the tractor driver show me around. It being the dry season, the greens were fast and not holding. Lots of trees are being planted in the middle of the course (John said 1000, but that's hard to believe). Tee boxes are bare, but the grass is green(ish) and gives decent lies.

your caddie will carry a flag, but he has no right to play the course (no caddie day), and joining would cost 100k UGX and 15k per month. They have a monthly mug and 2 tourneys per year.

There is a nice shade tree where you make the turn tho:

and admire the mural of a famous Mbararan golfer:

I think the signature hole, here is #8/17, a short, downhill par 4, which has OB surrounding the green as well a bunker with a big lip short/right, and rough on the right and left.

#5/14 is an intersting, but brutal par 3 (on the back side) where you have two large trees that block your shot to the green.

I guess one is supposed to hit a high ball over the trees, as threading this needle seems unlikely:

As is usual in African golf, one gets a free drop from termite mounds:

Mbarara course seems very much like the Tororo course, dry, flat and in need of TLC, not a golf destination in itself, but worth playing 9 if you are passing through.

Kalembe Mines Golf Club, Kasese

2008-07-17T18:21:00.000+02:00

Kalembe Mines Golf Club, Kasese

This course actually HAS 18 holes, but unfortunately very few of them are what they call "playable". There are 9 holes open now, but this course is much like Mbale, but it hasn't been given over to maize just yet.

The clubhouse is typical of a Ugandan golf club, in need of a coat of paint, and some general maintenance, but has a lovely bar, darts, table tennis, etc.

20 active(ish) players don't seem to be enough to sustain a club, although KMGC has 3 corporates in the area that could sort this out quickly. Obviously there is Kilembe Mines, which has recetnly had an infusion of cash, according to the newspapaers, Hima Cement, and Kasese Cobalt Company Ltd.

KCCL has, until recently been doing the upkeep on the course, but apparently have stopped, as this shot of one of the better fairways shows:

When the grass gets crotch-high and dry, they give it a burn:

The "caddies" here are local lads, who can count on getting one loop per week if they are lucky. The "mzungu" price for greens fees is 5k, and the same for caddies. There is NO caddie day here, and no clubs for them to play with, so they have to play "illegally". The members want them to join, but this is out of their reach at 50k joining fee and 10k per month membership.

There are 52 bunkers on this course, and some fantastic views, but with knee high grass everywhere, it's hard to pick a signature hole. The 6th hole is a good candidate tho, a downhill par 4 with a green that still carries mower tracks.

To be fair, I was told their tractor had broken down, and the course would be cut "tomorrow" with a hired tractor, but as I have heard that at several courses, I am not sure it would actually happen. I played to my 18 handicap here, despite the knee high grass (I only lost one ball due to the use of a forecaddie) and despite having to putt with a 3 wood on some greens due to height of the grass. If this course were in shape, it would be a natural day trip for tourists from QENP or even from Fort Portal

The back side would need a few hundred liters of diesel for the tractor to put right, the photo on the left shows a "green" to the right of the small tree, while the left photo shows a "fairway".

Flashman is alive and well and Ndali Lodge

2008-07-17T14:36:00.000+02:00

While in FP, I called Steve, the owner of Flashman, a tiny puppy I found outside my gate one day a few years back. He is now a lovely dog, happy and healthy, living large in a beautiful spot.

Steve is building a new lodge above a lovely crater lake

I can't wait until they are finished, as it will be very nice place to weekend!

Steve, Tricia and I had all been invited to Ndali Lodge for lunch, so after a bit of a delay due to Lulu's Land Rover running out of diesel, we all sat down to a fab lunch

Ndali is a fantastic place to chill, go hiking and eat well. Their website gives a history of the place and the family, their involvement in the community, etc.

Clockwise around the table were Matt, Luke, Clare (our hostess), Simon and Pam's mother, Jane Goldring, Aubrey (our host), Lulu, Pam, Billy, Andy Roberts, Tricia and Steve (and my empty chair), plus a few other relatives whose names I missed (sorry).

In any case, one can swim at Ndali as well.

Lake Nyinambuga also seems quite happy to accept ones old golf balls as a tribute to its beauty.

For complete lunch pix, visit http://mctim.amsterdamned.org/ndali_lunch.html

The Toro Club, Fort Portal

2008-07-16T19:52:00.007+02:00

The Toro Club

A lovely course in Fort Portal, built in 1914, the Toro or (Toor) Club is a little gem. Mature trees, OB in the middle of the course, and pot bunkers are the dangers here.

It's a very nice place to play, so much so that it is the first "9 holes that you play twice course" where I actually played all 18.

It's an active, friendly club (~130 members) that hosts several tourneys per year, plus a monthly mug. Sunday is Club Nite and it can be a very busy place on weekends (for drinking, not so much for golf). Green fees are 2k per 9, with a 5k Visitor's fee, but if you are with a member, this fee is only 1k. To join costs 670k, with 10k per month membership fees. Some of the holes have dual fairways, and generally, players further into their round have right of way. It's a fairly hilly course, so one gets lots of hilly lies, but it's pretty well maintained. However, like most courses in UG, the greens are bumpy and not cut/rolled often in the dry season.

I think there are at least 2 signature holes here, the first is the 3rd/12th. While the 12th is a straightaway look downhill to a chute of trees leading to a small green, the 3rd is a dogleg right on same fairway where the first shot is blind downhill to a narrowing landing area with rough and swamp to catch short and right tee shots, and trees that will block yoour second if you go left. O long drive left or str8 will leave yoou a chip n putt for birdie. A classic Risk/Reward hole.

Heres is the layout:

The other signature hole, or at least one that is very pretty is the sweeping 4th/13th which shares part of it's fairway with the 7th/16th holes. It's not a particularly difficult set of holes, except for approach shots, but the shared, bunkered fairways are lovely.

A blind par 3 with cows and a rock in the middle of a pot bunker:

This club has the biggest, baddest pot bunker I have ever seen on 8/17. It's got a bout a 12 foot lip, and the surface area is HUGE. Do NOT go left on this hole, as Billy found, it may take more than one shot to escape this jail:

A unique program at the Toro Club is blogged about at "Team Ndali". The Uganda Golf Initiative aims to build a non-profit charitable organization, and plans on "raising money to cover the high school tuition fees for caddies to finish high-school, to help them qualify for scholarships to American universities." Initially Daniel Frommer has brought golf kit for the caddies at Toro, and aims to spread the program to other courses in UG and East Africa.

I saw this before the Quest began, and have volunteered to help out, so as part of the Quest, I am asking questions of the caddies, and finding out if they get any support from their clubs, etc.

I played the back nine alone on Monday, then after recovering from a long, late, liquid lunch at Ndali Lodge , I joined Luke, Simon, and Matt:

and Aubrey, Billy and Andy for the front nine on the Wednesday:

This round was helped by some peculiar local rules and the presence of beer caddies, arranged by Aubrey, I shot a 38 on the front side, as oppsed to a 46 on the back. We played 18 into the setting sun as a 7some (would have been 8, but Steve had a fever). This hole was the most enjoyable of UG Golf Quest 2008.

Next, side trips to a new lodge being built and lunch at Ndali.

2008-07-07T17:00:00.000+02:00

Tororo Club

The Tororo Club is a bit dry at the moment, with small fast, bumpy greens. The course is dominated by Tororo Rock, as is the town itself. It's a basic 9 hole layout that costs 3000 to play and another 3k for the caddies.

I played this course with my new pal, George Magambo from Mbale, who took an inordinate liking to my driver and putter. Folk in this part of the country are desperate for clubs, my caddie whined the whole time about his lack of equipment (and school fees).

It's a basic par 72, up and back, fairly flat layout, lots of trees lining the fairways, no water, but lots of sand traps in fairways and guarding greens.

The clubhouse is in need of a coat of paint, and they seem to have an active membership, with the sponsorship of the cement companies who dominate the local economy. I wish they still played the All's Fools Cup, I'd make a special effort to play in that tourney!

The course is mown about once per month. Looking at the idle mower, I couln't help but think what good that piece of kit would do for Mbale!

Sipi Falls and a visit to a shamba

2008-07-06T17:19:00.000+02:00

Side Trips in Eastern Uganda

Since I was in Mbale, I decide to make a side trip to Sipi Falls, a lovely spot in the Mount Elgon area. There are actually 3 falls, here are the first 2:

I'm not sure i would make a special trip to see these falls, but if you are in Mbale, or visiting Mt. Elgon, it's certainly worth a look, the third is the long drop, and the most spectacular.

I took these shots from Lacam Lodge, which seems to be the nicest accommodation in the area.

Between Tororo and Lugazi i stopped to see the shamba of my gardener, Stephen. I met his wife and relatives, and took some shots of his cows and kraal.

2008-07-06T09:27:00.000+02:00

Mbale: a dying golf course?

The Mbale Sports Club (of which I am now a member in good standing) has swimming, darts, snooker, squash, tennis courts (clay), and a golf layout. One can't really call it a golf course anymore, as it's (alleged) 9 holes have been given over to corn and pasture. There are half a dozen golfing members of the club, but the "course" gets virtually no play, (as it's virtually unplayable).

The Club has nebulous plans to restore the course, but apparently need some help. They have asked their local MP to get the Uganda Wildlife Authority (Mt. Elgon National Park HQ is nearby) to lend them a tractor and "thrasher", but this has not yet come to pass.

What I suggested is focus in the short term on the number one tee box and ninth green, so that members and local kids can get the feel of chipping and putting. it seems to me that in the long term, they must get as many children involved in playing, so that they have a future membership base. Youth Golf is very big in Kampala, due to the efforts of the Uganda Golf Union, and others. I'll be writing an open letter to the UGU suggesting they get more involved in Mbale. It would be a great shame to lose this par 73 course to the maize.

Since it took me several hours to organize someone to show me the layout, i was unable to complete the 9 holes because of impending darkness. I played about 6 holes with the 3rd being the most spectacular visually. One drives towards the huge mountain that dominates the skyline.

The day I played, I had a enthusiastic gallery of schoolgirls who quickly became fore caddies for me, along with club staff and a local player, George Magambo, who I played with the next day in Tororo. These kids must be encouraged to play and help maintain the course, I left them a few balls for chipping and putting practice, as there are some clubs for members use in the clubhouse.

the club was founded in 1952 by a wealthy Mzungu for his family and friends recreation. It's currently a bar/restaurant, with a bit of sports on the side. They do a nice plate of fried goat and chips.

Your second option for "golf' in Mbale is the Mini golf course at the Mt. Elgon hotel. Nice "concept" hotel, not too expensive, and the golf course actually reaches the hotel at it's furthest point from the clubhouse. Made of concrete, the putting surface is very fast, but true, providing a nice 30 minute diversion for the enthusiast.

A few holes actually have you "jump" over water, which is a rare feature. What would be most useful is to get the kids in for some putting practice, while the Mbale Sports Club waits for their greens to be cut.

Mbale has a Barclay's (in a beautiful, restored art deco building)and a Stanbic/Standard and Chartered. These banks sponsor tournaments in Kampala, they could easily help put Mbale course back in shape!

2008-07-05T18:38:00.000+02:00

Golf the Source of the Nile

Jinja is a lovely place to play golf, loads of tourist infrastructure, lots of crumbling Art-Deco buildings, and a decent hotel next to the club and gorgeous scenery.

Green fees are a modest 2000 ugx, and caddies get at least 3000 for 9 holes, 6-6k for 18. Built in the 1920's apparently, the clubhouse has a murky pool, bar, darts and ~150 members. Tennis courts (clay and an overgrown grass court) are available as well.

It's a 9 hole layout, that you play twice from different tee boxes (as will be true of many courses in Uganda). The back 9 tee boxes being slightly shorter than the front. You still go out in 36, and come home in 36*. I shot a 48 for some reason, perhaps it was the un-puttable greens, full of the bumpy termite diggings you see here.

Quaint local rule: On the green, if a hippo footprint interferes with the line of the putt, one gets relief !!

The signature hole IMO is the second, shown below, 163 yard carry over a valley, with the Source of the Nile a bad duck hook away.

All in all a nice golfing experience, would definitely go back again!

P.S. The marabou are clean birds, once you leave Kampala!

* hole by hole description may be available in "Uganda Golf Guide 2008"

Mehta Golf Club

2008-07-04T15:38:00.000+02:00

Mehta Golf Club is one of the best courses in Uganda. The Mehta Group has spent some cash on it recently, renovating and adding to the clubhouse, buying a mower/roller for the greens (they are some of the best in the country) and new, white sand in the bunkers.

The course was ready for a tournament a few days later, so it was in peak shape, I rate it one of the top 2 courses in Uganda at the moment, but complete ratings will be done in early August.

The signature hole for me at least is the 4th, a short, tight driving hole (above left) with a big dogleg left. The second shot may be a blind approach over a deep troublesome gulch to a sloping green (above right).

Most people like the short par 3 ninth/eighteenth (left) with its distinctive bunker in the middle of the green for the last two holes (see left with peacock). Like most courses in Uganda, this one has nine holes you do twice, but Mehta are quickly adding new holes to the existing layout.

Whenever you mention this course in Lugazi, Ugandan golfers always bitch about the hills, and how tired they are when they play there, but it's no worse than the back 9 at UGC, and is actually pretty short, but it is hilly. I'd rather play 18 at Lugazi than the monster length of Entebbe! It does slope a bit, but learning how to hit sidehill lies only makes you a better golfer!

No professional caddies here, but there is always someone willing to take you around. Green fees are 8k, caddy fess 3 to 4, and a HUGE Indian vegetarian lunch at the guest house for 8k. I ate so much I thought I was going to have a hernia.

The look of the new part of the clubhouse fits nicely with the art-deco theme of the old section, and of the Mehta mansion (below), which was also refurbished. I love the peacocks strolling on the lawns, the fountains, etc. I just missed one of Mr. Mehta's visit by a few hours, would love to meet him, and thank him for the facility. Can you imagine being rich enough to build a folly like this? I can! I'll still be buying my sugar from the good folks at Kinyara!

2008-07-01T14:41:00.000+02:00

Uganda Golf Quest 2008

I plan to play every golf course in Uganda this summer, this is my quest, blog first, maybe guidebook later. Planning began 2 months ago, I'm to do 3 circuits. One East, Lugazi, JInja, Tororo, Mbale and perhaps Soroti, which later turned out to have houses built upon it, just like the course in Gulu. the other loop will be Southwest, Fort Portal, Kasese, Kabale and Mbarara. The last will be Northwest for Masindi, Arua, and Lira. Locally, I'll play UGC in Kampala, Entebbe and Namulonge with a visit to an as yet unopened course halfway between Entebbe and Kampala.

First stop, Jinja Club!!