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

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.

Mehta Golf Club

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!