Kenyan professional golfers now have a platform for consistent and competitive play following the launch of the Sunshine Development Tour – East African Swing.
The Sunshine Tour, one of the world’s leading golf tours, has expanded its footprint into Kenya and East Africa.
The South Africa-based tour has signed a three-year exclusive contract with IMG Kenya Limited, a top sports marketing agency, to launch and operationalize this new professional development golf tour in the region.
The tour will provide professional golfers and elite amateurs—both men and women—with the opportunity to compete in regular tournaments organized in line with Sunshine Tour standards.
IMG Kenya CEO Peter Gacheru said the tour is set to revolutionize professional and elite amateur golf in the region.
“We are pleased to partner with the Sunshine Tour of South Africa to bring the Sunshine Development Tour – East African Swing to the region. We believe this tour will offer golfers a much-needed platform to play consistent and competitive golf at an increasingly higher standard while also providing them with a steady revenue stream,” he said.
Gacheru emphasized that the initiative aims to enhance the quality of professional golf in Kenya and East Africa, provide a development pathway for elite amateurs and juniors, and elevate Kenya’s profile as a global golfing destination.
“Through this tour, we hope to transform the local and regional golf landscape, produce globally acclaimed champions, and create a sustainable pipeline for future talent,” he said.
“We look forward to collaborating with like-minded partners to expand and grow this event, making it more impactful for the present and future of golf in the region.”
The tour will feature 10 to 15 events annually, offering Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, which are essential for player advancement and Olympic Games qualification.
A Game-Changer for African Golf
Sunshine Tour Commissioner Thomas Abt hailed the launch as a milestone for golf in Africa, creating unrivaled opportunities for professional and top amateur golfers in East Africa.
“We now have an effective vehicle to unearth talent on the continent and bring new stars into the game. The Sunshine Tour and Sunshine Ladies Tour have established global pathways that are perfectly suited for talent development in Africa,” he said.
“We are excited to introduce the Sunshine Development Tour as a significant step in the growth of golf in Africa.”
Qualifying Tournament at Windsor Golf & Country Club
Ahead of the tour launch, IMG Kenya and the Sunshine Tour have organized a qualifying event (Q-School) from March 30 to April 2, 2025, at Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club.
The four-day qualifier will offer a prize purse of Sh1 million.
“Typically, Q-Schools don’t offer prize money, but we at IMG Kenya made a strategic decision to kickstart the tour with an incentive for professional golfers,” Gacheru added.
The Q-School is a mandatory requirement for earning OWGR points on the East Africa Swing. Interested players can register online at easwing.epass.co.ke.
Players who complete the four-round qualifier will be awarded tour cards for the 2025/26 season, with the top 10 qualifiers earning invitations to the Sunshine Tour Final Stage Qualifier in Johannesburg, scheduled for April 8–11, 2025.