The I&M Bank Katogo Golf Series 2024 teed off on an enthralling note, with a riveting first edition that took place on Saturday at the 71 Par Entebbe Club.
Building on the triumph of the 2023 season, this year’s series kicked off with an impressive turnout, that set a new record of the most subscribed golfing event of 2024, with over 230 golfers taking to the greens to prove their golfing prowess.
The series Tournament Director- Paul Kaheru announced that the registration link had to be closed on Tuesday, due to overwhelming numbers that had registered in just three days after the link was released to the public.
Many golfers attributed the overwhelming subscription of the series to the new exciting and challenging formats of play that were introduced for the 2024 season.
Dubbed ‘In regulation’ format, the I&M Bank Katogo series round one was an individual battle, where a player had to arrive on the greens within the regulatory number of shots. A player who failed to get on the greens in regulation, and failed to score a par or better, attracted an extra shot on to their final score per hole.
At the end of the day, every player left the course both challenged and entertained by this particular format. And after a tough day in the course, golfers seamlessly transitioned into an evening of camaraderie and celebration at the 19th hole.
I&M Bank together with co-sponsors, Johnnie Walker, GA Insurance, Victoria Motors, Rwanda Air, Fenon, Serena Hotels, and Goldman Furniture, left no luxuries out, as they set a perfect atmosphere where golfers unwinded, enjoyed sumptuous dinner and washed it down with delicious Johnnie Walker cocktails.
Addressing guests, I&M Bank CEO, Robin Bairstow reiterated the institution’s commitment towards growing the game of golf in Uganda.
“I am proud to announce that today we teed off bigger and better. Together with our amazing partners, we are sinking in a total of four hundred and ninety million into the I&M Bank Katogo Series 2024. I believe this will go a long way to cement the foundation we set for the series last year, and as well add towards the growth of golf in Uganda,” stated Robin.
“The I&M Bank Katogo Golf Series has transformed into a reputable tournament, unleashing some of the best golfing experiences and golfing talents in the country, a trajectory that we are happy to be a part of,” he added.
Some of the night’s big winners included the Entebbe Club Ladies Captain Peace Kabasweka, the overall winner in the Ladies category, while Perez Muhwezi emerged the overall winner in the men’s category after scoring 71 points on count back.
Darius Mugisha won the longest drive men, while Lino Anguzu took home the trophy for nearest to the pin men.
Following the exhilarating start, the series will now embark on a three-month hiatus before returning for the second round on June 29.
The highlight of the night was female disc spinner- DJ Alisha, who got the audience screaming right from the time she took to the turntables.
Smartly dressed in a white suit, Alisha, who became the first every female DJ to play at the Entebbe Golf Club, kept the crowd singing along and dancing to her lively DJ mixes all the way into the wee hours of Sunday morning.