There was a lot of fanfare over the weekend as golfers from Rwanda, Kenya, India, South Africa and Sweden tussled it out at the newly inaugurated Falcon Golf and Country Club on the shores of pristine waters of Lake Muhazi, in Eastern Province. Bheki Mthembu emerged the overall winner with 43 stableford points, followed Max Veglio with 42 points, while Jack Kayonga finished third with 39 points. Bridgette Harrington (38 points) claimed the title in women’s category. There were a mix of competitions including a challenge between the top elite Rwandan amateurs against the visiting team of players from Sweden, where Rwanda won the tussle. The Rwandan line-up included Innocent Rutamu, Davis Kashaka, Jack Kayonga, Louis Kamanzi, Joseph Semwaga, Bheki Mthembu. Over 80 golfers participated in the one-day tournament. Innocent Rutamu, founder of the Falcon Golf and Country Club, says that new facility being along the road to Akagera National Park, is a perfect golf destination for tourists that want to combine golf and wild Safaris. This was the second time the Rwamagana-based golf course was inaugurated following the maiden inauguration in 2013. “The reason why this was a second inaugural is that the course (opened in 2013) was too small to host a serious competition, but now it has been expanded to almost three times the initial size,” he explained. Rutamu also appealed to young talents, students in primary and secondary schools, to go for free golf lessons and training so that Rwanda can produce top-level golfers who can compete against the best on the continent, and beyond. Falcon is a nine-hole course and currently the only operational golf facility in the country following the recent closure of Kigali Golf Club due to reconstruction work. Falcon Golf and Country Club is located on the shores of Lake Muhazi in Eastern Rwanda. / Courtesy editor@newtimesrwanda.com
