90 per cent of Fortune 500 CEOs play golf, and 80 per cent of executives say playing golf enables them to establish new business relationships! This statistic reveals why golf is an integral part of business growth and development. According to Forbes, in the business world, golf is less about ability and more about being on the course where decisions and business networks are made.
In Kenya though, you can improve on your playing ability, and still get a chance to be part of the table where business opportunities are discovered and shared. This is echoed by golf expert Rachael Pruett-Hornbaker. “The golf course has been the backdrop for business deals and networking for decades. It’s no surprise, because golf is a great way to meet new clients and get to know existing customers and colleagues,” she says. Take the NCBA Golf series that is ranked as Kenya’s foremost golf tournament.
The golf series was started in 2021 and the 2024 series marked the fourth edition. In the 2024 series, the NCBA Group invested over Sh. 60 million in the NCBA Golf Series, the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship series, and the Junior Golf Foundation series.
The series spanned across golf clubs in the entire East African region including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, in tandem with NCBA’s growing regional influence.
Sarah Nyareru was crowned the overall winner of the series that spanned 34 tournaments across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda, bringing together over 3,000 golfers. Playing off a handicap of 12, Nyareru recorded an impressive 37 Stableford points to emerge as the top golfer, flooring a strong field of 230 golfers from across East Africa.
According to the NCBA Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer John Gachora, the NCBA Golf Series is the bank’s effort at inspiring passion, nurturing talent, and strengthening bonds across the region. “As NCBA continues to expand its regional reach, we recognize the pivotal role that initiatives like the NCBA Golf Series play in not only uniting individuals and communities, but also contributing to the socio-economic advancement of East Africa,” says Gachora.
In the same vein, the series comes in as a critical part of the bank’s ‘Change the Story’ sustainability theme that is driving change across various communities in the country.
“One of the commitments we made when we launched the Change the Story was that we will champion inclusive communities through regional sport development,” says Gachora.
“The series underscores this. We aim to inspire greatness in sports among communities and provide a platform for both seasoned players and emerging talent to showcase their skills.”
NCBA Group: Going beyond banking to change Kenya’s story
Apart from sponsoring golf events, the NCBA Bank has also emerged as a competition powerhouse. In the 2024 Interbank Golf Tournament, the bank was crowned as the overall winner with an impressive 188 points. The competition was the 39th edition of the Kenya Institute of Bankers interbank sports.
“At NCBA, we believe in the transformative power of golf—not just as a game but as a platform for building relationships, developing talent, and driving positive change. We are committed to supporting this sport and the communities it serves, and we look forward to an even brighter future for golf in East Africa,” says Gachora.
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