The marriage between Botswana golf and the First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) will mark its 10th anniversary this coming weekend, when some of the country’s finest amateur golfers meet in the annual FNBB Northern Open at the Francistown Golf Club.
The tournament, considered one of the most prestigious in the country, has been sponsored to the tune of P50 000 by FNBB.
At least 56 golfers, among them the tournament’s defending champion, Shane Granger, are expected to grace the tournament.
Roger Lal, the Executive Secretary of the Botswana Golf Union (BGU), said that the P50┬á000 sponsorship marks an increment of close to 10┬á000 over last year’s sponsorship. The BGU Executive Secretary says of the sponsorship amount, P15┬á000 will be used for prizes while P5┬á000 will be channelled to the BGU development drive.
The rest of the sponsorship comes in payment for tournament meals, buying golf T-shirts as well as paying for the prize giving cocktail.
It is expected that a total of 36 holes will be played over the tournament’s two days, with 18 holes played daily.
Speaking in an interview with Telegraph Sport, Lal said while they could have liked to have a 54 holes event, the size of the course is limiting. The course on which the event will be held is a nine (9) holes course, meaning players will have to start again after 9 holes to make up 18 holes.
This also limits the number of participants as only a certain number can make it in to the course at a time.
Lal says as this is an amateur event and no monetary prizes are allowed, they have various prizes that will keep participants interested in the event.
He says apart from the medals and trophies they usually hand out, they try to also give competitors other prizes, which they can use at home.
The tournament will be divided into two categories, A and B, with A comprising of players with handicap between 0 and 9 while the B category is for players with handicap of and between 10 and 18.
