For the first time, the committee inspected a Mkwawa University College of Education (MUCE) golf course in the area.
The committee chaired by Iringa Municipal Constituency MEP Jessica Msambatavangu, in collaboration with Iringa Municipality Mayo, Ibrahim Ngwada, inspected the golf course on the MUCE campus yesterday.
Jessica added that the revitalization of golf will encourage tourists to stay longer in the area as tourists not only see wildlife and other tourist attractions, but also stay longer to play golf.
The MP said that on their steering committee they discussed issues of resource mobilization, member awareness and site visit with technical advisors and welcomed new members who wish to join the Mkwawa University Golf Club.
For this reason, the committee has invited various stakeholders to come forward and help with the rehabilitation of the golf course to revitalize golf in the region and across the country.
Seasoned local golfer Salim Mwanyenza, who also coaches the game, voiced his concern about people not taking up the game because they thought the game was reserved for the rich only.
He said the game brings people together from all over the world who come to play and increases tourism revenue.
Mwanyenza said the Iringa has nine golf courses, all of which have been lost due to lack of supervision.
The veteran golfer explained that the lack of awareness of the game of golf has led to the extinction of the courses as the area’s residents are not interested in training talented golfers.
Edmond Mkwawa, chairman and founder of Iringa Golf Courses, announced that golf promotion in the country began a few years ago and that there were nine golf courses, including the Mkwawa University golf course, but they died of natural causes from various causes.
He said they have decided to create a steering committee, led by a MP from Iringa Urban, to revive the game of golf in the area and ultimately inspire people to play it.
MUCE Deputy Head Fikira Kimbokota noted that he is satisfied with the revitalization of the Mkwawa golf course and pledged to work with stakeholders to promote the golf course so that it can have more golfers.
She said that Iringa has a lot of golfers, but since there are no golf courses, most players will play the game in other locations as the game is played by golfers regardless of their age.
Hence, the revitalization of the course will encourage many people to play golf as Iringa is the main tourism gateway in the southern circuit to increase GDP through tourism.
A golf course is the area where golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a tee box, fairway, rough and other obstacles, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the bottom known as the “cup”.
The mug holds a flagstick known as a “pin”. A standard round of golf consists of 18 holes.