Disc Golf Takes Root in Kenya with PDGA Grant

A new chapter is unfolding for disc golf in Africa as the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) announces its support for the development of Kenya's first sanctioned course. The PDGA has awarded a $3,000 Marco Polo grant to Disc Golf Kenya, led by project leader Yohannes Desalegn, to establish an 18-hole course at Rimpa Estates Wildlife Conservancy near Nairobi.

The grant will not only enable the construction of the course but also support the revitalization of a 9-hole disc golf course at the University of Nairobi School of Sciences. According to Desalegn, the project aims to create a community of disc golf players in Kenya by targeting elementary, high school, and university students as well as visitors to the Rimpa Estates Wildlife Conservancy.

In addition to building the courses, the PDGA grant will also fund clinics on basic throwing techniques and rules of the game, scheduled for January. A student tournament is planned before the Kenyan Open 2022, which will be the country's first PDGA-sanctioned tournament in early 2023. Desalegn hopes that by introducing disc golf to Kenya's young generation, he can inspire a passion for the sport and provide free play opportunities.

The Marco Polo Program has already supported similar projects in the Philippines and Colombia, where the PDGA-sanctioned Nacional Interligas Disc Golf FECODV 2021 tournament was held in September. With this latest grant, the PDGA is further expanding its global reach and promoting the growth of disc golf in new countries.

Yohannes Desalegn, a 2018 PDGA Volunteer of the Year and Ethiopia Country Coordinator, will lead the project alongside Rimpa Conservancy Manager Kevin Becker. Their goal is to bring disc golf closer to Nairobi's population of over 4.4 million by creating a beautiful location where students can develop their skills for free.

Course installation is set to begin in November, marking an exciting new chapter for disc golf in Kenya. The PDGA's Marco Polo Program has provided funding for innovative international projects since its inception in 2011, and this grant will help create links between the PDGA, local communities, and countries around the world.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/marco-polo-grant-assist-disc-golf-kenya