GUoM, Pro body clash over power

For the first time ever, Malawi could have a professional golfers body following some golfers’ move to form the Professional Golfers Association.

But Golf Union of Malawi (GUoM) president Gabriel Kambale has expressed ignorance on the development championed by assistant national golf coach Dingaan Chirwa.

And while the interim professional body claims that GUoM has no authority over its operations, the union believes it has the overall mandate of golf activities in Malawi.

Chirwa said a national golf union only regulates amateur golf while a professional golf association is supposed to be an independent body.

“That is why we are in the process of registering with the office of the Registrar General. But out of courtesy, we’ll inform GUoM at an appropriate time,” said Chirwa.

But Kambale said he was not aware of the professional body’s formation.

“I have not been briefed. We have not even discussed that, but they would need to seek our approval,” said Kambale.

However, according to GUoM’s draft constitution which The Nation has sourced, the PGA is supposed to be affiliated to the Sunshine Tour which is a continental professional golf body.

Chirwa said they have come up with an interim leadership which he is heading with national coach Christ Kachiguma as his interim deputy as they await to finalise the registration process.

He said he is part of the move by virtue of his qualification of level one coaching certificate which automatically equips him as a professional trainer.

“I am a fully qualified instructor to teach young golfers having been certified by the Professional Golfers Association in South Africa,” he said.

Chirwa is also studying for a degree programme in South Africa which will run up to 2016 that requires travel to the Rainbow Nation periodically to sit for examinations.

“For a country to form a professional golf association, it needs to have either professional trainer or player.

“Ours is to take golf to another level by creating a conducive environment for golfers to turn into either professional players or trainers. There are two types of professional golf; there is tour pro [these are golfers who play for money] and teaching pro [those who are trainers],” said Chirwa.

He said the country has many potential professional golfers, citing Paul Chidale, Kambale, Victor Kachepatsonga, Adam Sailesi and Stanford Mayuni.

According to the rules of the game, if one turns professional, they are not allowed to take part in amateur competitions.

Currently, Malawi has no professional golfer, but Chirwa claimed that in the event that some turn professional, they will lobby for the inclusion of the professional category in major tournaments on the domestic scene.

“Already there are some who have expressed interest to turn professional, but the challenge is sponsorship and we would want to create an environment whereby they can source sponsorship to participate in tours,” he said.

The country’s last and only known professional golfer was the late Gilliam Kapito.