Karen Country Club to Shut for Magical Kenya Open Preparations as SportPesa Injects Sh20 Million

Karen Country Club will close its championship golf course on Friday, February 13, 2026, as it enters the final phase of preparations for the 57th edition of the Magical Kenya Open.

The temporary closure will allow organisers to fine-tune the course to tournament standards, with critical infrastructure works taking centre stage ahead of the DP World Tour event.

Kenya Open Golf Limited chairman Patrick Obath said the shutdown is necessary to ensure the course is presented at championship level.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Google News, Stay informed with Latest Sport News

“From Friday, we shall completely shut down the Karen course to begin laying cable links, erecting scaffolding for television towers, and undertaking other vital installations required to deliver a world-class championship,” said Obath.

He noted that preparatory works are already underway, with roping and staking ongoing even as golfers enjoy the fairways in the final days before closure.

Karen Country Club will formally hand over the course to Kenya Open Golf Limited on Friday evening, marking the final putt of regular play and the beginning of an intensive tournament build-up.

Tournament Director Lucas Marang’a described the early closure as a strategic step to ensure seamless execution.

“Our focus on an early shutdown allows us to have between 90 and 100 per cent of the tournament infrastructure in place by Sunday. This ensures Monday and Tuesday are dedicated practice days, followed by the Pro-Am on Wednesday, before the championship tees off on Thursday,” said Marang’a, emphasising the close collaboration with the DP World Tour team.

“The DP World Tour team has been instrumental in the infrastructure setup. They arrived earlier this week, and we are working closely together—us as promoters and them as rights holders—to deliver a world-class event,” he added.

This year’s tournament has also received a significant boost following a Sh20 million sponsorship injection from SportPesa, marking the gaming firm’s first foray into golf sponsorship.

“We are sponsoring golf for the first time because of the huge growth the game has experienced over the years and attracting a large number of foreign visitors, with a positive impact to the economy,” said Ronald Karauri, the SportPesa Chief Executive Officer.

The 57th Magical Kenya Open will be played from 19 to 22 February 2026 and will feature a full field of 144 players, including leading international professionals, elite amateurs and top local golfers.

The four-day championship is expected to draw more than 7,000 local and international spectators, further reinforcing Kenya’s stature on the global golfing stage.