shloboe boe
Brandon Moyo, Brandonmalvin9@gmail.com
ORGANISERS of the country’s most unique golf event, the Mutupo-Isibongo golf tournament have released the calendar of events for 2025.
The 2024 edition of the tournament came to an end in December last year with the Shumba clan clinching the top accolade at Royal Harare Golf Club. The 2025 season opener is also scheduled to take place at Royal Harare.
The opener is scheduled for February 7 and will be followed by the Mashonaland Central edition which will be hosted at Bindura Golf Club on March 16. The third edition of the season will be hosted by Bulawayo Country Club on behalf of Bulawayo province on April 26.
There is also the schools golf tournament which will take place at Police Golf Club on June 28 before the event goes international.
The next edition on the calendar will be held in the United Kingdom at Stratford Park Golf Club on July 19 before Gweru Golf Club hosts on behalf of Midlands on July 26.
Action will then move to Marondera Golf Club on behalf of Mashonaland East on August 24 before it returns to Harare at Police Golf Club on October 11. Hillside Golf Club will host the Manicaland edition on November 1. The following week action will move to Norton Golf Club on behalf of Mashonaland West.
The season finale is scheduled for Royal Harare on December 13. Traditional sponsors, Lake Harvest, Proton and Surrey Group continue sponsoring the event.
Speaking to Zimpapers Sports Hub, tournament co-ordinator Ephraim Mashingaidze said the tournament transcends the fairways and putting greens.
“Mutupo/Isibongo has held us together as a people and has strong bonding foundations cutting across generations and tribes. The use of the sport of golf to promote culture is indeed a masterstroke as a means of engagement, networking and establishing lasting relationships.
“The brand also helps to promote sports tourism as golfers travel to play in other provinces, thereby contributing to domestic local tourism. International tourism is now part of the Mutupo/Isibongo golf DNA as we have the second edition of the United Kingdom event lined up. An increased number of locals are already committing to participating in this international edition,” said Mashingaidze.
He added that they are not limiting themselves to Europe only as they will continue engaging other continents to create global platforms to accord their golfers a unique, special opportunity to promote Zimbabwean culture while playing in different golf courses in the world.
The schools’ golf tournament was initiated by the high turnout of junior golfers last year.
“We are glad to inform our stakeholders that we received quite a good number of golfers playing in last year’s edition, thus, this year we introduced a Mutupo/Isibongo schools edition. Our gratitude goes to our brand partners, Surrey Group, Proton and Lake Harvest. Our partners have been able to interact with most golfers in Zimbabwe and the feedback, brand visibility and production promotion has been very positive.
“All the 22 Mutupos/Izibongo with golfers in Zimbabwe managed to have their clans represented in any one of the tournaments that were played last year.
“We have over 1 700 golfers aligned to the brand through the groupings in their various totems,” said Mashingaidze.
He further called on the corporate world to come on board and join Mutupo/Isibongo as it presents a fertile platform for them to engage with golfers from various backgrounds in different parts of Zimbabwe.
mbulelo smpofu
