Nigeria Open Golf Returns After 28 Years

The Nigeria Golf Federation has announced that the Nigerian Open Golf Tournament will return in November 2027 after 28 years.

Nigeria Golf Federation President Otunba Olusegun Runsewe announced the return in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Saturday.

The tournament, last held in 1999, is scheduled to run from November 16 to 20, 2027, as the federation seeks to revive Nigeria’s biggest golf event.

Runsewe said the federation had spent considerable time preparing for the tournament, focusing on repositioning Nigerian golf and meeting international standards.

“We are very happy to announce that we will be organising a befitting Nigerian Open Golf Tournament, the biggest golfing event in the country after two decades of absence,” he said.

The Nigerian Open was held between 1969 and 1999, mainly at the Ikoyi Club in Lagos, before moving to the IBB International Golf and Country Club in Abuja for its final editions.

Runsewe said preparations for the 2027 tournament include a new social media strategy, a dedicated website, insurance policies and the adoption of the World Handicap System index.

He explained that the handicap system would create a common framework for golf clubs across Nigeria while helping the country align more closely with international standards.

“This is going to be a new beginning for golf in Nigeria,” he said.

The federation expects more than 20 countries from Africa, Europe, and other continents to participate, with between 150 and 200 golfers expected to compete.

The NGF is also in discussions with Lakowe Golf Resort in Lagos as a possible venue.

The event is planned as a 64-hole, four-day Pro-Am tournament with world ranking status and an Amateur World Ranking connection.

Runsewe said the winners would have opportunities to qualify for international circuits, while a competitive prize purse would be offered to attract professional golfers.

Meanwhile, the federation has engaged consultancy and marketing companies to manage sponsorship, branding and promotion, with the successful firms expected to be announced within weeks.

Runsewe said the federation deliberately delayed the tournament’s return to build the capacity needed to organise a sustainable event.

“Why rush into what you don’t have the capacity to deliver?” he said.

Youth development will also be a major part of the tournament and the federation’s wider plans for Nigerian golf, Runsewe said.

The federation is also planning a coaching education programme for golf professionals and academy coaches, with Runsewe noting that modern golf training is increasingly driven by technology.

“Training in golf is more IT-based now as the world is advancing and we don’t want Nigeria to be left behind,” he said.