Warm Heart Pro Tour returns with charity touch
The Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Malawi has said the second edition of the Warm Heart Pro Tour will be held from November 14 to 16 at Lilongwe Golf Club.
PGA Malawi president Patridge Shycal said the golf showpiece returns with a charity touch under the theme: Teeing Off for a Resilient and Adaptive Climate Related Hazards and Natural Disasters in Malawi.
He said: “The theme is developed to give a human face to the prestigious game of golf and extend the fun to the less privileged and the vulnerable people.
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“It draws its background from the impact of climate extremes and weather events in Malawi, especially the cyclone Idai which claimed over 50 lives and displaced thousands of others.
“Given that extreme weather is recurrent, PGA Malawi found it fit to align the theme of the 2019 tour to goal 13.1 of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the Malawi National Climate Change Management Policy.”
Shycal said this year’s event seeks to promote diversity and inclusiveness in the game.
“We will mobilise the resources through open calls to individuals and organisations to support people affected by or potentially at risk of extreme weather with cash or in kind,” he said.
Shycal said the proceeds will be presented to the Department of Disaster Management (Dodma) within five days of competition.
He said the second edition is expected to cast its net wider by inviting more players that will include professionals from across the African region and beyond.
“Despite limited time for fundraising, we are determined to make the tournament more attractive and entertaining and envisages the prize money to be between $25 000 (about K18.5 million) and $50 000 (about K37 million)
“This will necessitate wider participation and render prospective sponsors, a good advertising avenue.
Shycal said PGA Malawi has lowered the entry fee for all corporate institutions from as low as $500 (about K370 000) to allow more participation.
“We reserve the right for main sponsors who would want to enjoy exclusivity during the tour.
“And we, therefore, appeal to prospective co-sponsors to partner us and their visibility will be guaranteed through various advertising channels,” said Shycal.
Expected to be played over 54 holes (three days), the entry fee to the tour is pegged at $75 (about K55 500) per player.
Hallmark Creations, sponsors of professional golfer Simon Moses, applauded PGA Malawi for factoring in charity in this year’s edition.
Said Hallmarks Creations’ managing director Gift Gondwe: “This is commendable considering that the poor will benefit.”
One of the local professional golfers, Paul Chidale, said this time around, he is aiming at finishing among the top 10.
“If not me then it will be good to see a Malawian professional achieving that,” he said.
Last year’s tour attracted 63 golfers from nine African countries namely; South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, e-Swatini (formerly Swaziland), Namibia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and hosts Malawi. There was also a participant from Portu
