The R&A's presence in Africa
Like the number of courses, The R&A’s presence in Africa has itself continued to grow over the last decade, with the total annual spend across the continent now reaching upwards of £300,000.
Support for golf in Africa has taken many forms over the past decade from the provision of playing equipment and clothing to course machinery. Several countries, notably Zambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Botswana, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia have also received coaching visits by professionals from the PGAs of Europe. The majority of the money spent on developing golf in Africa is now used to operate The R&A’s greenkeeping machinery programme. Starting with a budget of £50,000 in 2004, up to £200,000 each year is now earmarked for the purchase of basic equipment such as pedestrian greens mowers and trailed fairway gang mowers. In 2007 and 2008, all the machinery purchased went to Africa, helping to sustain and develop golf courses in Burundi, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
R&A activity in Africa also extends to the financial and organisational support of several events, notably the men’s Africa Zone Six Championship for countries in south and east Africa, a recipient of The R&A’s backing since 1997. The R&A were consistently represented at the tournament between 2001 and 2006, a presence which included a visit by the then Captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, John Whitmore, who went to Malawi in 2003. As well as investing money in African men’s golf, assistance has been given to the women’s All-Africa Challenge Tournament, an event that received a £28,000 grant last year. 2008’s AACT, attended by R&A Golf Development Officer, Alison White, marked the ninth staging of the biennial competition; The R&A having supported it since 1998. "We felt that there was a real need for the African countries to compete against one another," commented White. "There’s a great value in just feeling part of a big family of golf. But we also hope that this international team competition will continue to inspire players to reach higher standards, promote good sportsmanship and create many friendships."
Tessa Covell, a trustee of the All-Africa event, was invited to St Andrews during the Ricoh Women’s British Open in 2007 to update The R&A on golf in Zimbabwe and women's golf throughout Africa. She was closely involved in setting up a training scheme for volunteers who introduce girls to golf. Also in St Andrews at that time was Joy Arkutu from the Ghana Ladies’ Golf Union who came to report on developments in West Africa where she has been a long-time servant of the game. To complete the triumvirate of competitive continent-wide golf in Africa, funding is also given to the All-Africa Junior Golf Challenge, the biggest junior golf event on the continent which is to be held in Kenya this year.
Support for golf in Africa has taken many forms over the past decade from the provision of playing equipment and clothing to course machinery. Several countries, notably Zambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Botswana, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia have also received coaching visits by professionals from the PGAs of Europe. The majority of the money spent on developing golf in Africa is now used to operate The R&A’s greenkeeping machinery programme. Starting with a budget of £50,000 in 2004, up to £200,000 each year is now earmarked for the purchase of basic equipment such as pedestrian greens mowers and trailed fairway gang mowers. In 2007 and 2008, all the machinery purchased went to Africa, helping to sustain and develop golf courses in Burundi, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 
R&A activity in Africa also extends to the financial and organisational support of several events, notably the men’s Africa Zone Six Championship for countries in south and east Africa, a recipient of The R&A’s backing since 1997. The R&A were consistently represented at the tournament between 2001 and 2006, a presence which included a visit by the then Captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, John Whitmore, who went to Malawi in 2003. As well as investing money in African men’s golf, assistance has been given to the women’s All-Africa Challenge Tournament, an event that received a £28,000 grant last year. 2008’s AACT, attended by R&A Golf Development Officer, Alison White, marked the ninth staging of the biennial competition; The R&A having supported it since 1998. "We felt that there was a real need for the African countries to compete against one another," commented White. "There’s a great value in just feeling part of a big family of golf. But we also hope that this international team competition will continue to inspire players to reach higher standards, promote good sportsmanship and create many friendships." 
Tessa Covell, a trustee of the All-Africa event, was invited to St Andrews during the Ricoh Women’s British Open in 2007 to update The R&A on golf in Zimbabwe and women's golf throughout Africa. She was closely involved in setting up a training scheme for volunteers who introduce girls to golf. Also in St Andrews at that time was Joy Arkutu from the Ghana Ladies’ Golf Union who came to report on developments in West Africa where she has been a long-time servant of the game. To complete the triumvirate of competitive continent-wide golf in Africa, funding is also given to the All-Africa Junior Golf Challenge, the biggest junior golf event on the continent which is to be held in Kenya this year.
