Nigeria Open golf tournament returns after 28 years

The Nigeria Open Golf Tournament is set to return in November 2027, 28 years after the last edition was held, the Nigeria Golf Federation has announced.

The tournament is scheduled for November 16 to 20, 2027, with the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) targeting international participation and world-ranking status for the event.

NGF President, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Saturday.

Runsewe said the federation had spent considerable time preparing for the tournament to ensure its return meets international standards and provides a sustainable platform for developing golf in Nigeria.

“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 Nigeria Open was held from 1969 to 1999, predominantly at the Ikoyi Club in Lagos, before its final editions were staged at the IBB International Golf and Country Club in Abuja between 1997 and 1999.

The 2027 edition is planned as a 64-hole, four-day Pro-Am tournament with world-ranking status and a link to the Amateur World Ranking.

Runsewe said more than 20 countries from Africa, Europe and other regions were expected to participate, while between 150 and 200 golfers could compete.

He added that the federation was in discussions with Lakowe Golf Resort in Lagos as a possible venue.

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

Runsewe said the federation had also introduced measures aimed at strengthening the sport ahead of the tournament, including a new social media strategy, a revamped website, insurance policies and adoption of the World Handicap System index.

He explained that the handicap system would provide a uniform framework for golf clubs across Nigeria and support the federation’s efforts to align the country’s golf administration with international standards.

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

The NGF president said consultancy and marketing firms had been engaged to oversee sponsorship, branding and promotion, with the successful companies expected to be announced within weeks.

He said the federation intentionally took time before reviving the tournament to ensure it had the capacity to deliver a sustainable event.

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

Runsewe added that youth development would be central to the federation’s plans, alongside efforts to improve the quality of coaching in the country.

He disclosed plans for a coaching education programme for golf professionals and academy coaches, saying modern golf training was increasingly dependent on 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.