When NCBA Bank first partnered with the Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) with a junior golf tournament held at Karen Country Club in August 2021, the goal was clear: to support the growth of junior golf in Kenya.

The ambitious yet timely collaboration was also meant to create opportunities for young people across the county to sharpen their skills both on and off the course.

Three years later, the partnership has bloomed into one of the most impactful youth sporting initiatives in Kenya, blending talent development with community empowerment.

The collaboration also proves to be about NCBA’s commitment to nurturing Kenya’s next generation of leaders through discipline, resilience, and ambition; values that golf instills.

Since the launch of the initiative, NCBA Group has injected more than Sh30 million into junior golf development under the JGF partnership and does much more behind the scenes.

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This investment seamlessly aligns with the Tier-1 financial institution’s vision of “Inspiring Greatness” and building a more sustainable future.

By targeting the youth, NCBA through the leadership of Group MD John Gachora, who plays golf together with his talented children, is ensuring that the game not only thrives today but also grows stronger tomorrow ensuring a continuous flow of golfing talent in the future.

NCBA’s sponsorship supports flagship events like the NCBA Interschool Golf Tournament and NCBA Faldo Junior Tour, with both becoming key platforms for nurturing young golfers.

These tournaments have opened doors for hundreds of school-going children to experience competitive golf, many for the first time, and opened up the sport to a wider talent pool.

NCBA Group Director, Marketing, Communication and Citizenship Nelly Wainaina has been instrumental in NCBA’s sponsorship strategy for junior golf, driving brand visibility and community investment through the partnership.

One of the principal strengths of the NCBA–JGF partnership is its focus on structured talent development through clinics, mentorship, and competitions.

Through these initiatives, program has established clear pathways for young golfers across Kenya to transition from the junior circuit to elite levels of the sport.

The NCBA Faldo Junior Tour Kenya has been exceptionally transformative.

As part of the global Faldo Series founded by six-time Major Champion Sir Nick Faldo, the tourney gives Kenyan juniors a chance to compete against the best young golfers globally.

The tournament is also a World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) event, meaning it provides ranking points recognised globally, a catalyst for players dreaming of college scholarships or professional careers.

For many young golfers countrywide, this is the first real bridge between playing for fun and creating a serious profession out of golf.

Golf has often been perceived as an elite sport, but through the partnership between NCBA and JGF, that narrative is changing and many Kenyans now see the sport as any other.

Together, the two collaborators have introduced affordable access for juniors: Sh1,000 annual registration and Sh100 per visit to play at any member golf club across Kenya.

This bold step has lowered barriers for young golfers under the age of 18, making the popular game more accessible to children from diverse backgrounds across the country.

This has boosted participation and encouraged schools to introduce golf programs, creating a pipeline of young talent who might otherwise never have set foot on any golf course.

Sustainability sits right at the midpoint of NCBA Group’s long-term strategy, and its support of junior golf fits perfectly into this agenda.

By encouraging more young people to take up the sport, the strategic and impactful partnership is ensuring golf remains relevant and competitive for decades to come.

The push to engage schools through interschool competitions has also been instrumental.

The strategic move positions golf alongside mainstream sports like football and athletics, and ensures it reaches wider audiences and inspires the next generation of champions.

NCBA Bank’s commitment goes beyond just producing good golfers, it is about using sport as a tool to nurture discipline, integrity, and leadership among the youth across the country.

The significant partnership between NCBA and JGF is a reflection of the Kenyan financial institution’s broader commitment to community well-being and youth empowerment.

Through golf, young players from various parts of the Kenya are not only learning sportsmanship but also grasping values that will make them responsible future leaders.

On a national level, the key collaboration is a crucial piece in Kenya’s efforts to position itself as a golfing nation.

Developing talent locally will ensure that Kenya produces golfers who can compete at high-profile events such as the Magical Kenya Open, while also attracting global recognition for the country’s courses and hospitality sector.

This dual impact (nurturing players and marketing Kenya abroad) ties directly into the government’s sports and tourism agenda, proving the NCBA–JGF initiative aligns with national priorities.

As the partnership grows each year, the vision is to see even more juniors join the sport, more schools adopt golf, and more Kenyan names appear on international leaderboards.

For NCBA, success is not just in producing professional golfers but in creating a sustainable ecosystem where sport transforms lives, communities, and Kenya’s image internationally.

What began as a traditional sponsorship has now become a movement; one where NCBA Bank and JGF are rewriting Kenya’s golfing future, one young swing and tee off at a time.