By KPC Reporter
The Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing (SDT-EAS) has announced an expanded and ambitious calendar for its second season, running from April 2026 to January 2027, as it continues to strengthen the pathway for professional golf in the region.
Season 2 will feature 14 events across East Africa, building on the momentum of a successful inaugural campaign.
The Tour remains committed to its vision of providing professional and elite amateur golfers—both men and women—with consistent, high-quality competitive opportunities, officially recognised by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).
The season will tee off with a Qualifying School in April 2026 at Thika Greens Golf Resort, where the top ten finishers will earn invitations to the Sunshine Tour Final Stage Qualifier in South Africa.
Competitive action then shifts to Thika Sports Club, which will host an SDT-EAS event for the first time from April 19 to 21, before the Tour moves to Nairobi for back-to-back events at Royal Nairobi Golf Club (June 7–9) and Vet Lab Sports Club (June 14–16).
From there, the Tour heads to the Coast for two July stops at Vipingo Ridge Golf Resort (July 10–12) and Diamonds Leisure Golf Resort (July 17–19).
Ruiru Sports Club will host the sixth leg from August 16–18, before the Tour crosses borders to Kigali Golf Resort and Villas in Rwanda from September 1–3, marking a second consecutive year at the venue.
October will deliver a Rift Valley double-header, starting at Nakuru Golf Club (October 18–20) and continuing at Great Rift Valley Golf Resort (October 25–27).
The Tour then returns to the Coast at Nyali Golf and Country Club (December 6–8) before heading to Limuru Country Club from January 17–19, 2027.
The season will conclude with two major finales. The SDT-EAS Finale will be staged at Sigona Golf Club from February 5–7, 2027, followed by the Sunshine Development Tour Africa Championship from March 18–21, 2027, at a venue to be announced.
The Championship will feature the top 30 players from the East Africa Swing and the top 30 from South Africa’s Big Easy Tour, with Sunshine Tour playing cards for the 2027/28 season at stake.
Commenting on the expanded schedule, SDT-EAS Tournament Director David Kihara said the calendar reflects the Tour’s long-term development ambitions.
“This calendar is a deliberate step forward for professional golf in East Africa,” said Kihara. “
“By increasing the number of events and spreading them across the region, we are giving players consistency, stability and a clear competitive pathway.”
He went on: “Our goal is to prepare golfers for the global stage, not just through competition, but by exposing them to different courses, conditions and tournament environments.”
Kihara added that the inclusion of new host venues signals growing confidence in the Tour.
“The response from clubs and players has been encouraging. Hosting first-time venues such as Thika Sports Club, Vipingo Ridge, Nakuru and Sigona shows the trust and momentum the Tour is building across the region.”
The Sunshine Development Tour was created to offer professional golfers and elite amateurs regular, high-standard competition organised to Sunshine Tour benchmarks.
During the inaugural season, Kenya’s Njoroge Kibugu and Naomi Wafula made history by earning full playing cards on the Sunshine Tour and Sunshine Ladies Tour respectively—the first Kenyans to achieve the feat.
Kibugu secured his card after winning three SDT events at Thika Greens, Nyali Golf Club and Vet Lab Sports Club, while Wafula impressed by making seven of eight cuts during the season.
She will now compete under a newly introduced African Affiliate category on the Sunshine Ladies Tour.