Ronald Rugumayo becomes the first Ugandan to play on the Altron Big Easy Tour at Reading Country Club in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Tournament Details

Event:             Altron Big Easy Tour
Dates:              July 11-13, 2023
Venue:             Reading Country Club
City:                 Johannesburg, South Africa
Rounds:           Three
Field:               120 players
Total Tourneys: 12 events
Prize Fund:      R150, 000 per event.

Being given an opportunity to play here is great and a good ground to continuously test my competitive mindset and preparation on the international stage.

There is a change in fortune and favour for Uganda’s professional golfer Ronald Rugumayo with him acquiring the services of Kempton Park-based South African coach Slade Fick and now set to become the first Ugandan to play in the Altron Big Easy Tour.

Things have been very tough for Uganda’s journeyman professional especially on the course but Ronald Rugumayo and his management team have refused to bat an eyelid with the storm at its strongest.

RwandAir, East African airline giant, has renewed its sponsorship package and Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa has come on board for a one-year UGX.40M package.

It is that strong belief and desire to make a breakthrough that led the management led by Peter Mujuni to swoop in the services of highly-rated South African coach Slade Fick for a three-month gig with the affable Ugandan golfer. Now things have gotten better in terms of tournaments to be played and it could work as a catalyst for the performance to improve two-fold on the course.

Rugumayo becomes the first Ugandan to play on the Altron Big Easy Tour at Reading Country Club in Johannesburg, South Africa. The three-day event in the East Rand, Gauteng has a prize fund of R150,000 (an estimated Shs30m) and boasts of a total of 12 tournaments over the season with more financial backing coming from legendary Ernie Els among other golfing greats.

“The Big Easy Tour is the second biggest golf tour in South Africa. Being given an opportunity to play here is great and a good ground to continuously test my competitive mindset and preparation on the international stage. To be selected among the 120 golfers to feature in it is encouraging. I am on the right track. My management is really trying to pull the strings,” said Rugumayo.

The affiliation status of Rugumayo on the coveted Sunshine Tour takes credit for the latest development as well as the behind-the-scenes work of his new coach Fick.

“Currently we are working on Rugumayo’s physical strength and mobility whilst ensuring focus under pressure within his training. I would like to see him maintain focus throughout his rounds and stay in contention,” said Fick about his latest recruit.

“We have also been working on a number of things, especially on achieving a consistent performance on the international stage. This event comes as a test to see whether everything in training is getting him in shape ahead of more other events, especially those on the Sunshine Tour. I am optimistic he will perform,” Fick confidently added.