Who's Who of African Golf

The continent boasts 25 men's and 4 women's major titles, the most major winners outside of the USA, led by iconic figures like Gary Player one of the world's legendary champions, Bobby Locke, the world's greatest putter, Ernie Els, and Nick Price both world number one, Retief Goosen who helped himself to two US Opens, and the darling of the golf course and world number two Sally Little, all of whom have left an indelible mark on the global stage. But there are others who perhaps you have not heard about like Hassan Hassanein from Egypt one of the greats denied opportunities in America due to racist policies, James Lebbie, the wizard of West Africa from Sierra Leone until the civil war forced him to flee, Uganda's Sadi Onita, and the up=and-coming Ahmed Mariane from Morocco. Of course others like Papwa Sewgolum, Lewis Chitengwa, and Retief Waltman.

While Southern Africa, particularly South Africa, has historically produced many of the continent's elite golfers, despite the apartheid policies, notable talents have also emerged from countries outside this region. Golfers from Egypt, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Morocco, Kenya, Tanganyika, Namibia, Swaziland, and Mozambique have made significant contributions, often flying under the radar compared to their Southern African counterparts.

The sport's development in these regions has been accompanied by the emergence of new champions, signaling a bright future for African golf. Improved infrastructure, investment in grassroots programs, and access to global tournaments have fueled this growth, allowing previously unknown players to showcase their talent on the world stage.

In all, 304 major contributors and champions are reviewed, and the new wave of champions highlights the expanding footprint of golf across Africa and reflects the continent's potential to continue producing world-class talent in the years to come. For the first time, we have a record of the major contributors to golf in Africa.