The Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) is the apex governing body responsible for the administration, development, and promotion of the sport of golf in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As the custodian of the sport, the NGF ensures that golf in Nigeria operates in strict adherence to global best practices as defined by the R&A and the International Golf Federation (IGF).
The Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) is the apex governing body responsible for the administration, development, and promotion of the sport of golf in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As the custodian of the sport, the NGF ensures that golf in Nigeria operates in strict adherence to global best practices as defined by the R&A and the International Golf Federation (IGF).
While the game of golf has been played in Nigeria since the early 20th century — with the first course established in Kano (c. 1908) and the historic Rayfield Golf Club in Jos following shortly after — the Federation itself was formally established in 1985 to provide a unified national structure.
Starting as a coordinator of amateur play among colonial-era clubs, the NGF has evolved into a modern national sports federation. A major milestone occurred in December 2018, when the NGF Congress adopted a new Constitution to align its operations with contemporary global standards, paving the way for the implementation of the World Handicap System (WHS) and digital athlete data management.
Under the current leadership of President Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, the NGF is transitioning golf from a leisure activity for the elite into a key driver of sports tourism and economic development. The Federation currently acts as the bridge between Nigerian golf clubs and the international community, ensuring Nigerian golfers hold globally recognised handicaps and compete on the world stage.
To build a stronger, safer, better organised, and internationally respected golf community in Nigeria.
To make golf accessible and popular among all Nigerians, promote its development across every geopolitical zone, and utilise the sport as a viable tool for job creation, youth empowerment, and national unity.
To administer the statutes, rules, and practice of golf in Nigeria; to regulate national championships; to enforce the Rules of Golf as laid down by the R&A; and to represent Nigeria’s interest in all international golf organisations and competitions.
Enforces the Rules of Golf and standardises local rules across all affiliated clubs. Manages the domestication and maintenance of the World Handicap System (WHS) to ensure every Nigerian golfer has a verifiable, globally accepted handicap index.
Spearheads the Grassroots Junior Golf Development Program, which introduces the sport to primary and secondary schools. Eliminates barriers to entry by providing free equipment (clubs and balls) to beginners at designated training centres.
Harmonises the national golf calendar to prevent fixture congestion between major club opens and national tournaments. Convenes the National Golf Stakeholders Summit to align private club owners, corporate sponsors, and government policy.
Provides technical support to member clubs for course rating and slope calibration. Protects player interests by maintaining a centralised database of registered golfers for security and administrative ease.
Sanctions and organises major national events, including the Nigeria Open, National Sports Festival golf events, and regional qualifying series. Oversees the Tomorrow Golf League (TGL) initiatives to introduce technology-driven stadium golf to Nigerian audiences.
Collaborates with the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN) to host continental championships such as the All Africa Challenge Trophy. Promotes specialised clinics to increase female participation in the sport.
Coaching: partners with the R&A Foundation to deliver elite ‘Train the Trainer’ programs, certifying local PGA professionals in modern biomechanics and instruction. Officiating: conducts regular seminars to train and certify Nigerian referees, ensuring local tournaments are officiated to international standards without foreign reliance.
Selects and manages Team Nigeria for international outings, including the World Amateur Team Championships and the ISF World School Golf Championship.
Historically, the NGF operates nationally from its Abuja headquarters under current President Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, working through the standard six geopolitical zones to coordinate grassroots developments, junior clinics, and driving range allocations.
While the NGF utilises the national six-zone structure for high-level administration (such as deploying the new World Handicap System (WHS) and regional driving ranges), individual club administrative contacts remain independent or flow through the Professional Golfers Association of Nigeria (PGAN) and the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN).
Centered largely around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Plateau State. This zone serves as the administrative hub for the federation.
Holds the highest concentration of active golfers and premium championship courses in the country, largely concentrated across Lagos and Oyo states.
Represents a historic hub of Northern golf, utilising prominent military and civilian club layouts.
Features prominent oil-and-gas corporate-supported fields alongside municipal clubs.
Spreads regional development via public corporate and institutional courses.
Serves major regional city clusters; historical courses are undergoing long-term infrastructure improvements.
| Club | Location | Zone | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBB International Golf & Country Club | Abuja, FCT | North Central | Abuja (Aso Drive) |
| Rayfield Golf Club | Jos, Plateau State | North Central | Historically recognised as the oldest golf course in Nigeria. |
| Lamingo Golf Club | Jos, Plateau State | North Central | |
| Otukpo Golf & Country Club | Otukpo, Benue State | North Central | |
| Ikoyi Club 1938 – Golf Section | Ikoyi, Lagos State | South West | Ikoyi, Lagos |
| Ikeja Golf Club | Ikeja, Lagos State | South West | Ikeja, Lagos |
| Lakowe Lakes Golf & Country Estate | Lakowe, Lagos State | South West | Lakowe, Lekki Axis |
| Ibadan Golf Club | Ibadan, Oyo State | South West | Ibadan |
| Abeokuta Golf Club | Abeokuta, Ogun State | South West | Abeokuta |
| MicCom Golf Resort | Ada, Osun State | South West | |
| Smokin Hills Golf Course | Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State | South West | |
| Kaduna Golf Club | Kaduna, Kaduna State | North West | Kaduna City |
| Kano Golf Club | Kano, Kano State | North West | |
| Zaria Golf Club | Zaria, Kaduna State | North West | |
| Jaji Golf Club House | Jaji, Kaduna State | North West | |
| Port Harcourt Club 1928 – Golf Section | Port Harcourt, Rivers State | South South | Port Harcourt |
| Air Assault Golf Course | Port Harcourt, Rivers State | South South | |
| Ibori Golf and Country Club | Asaba, Delta State | South South | Asaba |
| Benin Club Golf Section | Benin City, Edo State | South South | |
| Bauchi Golf and Country Club | Bauchi, Bauchi State | North East | |
| Ashaka Golf Club | Gombe, Gombe State | North East | |
| Aba Golf Club | Aba, Abia State | South East | |
| Enugu Golf Course | Enugu, Enugu State | South East |
The table below breaks down the top tier of primary national courses recognised uniformly across NGF frameworks, including their recent listings on the global World Handicap System (WHS) integration map.
An expansive 18-hole championship resort course serving as the host venue for major national corporate tournaments, diplomatic cups, and NGF executive stakeholder summits.
A premier, highly historic 18-hole green standard course set right in the heart of urban Lagos. Known for its tight, challenging fairways and elite private membership.
Boasts immense historical prestige as a foundational centre for green sports across Nigeria, known for its unique high-altitude terrain and classic layout.
A modern, high-end 18-hole championship course surrounded by residential lakes, designed to match modern international resort standards.
The Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) under its current constitutional framework and the leadership of President Otunba Olusegun Runsewe operates on a defined set of core organizational values. These values are designed to govern the sport nationally, maintain international compliance with the R&A, and drive grassroots expansion.
Golf is fundamentally a game of self-regulation, honesty, and deep-rooted respect. The NGF strictly enforces transparent governance, financial accountability, and the traditional etiquette of the sport across all administrative levels, affiliate clubs, and sanctioned tournaments.
Breaking away from the historical perception of golf as an exclusive pastime for the elite. This value drives the federation’s mandate to make the sport accessible to all Nigerians, regardless of socio-economic background, through public programs and school initiatives across all six geopolitical zones.
Continuous capacity building across all operational sectors. This includes partnering with global bodies like the R&A Foundation to uplift domestic coaching standards, formalising rules officiating, and implementing the World Handicap System (WHS) to ensure Nigerian golf matches elite international benchmarks.
Leveraging the power of sports to foster peace, regional cohesion, and international diplomatic pride. The federation utilises national tournaments and junior development camps to unite youth from diverse cultural backgrounds across the country.
Embracing modern technology and sports science to future-proof the game. This value anchors current initiatives like digital handicapping tracking, electronic member databases, and exploring technology-driven concepts like the Tomorrow Golf League (TGL) simulation centres.
The governance structure of the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) is anchored on its 2018 Constitution (as amended), which shifted the federation from a government-appointed model to a democratic, stakeholder-driven framework in line with The R&A and International Golf Federation (IGF) guidelines.
The NGF operates a representative governance model based on its six distinct geopolitical zones. Authority flows from the grassroots affiliate bodies up to the supreme legislative arm.
Highest decision-making body
Headed by the President
Administrative management
Technical / Rules / WHS
Zonal representation and grassroots delivery
Comprises delegates from all recognised state golf associations, military golf clubs, institutional representations, the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) of Nigeria, and the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN).
The supreme legislative and decision-making authority of the federation.
Elects the Executive Committee members every four years, reviews national financial statements, and approves major constitutional amendments.
Spearheaded by the NGF President (currently Otunba Olusegun Runsewe), supported by the Vice President, and zonal representatives.
Executive management and strategic execution of the federation’s mandates.
Implements Congress resolutions, sets the national tournament calendar, manages international diplomatic affiliations, and controls federal and corporate budgetary allocations.
Led by the Secretary-General, an administrative officer deployed by or aligned with the Federal Ministry of Sports Development.
The Secretary-General reports directly to the NGF President and the Executive Board while serving as the administrative bridge to the government.
Manages day-to-day operations, official correspondence, minutes of board meetings, and coordinates national team travel protocols.
The Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) handles national governance structurally but does not publish standard corporate biographical dossiers, career timelines, or downloadable high-resolution headshots for its entire extended board roster. Roster updates occur iteratively following national election protocols and ministerial re-alignments.
A highly seasoned veteran of public administration, corporate communications, and tourism development. He served for years as the Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and previously headed the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC).
Actively drives the intersection of sports development and corporate tourism. Under his tenure, the NGF successfully resolved historical compliance requirements with the African Golf Confederation (AGC) and launched the signature indoor digital simulator pilot program in Abuja.
Holds ultimate administrative and executive authority over the federation. He chairs national board summits, steers corporate sponsor integrations, and acts as the official liaison to the Federal Ministry of Sports Development and international bodies like the R&A.
Standard media coverage assets are available directly via the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and major national print houses.
An accomplished Accident and Orthopaedic Surgeon.
Holds a deeply established pedigree within the domestic landscape, having previously served as the Captain of the IBB International Golf & Country Club and Chairman of the FCT Golf Association. He was appointed by the FCT Minister to chair the Interim Management Board of the IBB Club.
Provides senior institutional guidance, tracks facility management alignment, and preserves technical continuity within the federation’s capital hub.
Continually commands female amateur sports progress across the West African region. She successfully secured Nigeria’s hosting rights for the continental All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT).
Represents all female golfing interests on the national board, coordinates inter-ministerial logistics for international female delegations, and manages joint developmental Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).
Clubs, partners and media can contact the federation directly.
