At 15, Issa Made Golfing History in Zanzibar

By Staff Writer 

At just 15 years old, Saidi Issa achieved the kind of golfing milestone many players spend a lifetime chasing: a hole-in-one.

Issa aced the ninth hole at the Sea Cliff Resort & Spa Golf Course in Zanzibar on March 16, 2025, becoming, at the time, the youngest player known to have achieved the feat on the course.

He used an 8-iron to strike a Titleist No. 4 ball approximately 130 metres into the hole.

Now 16, Issa still remembers the moment vividly.

“I was very happy to make a hole-in-one on the par-three ninth hole at Sea Cliff,” he recalls.

It was a memorable morning round with his friend Rajab. The two youngsters were simply doing what they often did on weekends — practising their golf.

“I already knew that a hole-in-one was possible in golf, and I used to think that one day I would make one myself. But I didn't expect it to happen so soon,” Issa says.

His friend Rajab was among the first to celebrate the remarkable shot before informing their coach, professional golfer Stanley Sanga.

Sanga was also the first to break the news publicly, ensuring that the young golfer's achievement did not go unnoticed.

More than a year later, in September 2026, Royal Golf finally got the opportunity to meet Issa during the CEOs Golf Tournament, where the teenager spoke about the moment that has already become an important chapter in his young golfing journey.

A young golfer with a big dream
Issa is currently a Standard Seven pupil at Kiomba Mvua Primary School in Zanzibar, but his ambitions extend well beyond the classroom.

His immediate dream is to become a champion of Tanzania.

“My first dream is to become the champion of Tanzania. I currently have a handicap of 18, and I will work hard to reduce it so that I can become a better player. One day, I also want to be part of the national team,” he says.

That ambition has found an important foundation through junior golf development at Sea Cliff.

The course, located at the Sea Cliff Resort & Spa, opened in 2015 and is the first and, the only golf course in the Zanzibar islands.

The junior development programme has provided young golfers with an opportunity to learn, practise and develop their game under the guidance of pro Sanga and Club Captain Tazio Bercelli and Vice Captain Collins Chemng’orem and Golf Manager Sophie Nyanjera.

For Issa, however, the journey started even earlier.

A chance given by Coach Sanga
Issa began learning golf alongside his friend Rajab after approaching pro Sanga.

At the time, there was no formal junior programme at the club, but Sanga was willing to give the youngsters his time and knowledge.

Issa remembers that generosity as an important part of his development.

One of the fruits of that early coaching is now permanently attached to his name: a hole-in-one.

An ace is one of golf's rarest and most celebrated achievements. 

It occurs when a player hits the ball directly from the tee into the cup with a single stroke. 

The feat is most commonly recorded on par-three holes, where the relatively short distance between tee and green makes it possible — although far from easy.

For an amateur golfer, it can be a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Even professionals can go years without recording one.

Discipline before everything

Sanga has encouraged Issa and other young golfers in Zanzibar to remain disciplined and make the most of every opportunity they receive to develop their talents.

For a young player with Issa's ambitions, access to coaching, competitions, equipment and continued support will be important as he works to lower his handicap and compete at higher levels.

His hole-in-one may have been a single perfect shot, but the journey towards becoming a top golfer will require thousands more.

And Issa appears ready for the challenge.

For now, though, there is one small question still hanging in the air.

And who bought the drinks?
Golf tradition says that the player who scores a hole-in-one is expected to buy drinks for fellow players at the clubhouse.

So, Saidi — did you buy your friends drinks that day?

That question came with a big smile during our interview, but I missed the chance to get his answer.

Perhaps the bill is still waiting to be settled.

And if Saidi continues making history on the golf course, I'm certain someone will eventually foot it!