Once in a while you come across inspiring stories of people whom despite being handed some bad cards in their life, don’t let this fact put them down. These individuals endeavor to make the best of what they have in order to succeed and change their circumstances.
Such is the story of Joshua Karani who is a Form Three student but also works as a Caddie at the Nyanza Golf Club in order to get school fees. We had a chat with him about his journey as a Caddie and this is what he had to say;
Tell us about yourself
My name is Joshua Karani and I am a student at Kanyamedha Secondary School in Kisumu. I am also a Caddie at the Nyanza Golf Club.
When did start working as a caddie?
I started caddying when I was in class six as a means of earning a living and so far, I have done this job for 6 years.
What inspired you to become a caddie?
I got inspired to start working as a caddie by my big brother who used to be a caddie at the Nyanza Golf Club. He was so good at his job that he got a promotion and went to work at the Nyali Golf Club. When I saw how the game of golf had changed his life for the better, I decided to join and try my luck.
How has golf changed your life?
My parents are not well off, so I have had a lot of challenges in raising my school fees. But courtesy of working as a caddie I have been able to raise my fees and I am now in Form Three. When I had just joined form one, I met a member of the club who when he heard my life story, decided to sponsor my education for one year which helped a lot. Also, the money that I get from working as a caddie on weekends is what I use to supplement my parents’ income so as to be able to pay for my school fees. However, there are times when it gets so bad that I have to stay at home for even half a term. Simply put, golf is what has enabled me to study and without it I would not be in school.
What challenges have you encountered working as a caddie?
The biggest challenge that I face is getting the chance to work. This is due to the fact that a majority of the club members have permanent caddies. This means that those of us who don’t have a regular member to work for, don’t get a chance to work. Which is why I am happy that the Safaricom Golf Tour has come to our club because I have gotten a chance to caddie.
How do you manage to strike a balance between caddying and school?
I have managed to strike the balance by focusing on my studies as from Monday to Saturday and coming to the golf club on Sundays when I don’t have classes.
What do you think is the impact of the Safaricom Golf Tour?
The Safaricom Golf Tour has been a very good thing for caddies because it has enabled us to get a chance to work even three times in a day. This is something which would not have been possible on a normal day.
The Junior Tournament was also good in that it gave young people like me, to be able to compete and interact with players from other parts of the country. This I believe will go a long way in growing the game in the country. However, I was not able to compete because I did not have funds to register as well as proper golf shoes. But I am hoping that by the time the tournament comes back next year I will be ready to participate.
The Safaricom Golf Tour is a 14-leg golf series which aims to tap, nurture and grow talent among young golfers across the country as well as demystify the game. So far the tour has had 4 legs with the last one being held at the Kisumu Golf Club. After Kisumu, the tournament will proceed to Machakos Golf Club before heading to Eldoret.
Lydia Jebichii emerges the winner at the fourth leg of Safaricom Golf Tour at Nyanza Golf Club