Stick to written rules; You cannot just give yourself a handicap

Nyahururu Sports Club’s Beatrice Nyambura during the 2016 Nation Golf Challenge at the Nakuru Golf Club on October 8, 2016. Golfers must stick to the written rules. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH |

What you need to know:

  • The golf competition that we had participated in before the banquet was not without some interesting rules scenes.
  • Just like back in 1931, when the first four holes were in place, some golfers in Kakamega have developed a few Rules of Golf of their own.

Last weekend in Kakamega I discovered “gold” on the course where the members have long forgotten the Goldfields Championship. Playing on the golf course that was started during the gold rush of 1931, is an experience that I thoroughly enjoyed. The course, though generally flat and shielded from the wind by the numerous trees, is quite challenging.

For me, the allure of the course was intensified by the welcome we received from the flock hornbills on the par three third hole, the beautiful trees and the general ambience of the place. The best part by far is the warmth of the members of the club.

One of the members, Ken “Daddy” Anunda went as far as setting a sumptuous banquet at his home for some of us who were visiting from Nairobi. There was plenty of “road-runner” chicken (AKA kienyeji), ugali made from sorghum (or was it millet), miro and saga (some traditional vegetables) for us to enjoy.

The golf competition that we had participated in before the banquet was not without some interesting rules scenes. Just like back in 1931, when the first four holes were in place, some golfers in Kakamega have developed a few Rules of Golf of their own.

Back in 1931, before the golf course was fully developed and before they had any putting surface, the Golf Captain fixed a stick in the ground and called it “The Hole”. He then cleared a circle about two feet in radius and decreed that the first person to get his ball in this circle won the hole.

What Mr F. D. Hislop, the first Captain of Kakamega Golf Club did was understandable given the constraints of the time. By the time that he registered the club with the Kenya Golf Union in 1934, golf was played by the Rules of the time and their handicaps were recognised as valid in the colony.

He was however quick to admit that due to vanity, he had given himself a handicap that was way beyond his playing ability. Which is what came to my mind when I heard a golfer in Kakamega saying “I have declared that my handicap is now 18 down from 22”.

For those that may not know, just like the gentleman from Kakamega, you cannot arbitrarily give yourself a handicap. There is a system that was adopted by the Kenya Golf Union in 2008 called CONGU (and no… it is not Kungu), that all clubs are required to use to award handicaps. You should not wake up one day and decide to award yourself a lower handicap.

If the gentleman from Kakamega recorded 18 as his playing handicap on his scorecard, then the committee was required to calculate his score based on the lower handicap. If on the other hand he recorded 23 instead of 22, he would have been disqualified.

This arbitrary declaration of handicap change should have no bearing whatsoever on the actual handicap of the player. His handicap remains at 22 and the only way to change it is by playing better.

Whereas it is a requirement for all golfers to reduce their handicap when they play well, this was not the reason why this golfer was reducing his handicap. He felt that handicap 22 was not appropriate for his playing abilities.

Before committees agree to the sentiments of vain golfers who are tired of being in the “children’s division” (division C - handicap nineteen and above), and want to join the “boy’s division” (division B - handicap twelve to eighteen) or the “adults division” (division A – handicaps below eleven), they would do well to read the CONGU manual. A handicap is an indication of one’s playing abilities and not an arbitrary number given on the whims of vain golfers.

My only disappointment while in Kakamega was to find out that the Goldfields Championship has lost its stature.

The golf course owes its existence to the fact that some of the early settlers in the region were interested in gold.

The Goldfields Championship, which was recognised by KGU back in 1934, should have the same stature as the Tannahill Shield of Royal Nairobi Club; at least to its members. The fact that some of the members are not even aware of its existence is a testament to the fact that it is not given the attention it deserves.

When all is said and done, the golfers of Kakamega Golf Club, have hearts of gold and I hope to get a chance to play there again and interact with them.

The author is a KGU Executive