It is said that your network is your net worth and one of the sports that are popular for keeping fit and growing one’s professional or business network is golf.
But joining a golf club is not easy. At most clubs, one needs to be proposed by someone who has been a member for at least one year, fill in forms, have a director’s signature and then go to a vetting panel for scrutiny.
Kamau Nyabwengi, aware of these hurdles, set up the YEN Golf Programme, under the Young Entrepreneurs Network (YEN), which demystifies the sport and brings it closer to the Kenyan youth.
But, for young people looking to play golf the cost of club membership is one of the many headaches. The other is cost of the clubs. However, Kamau has found a workaround it, partly with the help of the clubs where his clients learn and practice.
The programme’s 8-weeks training affords a platform for young entrepreneurs to learn golf basics, etiquette, meet and network with other aspiring golfers. After the training, participants can continue the engagement through social media and occassional golf matches across the country.
“We are mostly on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, WhatsApp and advertising and putting out content about golf out there so that people can get to learn what they need to do for them to participate in the programme,” Kamau says.
Using technology and payment platforms like Lipa na M-PESA, potential clients are able to subscribe and pay for the training.
Davies Mbela, who oversees communications at the African Academy of Sciences, went through the programme.
“The YEN golf training programme has opened doors to a world of golfing from both an exercise and entrepreneurship front. It has debunked the myth that it’s a sport for the rich by having a competitive training price and getting you fairway ready in a record 8 weeks! It has enabled movement of business banter from the boardroom to the open-air golf course while shedding off some calories,” he says.
The program has so far trained over 500 new golfers and for Kamau, the goal is to establish the first independent golf academy and continue using technology to educate and raise awareness of the game.
He shares more in this video.
