Golf is a sport built on rhythm, repetition, and respect for its rules - and Charan Thethy has mastered all three. A former amateur standout and US college golf player, Mr Thethy is now one of Kenya’s respected golf instructors, quietly reshaping how the game is perceived and played.
Mr Thethy’s journey began in Kenya, coached first by his father and later mentored by Elisha Kasuku - a name still revered in local golfing circles. “He became my mentor in the sport, and even today, he’s still teaching,” he says.
That early guidance propelled him to a golf scholarship in the US, where he played college golf before competing in Europe, South Africa, and Kenya. But making a living from professional golf in Kenya proved difficult.
"There isn’t enough money for the professionals; it is difficult to make a proper living out of the game if you are only playing it,” he says.
He decided to forge a path in teaching the game. It was his work with the Royal Golf Club that eventually earned him a reputation as a solid golf teacher.
So, what does he teach?
“The game of golf is built around the swing. People who play the game well swing the club in a certain manner. They have mastered certain positions that affect a good swing,” he says. Mr Thethy's teaching on the swing is a five-point teaching process used by top professionals.
“The thing about the swing is that it is built on a lot of muscle memory. Once you know the correct position, you have to keep repeating it, so that it becomes a part and parcel of you,” he says. In addition to the swing, he teaches the short game, which he says is fundamental to the sport.
"This is the chipping, the putting, and the bunker shots, which also rely on positional technique to help keep one's scores good. In today's game, most players can hit the ball very well, but it is the person who has the best short game in that one week of a golf tournament that ends up winning the tournament, especially putting,” he says.
Golf has seen a steady rise in interest over the years, attracting younger players. However, it still suffers from several myths that discourage new players. First, you must become a member of a golf club to learn the sport.
“This is not true,” says Mr Thethy. “Some clubs charge only Sh4,000 to Sh8,000 in range fees, which lets beginners access practice facilities without paying for full membership.”
Charan Thethy follows the progress of his tee shot at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club on February 20, 2025.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
Another misconception is that golf is expensive, he says.
“The biggest misconception is that it is an expensive game, that it is only for the elite or old people with money. In the past, a new set of clubs could cost Sh250,000. Today, you can get a decent set for Sh80,000 or even second-hand for Sh50,000. The game is much more affordable now,” he says.
The other misconception, he says, is that golf is a very lazy sport; it lacks aggression.
“18 holes on a golf course is close to walking across 11 to 12 kilometers in four to five hours. If you try walking 12km on a road, you will get bored, but golf is a fun way that allows you to cover that distance without feeling bored,” he says.
"There was even a study done on Tiger Woods that showed the energy his body expended in a swing was among the highest measured in any sport.”
Golf clubs
So, how do you choose a golf club?
He says golf clubs come in different types—numbered irons, wedges (P for pitching, S for sand), and graphite or wood drivers. The higher the number or loft, the shorter the distance the ball travels, but the higher it goes.
Courses also differ. Kenya has more than 45 golf courses. "What you get in Windsor is different from what you get in Karen, and vice versa," he says.
A standard 18-hole course typically has a par of 72 - meaning it should take 72 strokes to complete under professional standards. Courses like Muthaiga have different configurations, with a par of 71.
“The goal in golf is to play to par or better,” Mr Thethy explains. In amateur golf, they use a handicap system to reflect your playing ability. "The lower your handicap, the better your game,” he says.
Mr Thethy has observed a significant rise in women taking up the sport.
“Many women were initially joining the sport to exercise; they wanted the gradual walking, which helped with weight loss. But over time, the sport became competitive and fun. They brought their friends, and the community grew.”
Charan Thethy poses for a photo at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club on February 20, 2025.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
Does playing golf pay in Kenya?
He recalls trying to create a tour that would make professional golfers in Kenya famous.
“What we have is one huge event, which is the Kenya Open. Unfortunately, as Kenyans, we are restricted from going to our event. There is always a back-and-forth with the Kenya Open on the number of slots Kenyans should get, and I always ask myself, since it is the Kenya Open, why not give as many slots as possible for Kenyans to play?”
For newbies, his parting shot?
“The fundamentals of golf are enacted even before one hits the golf ball. The first is the grip, which is how you hold the club; the second is the stance, which is how you position your feet; and the third is ball positioning, which is about your stance, and this varies with regard to the club that you are using. The fourth is the posture adjustment, which includes how far to bend the knees, how far away you stand from the ball, how you angle the ball, and things like that. The last one is alignment with the ball,” he says. “If you learn golf the wrong way and you get into bad habits, it is very difficult to unlearn them."
