What it takes to be a great caddie at Magical Kenya Open

Victor Navilegwa, 61, has been a caddie for over 35 years at the pristine Muthaiga golf club in Nairobi where the Magical Kenya Open (MKO) golf championship is ongoing.

Navilegwa's vast knowledge of the game has helped him deliver two MKO titles in his expansive career.

The father of four steered Englishman Gary Boyd to victory in 2009 and Ashun Wu of China to stardom in 2022.

Despite the lofty feat, Navilegwa says that he only received Sh5800 from the victory he recorded with Boyd and Sh65,000 from helping Wu to win Sh37 million from the tournament.

"I was paid Sh5000 per round for the three days I caddied for Wu and he later send me a bonus amount of Sh50,000 from the Sh37 million 'jackpot',” says Navilegwa who has opted to watch this year's MKO on the sidelines for the very first time.

Navilegwa's paltry remuneration cast doubt on the 10 per cent that champions are often expected to remit to their caddies upon victory in a high-profile tournament like the MKO and in other DP World Tour legs.

"I guess I didn't get the 10 per cent because I didn't have contracts with neither Wu nor Boyd. As for Wu, I stepped in on the second day after his caddie fell ill," Navilegwa said.

The money that golfers and caddies make at the tournament though has been made possible by the sponsors at the event with Standard Group PLC the media partner for the event presented by Absa.

Absa Bank has sponsored the 2025 edition to a tune of Sh 60 million. The bank has also allowed young golfers to have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play against the pros today where the winners will walk away with an Absa Junior Account loaded with Sh50,000.

But what does it take to be a good caddie at the MKO?

"A good caddie should exercise patience with the player, he should give good instructions, show the player good lines to place the ball, read the greens for him, extend them the right clubs to use in particular sections and also know the fairways like the palm of their hands," Navilegwa says.

He further adds: "I show them where the greens are tricky, I direct them on where to fire the shots, I read for them the wind patterns, I also analyse for them the tricky pin positions."

David Wakhu, a former caddie currently playing at MKO says for one to be a great caddie, in a big tournament, they ought to be resilient, sociable, knowledgeable about the pitch and loyal to the player they are handling.

"Loyalty is key. I remember one day I caddied for the late Blue Shield CEO Phillip Wanjala at Golf Park where I was being paid Sh150 per round of golf, but that day Wanjala gave me Sh2200. I was confused, I was nervous, I couldn't think straight, I was like probably he must have mistaken the payment, and because I was very loyal, I decided to return the money, but he (Wanjala) told me he had given me the sum in good faith and would want me to caddie for him the next day.

"I did not sleep that night, I kept checking the clock if morning had arrived so I could head back to Golf Park to wait for him," recalls Wakhu.

Wakhu started as a caddie at the Kitale Golf Club where he was paid Sh40 per round of nine holes.

"The highest amount I ever got at the club was Sh100 which included a tip," says Wakhu who currently pays his caddie at the ongoing MKO at Muthaiga Sh10,000 per round.

Michael Karanga, a former caddie at St. Andrews Ndumberi Golf Club and the Kiambu Golf Club reiterates that trust and respect are paramount for one to be a competent caddie.

"This is the reason some international players globe trot with their caddies, which they are used to, to the world championships like the MKO," says Karanga who mostly caddied for his 75-year-old grandfather and current Kiambu Golf Club pro Michael Mwaura.

He also caddied for former Ndumberi Golf Club chairman, captain and secretary-general Peter Mwai Kamau who is currently his manager.

Karanga is currently paying his caddie USD75 (Sh9500) per day at the ongoing MKO where he is also a contestant.

On the issue of the 10 per cent cut for a caddie should their player win the championship, Karanga is quick to dismiss the rule as misleading. He said: " This is not mandatory. There is nowhere it is documented a winner has to give the amount; it is only up to the goodwill of the champion to do so."

Karanga recalls the highest amount he got as a caddie is Sh 100.

"Sometimes, I was not being paid, especially if the player loses a bet, so I could go home empty-handed despite having walked the whole 18-hole journey with my client," Karanga said.

According to Kamau who has also been a marshal at the MKO for some time, a competent caddie should be a good player himself, respectful, conversant with the course, gives the client sound advice, very honest and humble.

"I see international players send their caddies upfront to familiarise themselves with Muthaiga Golf Club before the MKO tournament tees off, this is called trust," Kamau said.

On the issue of caddie remuneration, Kamau says federations like the Kenya Golf Union should take charge to shield caddies from exploitation.

"Caddies should also be offered financial literacy to enlighten them on their financial rights," he said.

Professional Golfers of Kenya Vice Captain Jeff Kubwa also recalls his days as a caddie at the Eldoret Club and at Muthaiga for 15 years.

"While in Eldoret, I was earning Sh60 which improved to Sh120 and then Sh 200 before I relocated to Muthaiga in Nairobi.

"For me, a good caddie should be honest and very professional in their dealing with the player," says Kubwa who is also a national team player."

As for Ronald Meru who currently caddies for his six-year-old daughter in the Simba League, to be a caddie is a very fulfilling job, especially to youngsters.

"You need lots of patience, especially when dealing with kids. Also trust, integrity and professionalism are a must in the game," Meru says.

Meru says normal payment for caddies at the ongoing MKO should range between USD 30-50 (Sh4000- Sh6000 but this could increase or reduce based on individual arrangements.

"On a normal tournament or club nite, the payment should be between USD 15-40 (Sh2000- Sh5000)," he said.

According to Peter Kanyago, the Kenya Open Golf Limited Chairman, the 10 per cent cut agreement, when an MKO tournament is won, is always an agreement between the player and the caddie as there is no rule which governs the payment.