Meet Patrick Njuguna: Nairobi’s golf fitting specialist

The Nairobi Golf Simulator/club fitting studio located in Rossyln Riviera Mall, Limuru Road is one of its kind indoor golf simulator in the region employing Foresight GC2 simulator technology used by PGA pros for their practice. It is the most Trusted Technology in Golf.  Real Clubs. Real Balls. Real Golf. The fully interactive practice and club fitting modes allow golfers to practise on the virtual driving range. 

Nairobi Golf Simulator accommodates golf leagues, fundraisers, private events and corporate meetings designed for staff and clients. Rent the facility for your group or set up your own league. Travelog spoke to their resident golf-fitting specialist, Patrick Njuguna. 

What is the biggest misconception that people (Kenyans) have about golf?

The fact is that only a small percentage of players play professionally while the rest practice leisure This has led most Kenyans to assume that the game of golf is for rich or old retired people who have nothing better to do. The reality is that everyone can play golf and this simulator aims at proving that. As long as you can walk and healthy, golf has no age limit. It is the most therapeutic and one with nature sport that anyone can enjoy.

What does a golf-fitting specialist do?

A golf Specialist does swing analysis for golfers with different clubs to determine if clubs have the proper length, head, shaft, loft, lie angle and grip.  A golf club fitter must be certified by the golf brands to do custom club fitting. I, for instance, am a Ping certified custom golfer fitter with a decade experience trained in the USA State of Arizona.

Why is it important that a player should be fitted?

To avoid frustrations on the golf course it is very important to get fitted. A large portion of errant shots and eventually poor golf scores can be attributed to non-fitted golf clubs a golfer uses.  Golf clubs come in different standard sizes. Fitting of golf clubs helps a golfer make proper impact on the length of the club and lie angle of the clubhead. Length of the club is important because if a golfer uses too long of a golf club they are more likely to struggle to make contact in the centre of the clubface.  As the club gets shorter, it becomes easier to control during the swing. The lie of the clubface is also very important because as the club comes into impact it is important that the clubface sits with the sole or footprint of the club flat on the ground. That way the clubface is in the perfect position for impact and strikes the golf ball in the correct direction to go to its target.

How many simulators are there in the country and how is yours different? 

While their exists other golf simulators locally, our indoor golf simulator is one of its kind in the region. Our Foresight GC2 and 1 Foresight GC2 uses a stereoscopic pair of ultra-high-speed cameras to directly measure the movement of the golf ball at impact. Its launch monitors give you ball and club data with eye-opening accuracy and reliability. Since they are so accurate they are also used by world-renowned instructors including Butch Harmon, the world’s top golf teacher, at the Butch Harmon School of Golf. The GC2 uses a stereoscopic pair of ultra-high-speed cameras to directly measure the movement of the golf ball at impact. The GC2 takes up to 26 images of the golf ball in the initial 12 inches of ball flight and directly measures:

Do I need to reserve a simulator in advance or can I just walk-in?

We strongly recommend if you’re looking to come out that you reserve a simulator at least 24 hours or later in advance to make sure you secure you and/or your group’s spot. You can reserve a simulator by either call or book online through the website. We take walk-ins, but we cannot guarantee that there will be an open simulator for you when you arrive.

Can I bring my own food and/or beverages?

Yes, we do have an assortment of beverages and snacks that include chips, crackers, and candy. We also allow food deliveries if you wish to order something while you are playing. We are a BYOB (Bring Your Own Beer) establishment, but please be responsible and respectful of other players at the facility.

What are the costs involved?

Costs range from Sh500 depending on services. One hour of gameplay, for instance, ranges from Sh1, 000 while golf coaching by a professional goes for Sh2, 500 an hour.

How early can children begin learning how to play golf?

Children can start learning how to play golf as early as six years

What keeps you going?

The feeling I get when someone I have coached or fitted calls in to announce that they just won their first trophy, is indescribable.