Cheating caddies slide innocent golfers into disqualification

Andrew Chelogoi tees off during the Standard Group Golf Tournament at the Eldoret Golf Club. 16-02-2019. [KEVIN TUNOI, STANDARD]

A story is told of a very talented golfer (he used to play off single-digit handicap), whose game was going through a rough patch.

The golfer, who was known as Githegi, was going through a long and painful season where all his 14 clubs had gone rogue. His tee shots, which once bent beautifully to the will of their master, now just plonked themselves in the deep rough.

Githegi’s saving grace was his caddie; he never lost a ball even in the juiciest of rough. Somehow, Githegi always found his ball in a decent lie with a clear path to the green. He did not stop to question how a ball that was seen headed out of bounds was miraculously found inbounds.

He just thanked his lucky stars and generously tipped his “good and faithful” caddie for a job well done.

One time when playing a match at the old third hole at Kiambu Golf Club (currently played as the fifth hole), Githegi hit a mighty slice from the tee and the ball was thought to be out of bounds.

As Githegi prepared to play a provisional ball, his good and faithful caddie who had walked ahead raised his hand in a gesture to show that the ball was inbound and okay.

The caddie ran towards the trees on the right and set the golf bag on the ground, searched briefly and loudly announced that it was okay.

Githegi was able to play his second shot from the rough to the green.

His opponent who had lost to Githegi before had long suspected that there was some monkey business. He was vindicated when the ball that Githegi played from the rough turned out to be yellow.

“Githegi, didn’t you play a white ball from the tee? How did it turn to be yellow?” asked his bemused opponent.

“I concede the match!” answered Githegi in a huff. He walked off the course and did not play golf after that incidence.

After the incidence, a ball that was placed or moved by the caddie was referred to as a “Githegi ball” by Kiambu Golf Club members. Unfortunately, the Githegi ball is making its comeback on many golf courses in Kenya today.

There are those that believe that the problem is with the caddies at our clubs and their orientation.

Their belief, unfortunately, does not tally with mine. The golfer who blames a caddie for not finding a wayward shot or one that rewards his caddie when he has won his bet, regardless of how he achieved his win, is more to blame for the Githegi balls.

The Rules of Golf may not explicitly cover the Githegi ball since it is not envisioned that anyone would even contemplate cheating at golf. It is however clear that a golfer is responsible for the actions of his or her caddie.

A deliberate attempt to cheat in the game is an offence that will earn the player a straight disqualification.

If, as a golfer, you suspect that you are playing a “Githegi ball”, you must do the honourable thing; disqualify yourself and walk off the golf course in shame. If your caddie thinks that you will be happy with a “Githegi ball”, then you may be sending the wrong signal or playing a course full of golf cheats.   

 Wang’ombe is a Kenya Golf Union Executive

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