Mr Peter Karanja, one of Strathmore University’s drivers, reclaimed his throne in the Machakos Golf Tournament, marking his territory with a 37 point win. With just a month after his comeback to sports from a 20-year hiatus, his win and ambition in golf is one to reckon with.

 

For anyone who knows him, the subject golf never escapes a discussion. This comes from his impeccable passion for the sport. Golf reminds him of his childhood days when he would accompany his father to work and watch attentively as folks played a game of golf. His father was a member of staff at Limuru Golf Club, this predisposed Karanja to the game.

 

His enthusiasm grew, and he gained expertise in golf. He became a coach and later tried his luck in competitions. In 1989, Karanja won his first competition, this boosted him to play on. However, his golfing journey had to take a break when he chose to improve his career in driving; he hoped he would pick it up some day in the future.

 

Karanja has been a driver at Strathmore for nearly 19 years, a job that has led him to meet thousands of people and make friends in the process. ‘The Strathmore family and especially the students are good to work with, they are obedient even when corrected, they are disciplined”, he had this to say on challenges he faces in his job.

 

He acknowledges that Strathmore has opened many opportunities for him, allowing him to support his family to date. He is a devoted husband and a father of four children, one girl and three boys. His last born is an accounting student at Strathmore University. He is also a grandfather of three children; he beams with joy when he speaks about family.

 

After a long hiatus from golf, Karanja went back to the greens early this year, starting off at handicap 25 and has advanced to his current handicap 21. With his children now grown, he finds time to dedicate to his hobby and desires to actualize his dream of being a professional golfer. Albeit his demanding work, Karanja practices on weekdays from 6.30am for an hour to improve his golf swing.

 

His advice to potential golfers, especially students, “Take the first step. Buy or borrow a set of old clubs from current golfers and use them to practice. Buy second-hand shoes and lastly sign-up with a golf club that is affordable, and comfortable for you”. He was quick to add that golf is not a game for the rich, it takes passion and interest.  He advises students to take up golf as a way of networking.  “At the golf course, players treat each other as peers,” he said.

 

Karanja is currently a member of Golf Park Ngong Racecourse club. He also wants to venture into creating a drive range, for training others at his home town in Naivasha; he also plans to train a Strathmore golf team, this is already in progress.

 

We wish Karanja the best in his endeavors.