Hard work doesn’t always guarantee recognition, but there exists a profession where a simple act of service can turn into a life-changing opportunity.
Enter the world of caddies—the backbone of the golf course—who don’t just carry bags but also carry the trust, strategies, and even secrets of the game’s elite. They thrive on goodwill, an innate quality that stems from an individual’s character rather than formal training.
On a cool Friday, BDLife met with caddies whose rewards extend far beyond the 18th hole—men like Richard Osendi, 62, who has no plans of retiring anytime soon.
Despite his age, Osendi remains highly active at Golf Park. While the signs of ageing may be evident, he is far from done.
“Golf allows me to keep old age at bay,” he says when asked about retirement.
However, how and why did he begin caddying? “When I was 30, I was working at a guest house near Royal Golf Club and enjoyed spending my free days and weekends at the course watching people play. What first impressed me about the sport was the calibre of people playing. They are not only wealthy but also disciplined, and that made me want to be part of it.”
Though he only caddies four times a week, Osendi says being his boss makes the job worthwhile.
“There is no one who forces me to be here. I only come when my heart desires or when a client reaches out. I do not ask for permission even when I want to leave—I just go,” he says.
“I have reaped big from being a caddie.”
To Osendi, the most important skills for a caddie are trustworthiness and discipline. “A client may ask you to drop their golf bag in their car, and inside, there might be wads of cash. Sometimes, this is just a test to see if you will take any, even after they have paid you your normal fee,” he explains.
Although he has been in and out of the golf course, Osendi recalls how he built a rapport with one of his clients, who even took him to South Sudan for a job.
“One day, my client slipped in his bathroom and was so badly injured that he ended up in a wheelchair and could no longer play. But he would still come to the course alone or with friends. As they played, we would sit and chat—yet he would still pay me. One day, I asked him why he paid me even though I wasn’t working, and he asked if I wanted to be employed elsewhere. Until his passing, I helped him supply foodstuffs to refugees in South Sudan.”
This is not an isolated case. Osendi says through caddying, he has not only managed to open a beauty shop for his daughter but also built his house.
Additionally, being a caddie has enabled Osendi to rub shoulders with some of the most influential figures in government. “I’ve been with former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and Martha Karua, among others."
As a seasoned caddie, Osendi says one of the challenges he often observes is clients taking out their frustrations on caddies when they lose a bet.
“Others delay paying the normal caddie fee until they are reminded because you do not want to report them to management.”
Goodwill is rewarded
Before Joshua Opanyi, 55, became a caddie, he had seen his friends playing golf after their day jobs at a Naivasha flower farm. His interest was piqued when they explained the sport to him, and when he moved to Nairobi, they introduced him to caddying.
Now 13 years into the profession, Opanyi says is most rewarding about his career is that one can rarely go for a week or two without money in their pocket.
“This is one of the professions where goodwill is rewarded. Though the Kenya Golf Union has a fixed rate for how much a caddie should be paid for nine and 18 holes, if a client feels you have served them well, they often tip you extra,” he says.
A memorable gift Joshua has received from caddying is Sh10,000 every year-end from one of his clients. “Last year, I received Sh15,000 from different clients,” he shares.
Nonetheless, Opanyi says knowing how to play golf is not a requirement for becoming a caddie.
“You undergo special training sessions for several days with a trainer to ensure that when you accompany a client on the course, you can better advise, direct, and provide guidance.”
Additionally, a caddie’s knowledge of different clubs allows them to determine the best one for the client in different scenarios.
Some of the essential soft skills needed to work as a caddie, according to Opanyi, include knowledge of the game, discipline, trustworthiness, and focus, especially while on the course.
What are the mistakes you see golfers struggling with? “Quitting the game after frustrations of not playing better. So, you find one golfer who is playing on and off.”
However, it is not all rosy. Opanyi says one of the challenges he faces is the lack of a savings and credit cooperative organisation (sacco), which brings caddies together.
“Caddies are not employed permanently unless your golf course has that kind of sacco so it is contract-based,” he says. “My upbringing shaped my love for golf.”
For John Michael, 42, golf has been part of his life since childhood. His parents worked and lived in the Kitale Golf Club quarters, and he became acquainted with the game aged five.
John Michael, a caddie walking along golf course at Golf Park, Ngong racecourse in Nairobi on March 17, 2025.
Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation Media Group
“I would watch how people played, and it fascinated me. I also learned the golf language—clubs, caddie, range, tee box—quite quickly. Eventually, I was allowed to become a caddie when I turned 18,” he says.
In his 24 years as a caddie, Michael has witnessed many caddies transition into professional players. While poaching is common in any profession, He says caddies do not harbour ill feelings or sabotage each other when a client replaces them.
“There are times when you get double-booked and have to pass one of your clients to a fellow caddie. While you won’t get a cut for it, caddying has taught us not to be selfish because you can never serve two masters at the same time,” he says.
To Michael, working as a caddie has been more fulfilling than any other job because of the flexibility it offers. “For the last two months, I was employed as a personal driver, but I did not like how my boss treated me, so I left and returned to caddying.”
While the weather plays a significant role in determining their employment on a given day, Michael says clients often support them financially. During the Covid-19 pandemic, members of various golf clubs contributed foodstuffs and money for caddies.
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs once said: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do and continuously refine your skills.”
This rings true even for caddies. Michael says, "Almost every Monday and Wednesday here at Golf Park, I dedicate some time to training.”
