This archive report was first published on 10 August 2019.
On February 16, 2019, a talented golfer named Githegi was struggling with his game at the Eldoret Golf Club. His tee shots were going rogue, and he was in a painful season.
Githegi's saving grace was his caddie, who never lost a ball, even in the juiciest of rough. The caddie would somehow find the ball in a decent lie with a clear path to the green.
One time, at the Kiambu Golf Club, Githegi hit a mighty slice from the tee, and the ball was thought to be out of bounds. His caddie, however, claimed it was inbound and okay.
The caddie ran towards the trees, searched, and announced that the ball was fine. Githegi played his second shot from the rough to the green, but his opponent suspected something was amiss.
When the ball turned out to be yellow, despite being a white ball, Githegi conceded the match and walked off the course. The incident led to the term 'Githegi ball' being coined at the Kiambu Golf Club.
Today, the Githegi ball is making a comeback on many golf courses in Kenya. Some blame the caddies, but the golfer who blames the caddie for not finding a wayward shot is more to blame.
The Rules of Golf may not explicitly cover the Githegi ball, but a golfer is responsible for the actions of their caddie. A deliberate attempt to cheat is an offence that will earn the player a straight disqualification.
Wang'ombe, a Kenya Golf Union Executive, advises golfers to do the honourable thing and disqualify themselves if they suspect a 'Githegi ball.'
