On the lush sunlit fairways of Kenya, a new chapter in the country’s sporting history is being written and it bears the name Naomi Angela Wafula.

At just 27, Naomi has shattered barriers to become the first woman to join the Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK), etching her name among the nation’s sporting pioneers.

But for the Kitale born golfer, turning professional is not the destination, it is the beginning of a much bigger dream.

“I want to play on the international tours. I want to play on the Ladies European Tour. Go to Q-School. So, for me, achieving my first goal and dream of being the first woman professional on the PGK is just a path,” a determined Naomi says.

Already, she is putting her ambition into action and was last week competing in her first international tournament in Rwanda, proudly flying Kenya’s flag on an international stage.

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Back home, she made waves in August when she debuted in the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing, the only regional golf tour that awards Official World Golf Ranking points, a key pathway to Olympic qualification.

“With these two tours ongoing right here, my goal is to participate in as many as I can and hopefully earn the opportunity to play on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa or go to Q-School in Europe,” she explains.

Kitale to the World

Naomi’s journey began far from the manicured greens of Vipingo Ridge.

Raised in Kitale in Trans Nzoia County, her story was shaped by resilience, sacrifice, and the unwavering belief of her aunt, Rose Naliaka, who is herself a pioneering golfer.

“My aunt Rose Naliaka took me from the village and brought me to Nairobi,” Naomi recalls. “Auntie Rose taught me tennis, swimming, and eventually golf. I would follow her to tournaments, and that’s how it all started.”

However, life in Kitale was not an easy ride for her as her mother, a seamstress, often struggled to care for four children.

Rose stepped in, raising Naomi in Nairobi and introducing her to the sport that would change her life.

But Naomi’s rise was far from smooth as at one point, she was forced to return to Kitale and found herself cooking and selling chips on the roadside to make ends meet.

“I was also very business-minded, and I wanted to have my own business,” she recalls.

Even then, golf never let go of her.

A call from a senior official at a betting company offering sponsorship reignited her career and brought her back to Nairobi.

“From there, I started playing golf again. My game was still good. One day I got invited to play in the Magical Kenya Ladies Open, part of the Ladies European Tour, at Vipingo Ridge,” she remembers.

Her performance caught the attention of Vipingo Ridge, who offered her a place to stay and free access to world-class training facilities, and this proved to be the turning point of her career.

Big Leagues

Since 2022, Naomi has been training at Vipingo Ridge under PGA Pro David Marsh, who sharpened her swing and mental game.

She also embraced modern technology like the G-Squad performance machine and a rigorous gym schedule to build strength.

“This has a very big impact on my golfing career at the moment, as now I’m competing with the best at the highest level,” she says.

The results followed quickly and in 2023, Naomi became the first Kenyan woman to make the cut at the Ladies European Tour, earning her invitations to more tournaments in Europe and solidifying her decision to turn pro.

Challenges & Inspiration

Despite her meteoric rise, Naomi faces the same obstacles many athletes know too well: costly travel costs and limited sponsorship.

“Now that I have joined the tour, the PGK Tour, I believe that sponsors will come in, because I have just joined after the other professionals. They had already gotten their sponsors, but I joined later than that.

“So, I believe if I continue playing, I’ll have sponsors coming in. Otherwise, we’re travelling all the time to different places, and it’s quite expensive.”

Still, her optimism never wavers. “My golf journey has been amazing, full of wins, full of challenges, and just like any other work, the challenges will always be there. But for me, the strongest strength I have, I’ll say, is my mentality. I have a very strong mentality, and I always look at things positively, despite any challenges.”

Inspiring Next Generation

For Naomi, success is not only about personal glory but about inspiring others, especially young Kenyan girls who may dream of golf or any other pursuit.

“There are so many girls out there with talent, and I will just tell them to keep dreaming, keep having a positive mindset. You might not have everything you need to make you what you want to be, but for now, work with what you have. Appreciate everything that you have, take it there at a time and always enjoy the process of working towards your goal. Enjoy the process. And that’s where the magic happens,” Naomi concludes.

From Kitale’s dusty streets to the greens of international tours, Naomi Wafula’s story is one of grit, grace, and groundbreaking achievement.

The young golfer is rewriting Kenya’s golfing history while inspiring a new generation to dream bigger, swing bolder, and aim higher.