Demystifying the Gentleman's Game

While studying at university over a decade ago, Kamau Nyabwengi observed a critical gap hindering his peers: a lack of access to the influential networks needed to secure jobs or launch businesses. [3] This realisation sparked the 2015 launch of Young Entrepreneurs Network (YEN) Africa, a platform designed to connect young entrepreneurs with essential knowledge, resources, and social capital. [3, 4] Initially leveraging social media for virtual sessions, the venture quickly grew to include physical networking events. [3]

A pivotal moment came in 2017 when Nyabwengi identified golf as a potent, yet largely inaccessible, networking arena. [3] "When you play golf, you play with a maximum of four people, and as you are playing, you spend about two to four hours together," Nyabwengi noted, highlighting the sport's unique environment for building relationships outside formal boardrooms. [3, 2] Recognizing that prohibitive club membership fees and high equipment costs were significant barriers for most young Kenyans, he launched YEN Golf to democratize the sport. [3, 13]

A New Business Model for the Fairway

YEN Golf operates on a disruptive model designed to lower the entry barriers to the sport. The organization partners with various golf clubs, allowing participants to access training without purchasing expensive annual memberships. [3] Furthermore, YEN Golf provides all necessary equipment, removing the financial obstacle of acquiring a new set of clubs, which can cost upwards of KSh 60,000. [3]

The core offering is an eight-week program, typically held on weekends, that teaches beginners the fundamentals of the game. [3, 4] The training covers everything from how to hold and swing a club to understanding the use of different clubs across the course. [4] According to a report by The Standard, the program culminates in a mini-tournament, giving new players a chance to apply their skills in a real-game scenario. [4] The entire program costs approximately KSh 20,000, a fraction of traditional entry costs into the sport. [4, 13]

Since its inception, the impact has been significant. As of Tuesday, 4 November 2025, YEN Golf has successfully trained nearly 4,000 new golfers. [3] "As a networking platform, we have been able to build a really big community of golfers who happen to be entrepreneurs and professionals that have done business together, exchanged contacts and services, or even become friends," Nyabwengi stated in an interview with the Daily Nation. [3]

The Broader Swing: Corporate Kenya Embraces Golf

Nyabwengi's initiative is part of a larger trend in Kenya, where the corporate world is increasingly leveraging golf as a strategic business tool. [2] Major financial institutions like NCBA Group and Absa Group sponsor popular golf series and tournaments, including the prestigious Kenya Open, creating platforms for high-level networking. [2] Similarly, organizations like the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Kenya and CNBC Africa host annual golf tournaments to foster business ties and connect industry leaders. [2, 9] These events underscore the sport's growing importance in Kenya's Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector. [2]

Despite its success, YEN Golf faces operational challenges. Nyabwengi cited inconsistency in trainee numbers and the high cost of maintaining and replacing equipment, which suffers significant wear and tear from beginners, as ongoing hurdles. [3]

Future Ambitions

Looking ahead, Nyabwengi aims to expand the program's reach across Nairobi and eventually to other regions, enabling more young professionals to access the sport's networking benefits. [4] His ultimate vision extends beyond business networking; he hopes to cultivate local talent capable of competing at the highest level. "We also want to have a situation where we can have our very own Kenyans winning competitions such as the Kenya Open Golf Tournament that happens every year. That has never happened before," he expressed. [3]

By transforming golf from an exclusive pastime into an accessible career development tool, Nyabwengi is not just building a business; he is investing in the next generation of Kenyan leaders, one swing at a time.