Celebrating a Vipingo Ridge Rising Star
Vipingo Ridge is immensely proud to celebrate Naomi Wafula, a talented golfer whose journey and achievements inspire us all. Naomi, who recently topped the ladies category at the NCBA Coronation Cup, is once again captivating an international audience as highlighted in this Ecco Golf Article, which showcases not only her exceptional skills but also her remarkable determination and resilience.
Photo Credit: www.golf.ecco.com
About Naomi
Naomi Wafula's journey to professional golf is nothing short of extraordinary. Born in Kitale, a small village in western Kenya, Naomi's early life was far removed from the typical paths taken by many professional golfers. Raised by her aunt in Nairobi, who is a golf instructor and founded a golf academy for local children, Naomi discovered her passion for golf at the tender age of six.
Despite facing numerous challenges, Naomi's raw talent and unwavering dedication to the sport became evident. From working hard on her game since she was 14, to selling chips on the streets to make ends meet, Naomi never lost sight of her dream to play golf professionally and travel the world.
Making History: Magical Kenya Ladies Open
A significant milestone in Naomi's career was her participation in the Magical Kenya Open, the season opener for the Ladies European Tour event held at Vipingo Ridge. Naomi made history as the first Kenyan player to make the cut in 2023. Read about her highs and lows of 2023.
Naomi's current goal is to secure her Tour Card for the Ladies European Tour by competing at the Q-School. Her rigorous training regime and participation in local tournaments, where she competes against men, demonstrate her commitment to achieving this dream. Naomi thrives on the competition and believes that playing against men sharpens her skills, making her even more formidable when competing against women.
If Naomi succeeds, she will become the first female golf professional from Kenya to play regularly on the Ladies European Tour, setting a historic precedent and inspiring the next generation of golfers in her country. Even if she does not achieve her ultimate goal, Naomi is determined to continue contributing to the sport by mentoring and training children, helping them to pursue their dreams.
Home Club: Vipingo Ridge PGA Golf Academy
Recognising her exceptional talent at an early age, Vipingo Ridge offered Naomi a position, allowing her to train daily at the PGA Golf Academy. Naomi describes Vipingo Ridge as a magical place, where the sight of giraffes, zebras, monkeys, and the ocean while training adds to the unique experience.
When she is not out playing in a tournament, you will find Naomi training at the PGA Academy, which is known for custom club fitting and technical swing analysis using the Foresight GCQuad Launch Monitor. In addition, the PGA Academy is renowned for cultivating young talent from the local community through Golf Clinics, to help discover future stars. New services include complimentary introduction to golf session for beginners, quarterly skills sessions with PGA Pro David Marsh, as well as one on one or group lessons at the PGA Academy.
We are incredibly proud of Naomi and look forward to her continued success on the global stage.