Temi Nyundo Leads as a Kenyan National Golf Player

By Ying Tzarm

Temi Nyundo, a golf player of Waldorf University was a national golf player of his country, Kenya. Not only working toward becoming a professional golf player, he also dreams to be the president of Kenya.

Nyundo, 21-year-old, is a business major and was recruited as a golf player at Waldorf in Fall 2019. Coming to the United States for an education is part of his plan to explore for more opportunities in the golf profession.

Nyundo fell in love with the sport quickly after he was introduced to it by his father at the age of nine. His first two months of practice was intense as he was trained by several coach daily and by his own father during the weekend from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“Playing golf, playing well is the only thing that make me enjoy it. It gives me fulfillment,” Nyundo said. “Even if I don’t play, I like being in the golf course. There is a sense of belonging and happiness.”

To further improve himself, he attended a golf school while also attending high school in South Africa.

“It [South Africa] was a scary experience, because I was 15 years old,” said Nyundo. “But I knew I needed to be mature.”

In December 2013, he was recruited as a junior national athlete for his tournament performances.

“I won three tournaments, a few top 10, a few top 5 and I became a national player,” he said. “That was one of the greatest years of my life. The work of years got me to become a national player.”

He competed in approximately 300 tournaments. A regional tournament for national athletes from Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Kenya in 2015 was his proudest achievement, as the Kenyan team won.

“It is always a great feeling to play for your country,” he added.

As a national player, Nyundo’s first time playing outside of the country was in Zimbabwe. In 2016, he travelled to Australia to attend a golf training program and joined tournaments to broaden his experience.

“It was an amazing experience. It was an eye-opening,” he said as an adult going away from his home for the first time. “I like to improve as a golfer and as a human being.”

To explore a greater opportunity in golf, he decided to join his younger sister, Kemi Katembo, to study at Waldorf, while playing golf for the university.

“Become a professional golfer is my number one goal, it is because I love it and I want to travel around the world,” said Nyundo.  

With the career, he is hoping to look after his family and friends, as well as his country. Having the opportunity to travel in the developed countries as a student and a golfer, he sees the need to empower the people and improve the country.

“I want to take Kenya to be the next level,” he said with success in golf and the hope that one day he will become the president of the country. “I don’t want it to be a typical African country. I really want to improve the life of my people.”