Isaac Makokha has embarked on his journey to represent the country at the 2022 Deaflympic Games that will be staged in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Despite failing to impress at the 2018 Deaflympic Games in Samsun City in Turkey, the Kenyan deaf golfer is optimistic that he will do well this time since he has started preparing early.
“I have started my training ahead of the Deaflympics hoping to register better results unlike last time in Turkey. I will be playing in these KAGC events as part of my training for the Brazil tour,” said Makokha, the 2020 Kenya Amateur Stroke-play champion.
He made history as the first deaf golfer to play at the 2020 Magical Kenya Open at Karen and that motivated him to take golf seriously after crisscrossing the country, East Africa and the rest of the world for the love of the game.
“For now I am okay, very fine just practicing for the Deaflympics and my memorable moments still remain in 2018 when I played for the national team during the Victoria Cup against Uganda, which was a greatest honour. There is really no good feeling like representing your country and as I am ‘deaf’ I suppose it feels like an even bigger achievement. Most people will never get to represent their country at any sport so for me to do that when I don’t have yet I don’t have a professional coach,” he said.
However, his golf achievements may results as coming from a golfing family back in Eldoret where he plays alongside his brothers led by professional Jeff Kubwa (Muthaiga), Rueben Kubwa (Vet Lab), Charles Odhiambo (Eldoret) and Dennis Makokha of Eldoret.
Odhiambo was rewarded by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2016 after hitting the longest drive. He was given golf kits, a full set of golf bag.