An indoor training and performance centre located in Ruaka in Kiambu, is riding on technology to help local golfers enjoy the game, improve both their swing and equipment, and to play in golf courses located thousands of kilometres away.
Situated on Northern Bypass in Ruaka, GolfTech Academy which was started in 2019 on a different location, offers state-of-the-art golfing experience for players of all skill levels, and blends technology with expertise.
The facility has become a meeting point for golfers seeking to practice with different kinds of clubs, to repair broken clubs, or just seeking to adjust the size of the clubs to suit their height.
Born out of desire to help golfers repair their golf clubs, the centre gives local golfers an opportunity to play different world-class courses located thousands of miles away, thanks to technology called “immersive simulator.”
Immersive simulator sessions that deliver precise ball flight data and real-time graphics that mirror real course conditions have become popular with local golfers at the facility, and it is easy to see why. A professional golf kit that has 14 clubs costs between Sh75,000 and Sh200,000 locally.
Even then, a golfer must buy gloves, towels for cleaning the balls and clubs, then hire a caddy to carry the golf kit for the day to play an 18-hole course at local golf clubs.
Balls are of different makes, and a box of 14 costs between Sh5,000 and Sh10,000. Due to the prohibitive cost, most golfers buy a packet of three, or rely on balls that they win as part of prizes in competitions ( known as two-club, or those from hole-in-one).
Josphat Ontita plays a shot at Golftech Academy in Ruaka, Kiambu County on November 7, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
The immersive simulator spares a golfer these costs because a player just needs to show up and use equipment at the facility at a fee.
“We offer a range of indoor golf simulator experiences tailored for individuals in addition to professional swing analysis, and club-fitting services using advanced launch monitors and data capture,” said the facility’s founder Winnie Wangari Ngethe.
“Combined with our PING-certified custom club fitting service, we ensure a player’s equipment supports his game and swing. The technology isn’t just about hitting balls, it’s about helping the player to understanding his technique. It tracks progress and helps them make informed improvements,” Ms Ngethe said.
The academy also does club building and repair services at their in-house workshop that handles everything from re-gripping of golf clubs and shaft upgrades to rebuilding of clubs from scratch. This is likely to come in handy for local golfers, given the high cost of golf equipment.
“Using premium components from PING and Diamond Wishon Golf UK, we can design, assemble and fine-tune custom golf clubs based on a person’s unique swing data. We also do club repairs, mostly shaft extraction, loft and lie adjustments, re-gripping and swing-weight balancing,” Wangari says.
Ping is an American sports equipment manufacturing company based in Phoenix, Arizona. It focuses on golf equipment, producing golf clubs and golf bags.
The facility also runs a junior training programme designed to introduce young players to the sport in a supportive environment.
Golfer Josphat Ontita prepares to putt using an immersive simulator machine at Golftech Academy in Ruaka, Kiambu County on November 7, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
“Golf is more than a sport; it’s a journey of precision, wellness and continuous learning. My goal in founding GolfTech Academy was to give every Kenyan golfer access to the same tools and expertise that top international players enjoy,’’ Wangari, who first encountered high-tech indoor golf simulators while living in the United States of America, says.
“Players can bring their own clubs or use ours, and drinks from outside are welcome. The place is an ideal for beginners and pros. Custom club fitting is done by a fitter approved by Golf UK, and we use precision swing analysis to match a player with the perfect shaft, loft, lie, grip and head,” she says.
Custom club fitting is a process in which a trained fitter creates a set of clubs that perfectly matched to a player’s swing. Every aspect of the club is studied - from head and shaft to grip, loft, lie angle, and overall feel.
