On any given weekend at a golf course in Uganda, there is a good chance you will find Les Brown Okalebo surrounded by children rather than seasoned golfers.
He is not simply teaching them how to grip a club, perfect a swing or sink a putt. He is teaching confidence, discipline, communication and responsibility, life lessons that extend far beyond the fairways.
The Kenyan-born PGA Level 2 certified international golf coach has quietly become one of East Africa’s most influential junior golf mentors, dedicating more than 16 years to growing the sport and breaking down the perception that golf belongs only to the wealthy.
Today, his work spans US Kids Uganda, King’s College Budo and Palm Valley Golf and Country Club in Bwebajja, while his coaching experience stretches across Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Scotland, the United Kingdom and Abu Dhabi.
Yet despite an impressive resume, Brown measures success differently. “I’ve always believed that the biggest victory is watching a child discover confidence in themselves,” he says.
Unlike many coaches who grew up dreaming of golf championships, Brown’s journey started almost accidentally.
Although members of his family played golf, he never developed an interest in the sport until he stepped onto a course himself. “I realized I actually didn’t know much about the game,” he recalls.
That realization sparked curiosity, and curiosity soon became passion. The more he learned, the more he noticed gaps, not just in coaching but in how golf was presented to newcomers.
Many clubs struggled to attract new members because beginners were expected to understand traditions and etiquette before they even understood the sport itself.
Brown saw an opportunity. Instead of preserving barriers, he wanted to remove them, and that philosophy has become the foundation of his coaching career.
Brown does not believe coaching is simply about fixing a golf swing. He sees coaching as understanding people.
A beginner requires different guidance from an experienced golfer. Children learn differently from adults. A professional preparing for elite competition needs a completely different approach from someone holding a club for the first time.
“There isn’t one coach for everyone,” he explains.
Some coaches specialize in putting, others in driving, while some focus entirely on the mental side of the game.
Brown found his calling in junior development.
Why Children? For Brown, the answer is simple.
“If you want to transform a sport, you start with the younger generation,” he says.
He believes children approach golf without the social stereotypes that many adults carry.
Adults often see golf as an exclusive activity reserved for affluent communities; Children simply see a game.
On the course, children from different backgrounds compete, learn and grow together without worrying about status or social class. That, according to Brown, is where transformation begins.
Building a golfing culture requires consistency, and investing in children today creates club members, leaders and ambassadors for tomorrow.
Perhaps Brown’s greatest challenge has been dismantling one of golf’s oldest myths, that it is only for the rich.
He insists that golf in Uganda is far more accessible than many people believe. Many clubs offer affordable junior memberships and dedicated playing days for children, making participation possible for families who may never have considered the sport.
The real obstacle, he argues, is awareness.
“The facilities exist. The opportunities exist. People simply need to know that they are there.”
His message is clear: golf should be viewed as a community sport rather than an exclusive privilege.
I asked Brown what golf teaches children, and trophies are nowhere near the top of the list. Instead, he speaks passionately about communication, accountability and discipline.
Unlike team sports, where responsibility can be shared, golf demands personal ownership. Players keep their own scores, they prepare their own equipment, they arrive on time because nobody else can play on their behalf, and even young children quickly learn organization, responsibility and independence.
Brown believes these habits naturally extend into school, family life and eventually careers.
“The brain doesn’t know whether you’re learning discipline for golf or for life,” he says.
One of Brown’s most innovative approaches involves redefining the role of parents.
During junior tournaments, parents often serve as caddies. But on the course, they are no longer simply mothers or fathers. They become support staff. The child becomes the player and decision-maker.
If a young golfer chooses a seven iron instead of a five iron, the parent’s responsibility is to support that decision rather than overrule it.
The system teaches children confidence while encouraging parents to listen rather than direct.
According to Brown, this approach has transformed communication within many families. Children become more confident expressing themselves, while parents learn to engage through discussion instead of instruction.
When Brown reflects on his proudest achievement, he does not mention championships. Instead, he talks about children who once struggled to introduce themselves in public but now travel confidently across Africa representing their country.
Young golfers like Peter Mayende have competed internationally in destinations including Tunisia, Dubai, Kenya and Malaysia. Those experiences, Brown believes, reshape how children see themselves.
A child who once believed opportunities belonged to someone else suddenly realizes that the world is within reach.
“The confidence stays with them even if they never play golf again.”
That transformation, he says, is the greatest victory of all. Brown dreams of a Uganda where junior golf is not a niche programme but a nationwide movement. He imagines clubs filled with young players who will eventually become captains, committee members, federation leaders and decision-makers.
Many clubs across Uganda have already embraced junior programmes, offering free rounds and affordable memberships to encourage participation.
He hopes that government agencies, golf clubs, sponsors and the media will continue investing in grassroots development and facility improvement.
For Brown, the equation is simple: More juniors today mean stronger clubs tomorrow.
Away from the golf course, Brown’s greatest identity is fatherhood. He speaks warmly about intentionally creating time for his son and two daughters, describing family as his biggest passion.
He also enjoys travelling across Africa, participating in quizzes, spending time with friends and discovering places many locals overlook.
His favourite golf course is Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa in Kigo.
He would still be a teacher if he were not coaching.
He prefers tea over coffee, sneakers over formal shoes and podcasts over books.
His golfing philosophy is heavily inspired by legends like Gary Player, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer; not only for their achievements but for their belief that golf should be challenging, enjoyable and accessible.
Brown lives by two simple quotes. The first comes from Dr Wayne Dyer: “Don’t sweat the small stuff… and everything is small stuff.”
The second, fittingly, comes from American motivational speaker Les Brown: “If you change nothing, nothing changes.”
Those words perfectly capture the coach’s mission. Every lesson he teaches, every child he mentors and every programme he develops is driven by the belief that sport has the power to transform lives.
For Les Brown Okalebo, golf is not merely about birdies and pars.
It is a classroom without walls, a place where confidence is built, character is shaped and children discover that their biggest competition is never the course; it is the limits they place on themselves.
Quick Fire with Coach
Q: What’s your favourite golf course?
A: Serena Kigo.
Q: What’s your favourite club in your bag?
A: Putter.
Q: What’s one golfing lesson that can save your life?
A: It’s not over until you finish the final hole.
Q: Funniest moment you’ve had on a golf course?
A: Discussing football with kids while on the golf course.
Q: Early morning training or evening golfing?
A: Early morning training.
Q: What’s the hardest training drill for you?
A: Hitting a golf ball for the very first time.
Q: Which golfer would you love to train?
A: The best Black golfer in Africa, regardless of the country.
Q: Which legendary golfers would you love to spend time training with or learning from?
A: Gary Player, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.
Q: What do you admire most about those legends?
A: They played with joy. Golf is serious, but they never took it too seriously. Their philosophy was simple: enjoy the game, accept mistakes and keep playing.
Q: What’s your biggest pet peeve?
A: People who lack patience.
Q: Run 10 kilometres or spend 10 hours on the driving range?
A: Run 10 kilometres.
Q: Win a gold medal or finish a round under par?
A: Win the gold medal.
Q: Coffee or tea?
A: Tea.
Q: Sweet or salty?
A: Sweet.
Q: Sneakers or formal shoes?
A: Sneakers, any day.
Q: Books or podcasts?
A: Podcasts.
Q: Dogs or birds?
A: Dogs.
Q: Phone calls or texting?
A: Phone calls.
Q: Who is your favourite golf coach?
A: Gary Player.