Welcome Issa!
Nlareb Becomes London Golf Club Member
In September, we welcomed Issa Nlareb back to the club just weeks after his unforgettable triumph at the inaugural London Golf Club G4D Shield.
Nlareb’s rounds of 68 and 78 on the International course had sealed victory in August, and we were delighted to offer him membership so that he can visit the club at his leisure.
Hailing from Cameroon, Nlareb’s first introduction to the world of golf came at the age of 11 when, following the death of his mother, he started work as a ball boy at a local club to earn money. After a few years, he progressed to caddying and eventually started playing the game himself.
Nlareb’s talent was obvious right away, and at one point he was the top-rated player in Africa. A tournament in Egypt in 2017 changed the trajectory of his life forever. During tournament week, he contracted bacterial meningitis, losing both legs and all but two of the fingers on his right hand.
But after a couple of years, it became clear that he missed golf too much to give it up – and to his delight, Nlareb realised that he could still hit a golf ball better than most. Thus began the slow climb up the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD). He stepped into motivational speaking and took on responsibilities as an ambassador for the disabled golf community. Very quickly, Nlareb became someone that others looked up to.
Less than a month before his win on the International Course, the Cameroonian was making his debut in the U.S. at the U.S. Adaptive Open in Kansas – the pinnacle of a lifelong goal to play golf in America.
The club is proud to be supporting Nlareb on his inspirational journey, continuing a long tradition of welcoming the world’s best to our fairways – a tradition that began over 30 years ago when Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros and Tony Jacklin played in our opening match.
Ben Stimson, director of golf at London Golf
Club, said: “At London Golf Club we are always looking at ways to improve our overall experience, and that includes making sure we have the best available equipment for visitors, members and staff.
“Our new fleet of Club Car Tempos from Bradshaw Electric Vehicles ensures that is the case. Our new buggies are already enhancing the efficiency of turnaround in our buggy park and are helping all navigate our courses seamlessly with the latest Visage V4 GPS units.”
Q&A with ISAA NLLAREB
What do you enjoy most about the set up at London Golf Club?
Well, this is my second time coming here. I enjoyed everything about it, the academy, the clubhouse. It is a big modern venue. I love to play golf here. The practice facilities are in such great condition. The courses are very challenging and I look forward to playing more here.
Do you feel like having membership at London Golf Club will be a good opportunity for you?
Yes, it is nice that I can be welcomed here and use London Golf Club as my venue. I am happy to be a member here. Two different courses and beautiful panoramic views on the courses. England to me looks flat but it is not, no lie is the same. Sometimes up above my feet other times low and difficult, it reminds me of Cameroon!
In Cameroon, where I started, the lies were more flat and this is more challenging but I enjoy it. I started to play in Cameroon and I lived on the course for two years. I felt safest on the course. When I did this I would find balls from the course and sell them to people at the course to make money. After I did this I then started to caddie.
At London Golf Club, the facilities are better. Kent gets the rain and sunshine, sometimes, so the course can be so much better. Here I see the greenkeepers work like a family. For me everyone I have met at the London Golf Club is so welcoming.
What are your ambitions for the future?
I think that I will travel around the world to play and learn. This year I won the Adaptive Open in the US. This was great for me and it was an honour to play and win. When I played at the London Golf Club Shield I won also.
I want to get others to enjoy my story. This way I can share my resilience and why I play the game, because for me it is my life.
How do you think, you and your story can inspire people and help grow golf for those with a disability?
When my career stopped in 2021 it was tough. When this happened, I went to school to learn how to share my sport.
When I visit England, and come to London Golf Club, I would be happy to share and teach – let people watch me hit balls and inspire. In France, I have a certificate to teach. So, I am ready to show this to anyone and to play and teach people in England and in the academy here.
How excited are you to be returning in 2025 for the London Golf Club G4D Shield. Are you going to defend your title?
Of course! This is my home course now and I will be here to make sure. The golf club have given me this great gift so I will be here. Any time and any invite to this event it would be my honour to play.
