| History of Golf in Kenya | | | | 4. Karen Kenyan Golf Club |
| The history of golf in Kenya goes back a long | | | | The 6,630 meter Karen Golf Club, in the Ngong |
| way, with one club in Nairobi due to celebrate its | | | | Hills, proved a worthy alternative venue for the |
| centenary in 2006. Locally, the game is thriving as | | | | 2004 Kenya Open. This is an admirably maintained |
| never before. Young and gifted Kenyan golf | | | | course with a well connected membership, strong |
| players are starting to compete internationally at | | | | traditions, high standards and strict dress code. |
| the highest levels. | | | | 5. Sigona Kenyan Golf Club |
| But it is only comparatively recently that Kenya | | | | About 40 minutes out of Nairobi, on the Nakuru |
| as a nation has woken up to the fact that its | | | | Road, is the recently upgraded Sigona Golf Club. |
| magnificent golfing inheritance is, in fact, a valuable | | | | This course is greatly favoured by local golf |
| commodity that can and should be marketed | | | | players and enjoys a moderate climate. Its par-71, |
| overseas. What's more, several of the Kenyan | | | | 6015 meter golf course is suitable for players of |
| top golf courses have been refurbished or | | | | all levels and its fairways are among the best |
| upgraded in recent times. | | | | kept in Kenya. |
| What Golfing in Kenya offers: | | | | 6. Limuru Kenyan Country Club |
| For the lovers of the game, Kenyan Golf offers:o | | | | Located a similar distance from Nairobi is the |
| Un-crowded and mostly well maintained courses.o | | | | par-71, 6,020 metre Limuru Country Club. At |
| Comparatively inexpensive green fees and | | | | 2,330 meters, the Limuru is high above level and |
| associated playing costs.o A perfect climate during | | | | receives more rainfall than most other courses. |
| Europe's winter months.o Hotel accommodation of | | | | Its greens and fairways are particularly lush, even |
| a high standards that is also reasonably priced.o | | | | in the dry season. This well maintained Kenyan |
| Frequent flights to Nairobi from Europe and the | | | | golf course is a delight to play, but at this altitude |
| Far East.o Manu excellent courses in and around | | | | players may need a sweater for early morning |
| Nairobi, at 100metres above sea level, but even | | | | and evening rounds. |
| more within two hours' drive of the capital | | | | 7. The Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort |
| 1. Muthaiga Kenyan Golf Club | | | | The Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort |
| Of the nation's 40 or so courses, probably the | | | | at Naivasha is about 2,150metres above sea level |
| best known is the Muthaiga Golf Club, home to | | | | and consists of a par-72, 6,073 metre course |
| the Kenya Open and founded in 1913. The Kenyan | | | | with some of the best views in Kenya. This is not |
| golf course is popular with the locals at the | | | | the toughest golf course in the Kenya, but what it |
| weekends, but it is comparatively easy to play on | | | | lacks in difficulty it more than makes up for by its |
| weekdays. Muthaiga has recently undergone a | | | | sheer charm and beauty. |
| major refurbishment to lengthen some holes and | | | | 8. Many Other 9 and 18 hole Golf Courses near |
| tighten other aspects of the golf course. | | | | Nairobi |
| 2. Windsor Kenyan Golf Hotel & Country Club | | | | Apart from those already mentioned, there are |
| Other good Kenyan golf courses in the Nairobi | | | | nine-hole and 18-hole Kenyan golf courses dotted |
| area are Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club | | | | all around the highland areas above Nairobi. Some |
| and the Royal Nairobi. Windsor Golf Hotel & | | | | are in excellent condition, while others probably |
| Country Club is unique to Kenya. Set amid coffee | | | | require some improvement before it would be |
| plantations, it consists of a large luxury hotel | | | | worth traveling long distances to play golf. |
| overlooking its own golf course. The Kenyan golf | | | | Golfing at the Kenyan Coast |
| course itself has some of the trickiest holes and is | | | | On the coast, meanwhile, visitors can expect a |
| not for the faint hearted or those a little | | | | tropical atmosphere in terms of climate and |
| wayward off the tee. | | | | playing conditions. There is a choice of two fine |
| As such, Windsor golf course is a stiff test for | | | | courses, Leisure Golf Club and the Nyali Golf Club, |
| any golfer. There is plenty of water around, not | | | | with rumours of new Kenyan golf courses to |
| to mention some blind greens, a do-or-die 14th | | | | come in the area. |
| hole and an 18th hole that is capable of wrecking | | | | 9. Leisure Golf Club in the Kenyan South Coast |
| any card. | | | | The unforgiving Leisure Golf Club at Ukunda, on |
| Like Muthaiga, the Royal Nairobi Golf Club is a golf | | | | Mombasa's South Coast, has tight fairways, good |
| course with strong colonial ties. Establishes in 1906, | | | | quality greens and is in good order thanks to |
| this is Kenya's oldest golf course. | | | | some new grass-cutting equipment. The 6,084 |
| 3. Railway Kenyan Golf Club | | | | metre golf course is open to non- hotel guests |
| Along with the Railway Golf Club, it is located right | | | | and visitors can expect a warm welcome at the |
| in town. AT 6,600 meters off the back tees, the | | | | club house. |
| Royal Nairobi is a testing course. Both the club | | | | 10. Nyali Golf Club in the Kenyan North Coast |
| house and the golf course have been refurbished | | | | North of Mombasa, the Nyali Golf Club offers a |
| recently. | | | | more traditional set-up. This Kenyan golf course is |
| Slightly further from Nairobi, but certainly no less | | | | a fair test for any golfer, while the club house has |
| interesting, are golf courses such as Karen, Limuru | | | | a reputation for excellent food. |
| and Sigona. | | | | |