Top Five Golf Courses in Kenya
Kenya’s Golf Legacy: From Royal Nairobi to the Great Rift Valley
Kenya has 42 golf courses stretching from the Indian Ocean coast to the Great Rift Valley and central highlands. The country’s first golf course, Nairobi Golf Club, now known as the Royal Nairobi Golf Club, opened in 1906, introducing a sport that would grow into a national passion.
Early History of Golf in Kenya
After Royal Nairobi opened, two additional clubs followed in 1910: the Meru Club and the Nyeri Club. The Mombasa Golf Club was established soon after in 1911. By the early 20th century, golf had become a staple of Kenya’s colonial and cultural landscape.
Today, Kenya’s golf scene is second only to South Africa on the continent, boasting 42 courses. At least eight have hosted major international tournaments. The best times to enjoy golfing in Kenya are during the rainy seasons—March to early June and October to early December—when landscapes are green and vibrant.
Kenya has 42 golf courses across the country
Golf Tournaments and Championships
The prestigious Africa Zone 6 Amateur Golf Team Championship rotates among African nations. In 2015, the 20th edition was hosted by Uganda, featuring teams from Kenya, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa—the defending champions.
The Kenya Open Golf Championship began in 1967, inaugurated by Australian golfer Peter Thomson, the only player to win a modern major three times consecutively (1954–1956). The event has since become a highlight on the global golfing calendar.
Top Five Golf Courses in Kenya
- Vipingo Ridge – An 18-hole, par 72 Baobab course located an hour north of Mombasa. This 2,500-acre private destination features a Clubhouse, Beach Club, and Private Airstrip.
- Sigona Golf Club – Established in 1938 near Kikuyu along the Nairobi-Naivasha highway. Its toughest hole is number seven, making it a challenge for golfers.
- Muthaiga Golf Club – Opened in 1920, Muthaiga hosted the first Kenya Open in 1967. Redesigned in 2004 by South African Peter Matkovich, it remains a premier championship course.
- Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club – Located off Kiambu Road in Nairobi, Windsor combines Victorian-style architecture with an 18-hole championship course. Velvet monkeys and kite birds add a wild twist to the golfing experience.
- Nyali Golf & Country Club – Designed in 1958 by Monty Lowry, this Mombasa-based 18-hole, par 71 course challenges golfers with short roughs and doglegs.
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Photos courtesy of Kenya Golf Guide
