Taking a closer look at Kenya’s most interesting golf courses

After Aussie golfer Peter Thomson inaugurated the Kenya Open Golf Championship in 1967, the country embraced the game of golf and today there are now some forty golf courses throughout the Kenyan landscape.

Famous the world over for the breathtaking scenery and thrilling wildlife, Kenya’s vast national parks provide a stunning backdrop right in the heart of Africa for a rich variety of challenging golf courses and clubs, some dating back to 1906. Many are available for area golfers to test their skills, all while enjoying the natural beauty that surrounds them.

From the city to the coast, there are a variety of courses that represent all levels of difficulty, allowing golfers to enjoy the wonders of nature, while in the company of highly experienced caddies to assist you through your round — so don’t be afraid to pick up some clubs and give the game a try, but be sure to dress appropriately for the heat!

If you’re looking to take to the course, there are a few courses with some interesting holes that you should include on your playing schedule.

Limuru Country Club – No. 10

Set on 200 acres amid the tea fields about 30km from downtown Nairobi, Limuru Country Club features sweeping fairways, a spectacular assortment of indigenous trees and always has thousands of beautiful birds wandering and flying around the grounds.

Shortly after beginning your round, the par-5, 3rd hole provides a stunning view over the tea plantations. Choose your club wisely, while heading down the fairway the view is even better looking toward the emerald green, but beware the dam that borders the pathway, and the rock gardens of exotic flowers. But don’t let the view fool you — it is widely considered one of the most challenging greens in Kenya.

Sigona Golf Club – No. 10

Since 1938 the 18-hole, par 72 Sigona Golf Club has been delighting (and frustrating) golfers of all skill levels. Located on the Nairobi-Naivasha road just 25 minutes from Nairobi, the lush fairways are widely regarded as among the most beautiful, and most pristine in all of eastern Africa. Those fairways are lined with challenging bunkers, all leading to the immaculate greens surrounded by an array of birdlife and wildlife.

With a raised tee that sits nearly 15 meters above the fairway, the par-5 10th hole provides a stunning view of the particularly wide fairway with the beautiful horizon in the backdrop.

Muthaiga Golf Club – No 13

Located at the edge of the Karura forest in an affluent Nairobi suburb, the 18-hole Muthaiga Golf Club is one of the most beautiful and challenging courses in Kenya. Mutaiga hosts the Kenya Open each year, featuring some of the world’s best golfers, including several Masters Champions.

Perhaps the most popular hole in Kenya, the par-3 13th at Muthaiga, while a short hole, requires an accurate middle-iron club to clear the water into a huge green that slopes back toward the hazard. Even Kenyan professionals consider it one of the more “hostile” holes to play, and like the average golfer, continually lose balls to the water below.

Jordan Fuller is a golf mentor and coach who loves to travel around the globe and discovering different golf courses. He also owns a golf publication site,  https://www.golfinfluence.com, where he shares guides, tips, and tricks on how to improve the game.