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GOLF COURSES IN KENYA

INTRODUCTION

One of Kenya's best kept secrets is the numerous courses. Few places in the world offer such perfect ingredients for fantastic golf holidays as Kenya does. The opportunity to play your favorite game, to see wildlife (sometimes on the course!) and to relax on the beautiful white sandy beaches all during the same holiday is unique.

Kenya has 40 golf courses of which 12 are 18-hole, 10 of which are used for championship events. 6 are within a 20-mile radius of Nairobi - Kenya's bustling capital. The oldest course is the Royal Nairobi (7021 yards - 72 - 18 holes) founded in 1906, and the latest being the Windsor Golf and Country Club (6751 yards - par 72 - 18 holes). There are several new courses under construction and a number are being up-graded from 9 holes to 18 holes. The weather in Kenya is ideal for golf all year round. On occasions you might need a sweater or a jersey, but will usually play in a polo shirt. In the highland areas the temperatures are in the low 20's and at the coast in the high 20's or low 30's. There are 12 hours of daylight, and depending on the season, 4 to 9 hours of sunshine. During the two rainy seasons, (April and November) the rain usually falls before 10am and after 5pm and almost never when you are playing! More and more clubs are installing sophisticated fairway watering systems to keep the course green during the dry season.

Many courses are at an altitude of more than 1500 meters (5000 ft) truly giving you an additional 10% yardage to your stroke. Most clubs have a pro-shop where you can buy whatever you need. Though there are no golf carts available, Kenya has the luxury of . Usually the caddies are very good players themselves and will not only carry your bag and look for your ball in the rough, but advise on local rules, assist with your swing and generally be your companion and mentor. Kenya's golf clubs are generally very quiet and especially so during weekdays. One or two clubs do not permit visitors at weekends, but most do, except on competition days. Visitors to Kenya who want to play golf are best advised to use the services of one of the several tour operators organizing golf holidays. A few specialize only in golf safaris and give a highly personalized service, but many of the larger general tour operators now offer golf in their programs.

For the visiting golfer, Kenya has broad appeal. There is everything for the fanatic golfer, whilst the avid golfer can fashion his safari to include some wildlife viewing as well. A golfer who prefers to laze on the beach can still fit in a game or two and the business traveler, with an afternoon off, can easily play his favorite game right on his doorstep. Many city hotels have made arrangements with local courses for temporary membership for their business visitors.

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WINDSOR GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB, NAIROBI 6751 yards - par 72 - 18 holes Tel: 0722 203361, 0733 333217

The is designed to international standards but maintains the singular flavor of its exotic locale; Windsor's eighteen-hole course is challenging and unique. Several island greens provide an exercise precision play; approach an intimidating 14th hole over a cliff and water: and measure your strength against Windsor's 5th, at 640 yards one of the longest holes in Africa. Hundreds of Sykes monkeys frolic around the course, which gives the Windsor Golf a real African taste.

GREEN FEES KES Weekdays 7,500/= Weekends 10,000/=

Equipment Hire 6,000/= Golf bag 2,500/= Caddy fees 900/=

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KAREN GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB 6893 yards - par 72 - 18 holes Tel: (020) 882801/2

Considered by some to be one of the prettiest courses in Kenya because of its profusion of flowering trees and bushes, Karen Country Club is a must play. It is certainly one of the top 18-hole championship courses in the country. The course is next to the house of Karen Blixen - the author of "Out of Africa" and situated in the colonial suburb of Karen. Karen Country Club is a delightful course to play. You will most likely think back on your round of golf here, with fond recollections.

GREEN FEES 18 Holes : Kshs. 3,500/= : Kshs. 4,000/= 09 Holes : Kshs. 2,000/= : Kshs. 3,000/=

CADDY FEES : Kshs. 950/= for 18 holes, 450/= for 9holes HIRE OF CLUBS : Kshs. 2,000/= per set PRACTICE RANGE : Kshs.3/= per ball (I not going to use the course extra Khs1000) GOLF TRAINING : Kshs. 1,500/= per half hour

The course is reserved for members on Thursday Only.

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SIGONA GOLF CLUB 6519 yards par 71 - 18 holes Tel: 020 2020518/9, 0722 600325, 0733 780441

Sigona Golf Club has a fine reputation for having some of the most beautiful fairways in Kenya. Sitting near the Rift Valley at an altitude of 6,600 feet (2200m), Sigona receives more than average rainfall. The Kikuyu grass keeps the course looking lush and verdant year round. The green keeper tells: "any player can use almost any golf club, from his driver to his sand , off these fairways". The course is very hilly and most of the eighteen are elevated. It is one course which will definitely test your golf skills along with your physical conditioning. Sigona provides a tough but very pleasant 18 holes of golf. GREEN FEES 18 Holes : Weekdays Kshs 3,500/= : Weekend Kshs 4,000/= 09 Holes : Weekdays Kshs 1800/= : Weekend Kshs 3000/=

Caddy fees : Kshs 450 for 9 holes ,Kshs 800 for 18 holes Hire of clubs : Kshs 2000/= per kit (from a private )

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LIMURU COUNTRY CLUB 6519 yards - par 71 - 18 holes Tel: 020 3590381, 020 2022299, 0722 645941, 0736 386853

Limuru Country Club's 18-hole golf course is extremely enjoyable to play. Not only is its tea country location aesthetically appealing, but the lush, green course is well manicured and well maintained. The 40 minute takes you up through verdant tea fields stretching for miles and miles on either side of the road. At an elevation of 7000 feet (2330 metres), the golf course receives more rainfall and provides a year-round lush green carpet of turf. Most sand traps are deep and have very large mounds to contend with. This course is a delight to play and is guaranteed to have you coming back for more!

GREEN FEES Non Members Weekdays : Kshs. 2,700/= Week-ends : Kshs. 3,100/=

CADDY FEES : Kshs. 700/= per 18 holes HIRE OF CLUBS : Kshs.2000/= per set (to be hired from the pro shop) HIRE OF BALLS : Kshs.3/= per golf balls. PRACTICE RANGE : Kshs.Free per person GOLF TRAINING : Kshs.2,500

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ROYAL NAIROBI GOLF CLUB 7021 yards - par 71 18 holes Tel: +254 718 810 810 / 725 011 812

It hosts some of the country's prestigious events. The front nine is relatively flat, while the back nine have the characteristics of a rolling hill side. The course is very well maintained. Flowering bushes and a huge assortment of tree species lend colour and aesthetic appeal to the course. The lovely Ngong Hills can be seen from different viewpoints all along the course. Royal Nairobi Golf Club hosts some of the prettiest holes in Kenya and offers the average golfer a real opportunity to card a good round of golf

GREEN FEES 18 Holes Weekdays: Kshs. 3,000/= Week-ends: Kshs. 4,000/= 09 Holes Weekdays: Kshs. 1,500/= Week-ends: Kshs. 2,000/=

CADDY FEES : Kshs. 800/= for 18 holes, 500 for 9 holes HIRE OF CLUBS : Kshs. 1,000/= GOLF TUITION : Kshs. 1,500/= HIRE : Kshs. 200-700/= per ball PRACTICE RANGE : Kshs. 1000/= incl. 100 balls

MUTHAIGA GOLF CLUB 6676 yards - par 71 - 18 holes Tel: 0722 168 720 / 735 359 792

Muthaiga Golf Club lies at the edge of Karura forest and sport many indigenous trees. A variety of trees and flowering bushes not only come into play on almost every hole, but also make this course one of the prettiest to play. The lay-out is beautiful and one that has many challenges in store for both the regular and the visiting golfer. Home of the Kenya Open Golf Championship - part of the European PGA. Past winners include Ballesteros, Woosnam and Canizaes. Beware of the bunkers in the front of the fastest greens in East Africa. The course is very well maintained and a pleasure to play.

GREEN FEES 18 Holes NON-MEMMBERS MEMBERS Weekdays : kshs. 5,000/= Kshs. 2,500 Weekends : kshs. 6,000/= Kshs. 3,500 9 Holes NON-MEMMBERS MEMBERS Weekdays : kshs. 2,500/= Kshs. 1,500 Weekends : kshs. 3,000/= Kshs. 1,900

CADDY FEES : Kshs. 800/= for 18 holes and 500/= for 9 holes HIRE OF CLUBS : Kshs. 3,000/= for 18 holes and 2,000/= for 9 holes PRACTICE RANGE : Kshs. 700/= TRAINING FEES : Kshs. 3,000 (Half an hour) and 4,000 (an hour)

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MOUNT KENYA SAFARI CLUB 2184 metres par 27 - 9 holes Tel: +254 202265000

Mount Kenya Safari Club is an experience that the visitor must include in his or her itinerary. Nowhere in the world do you come face to face with one of nature's greatest anomalies - a snowcapped mountain lying on the equator! This exclusive rich man's retreat opened in 1959. Despite the fact that this is a 9-hole pitch and putt, composed entirely of par 3 holes, it is absolutely brutal. While the course is laid out on one of the most beautiful and serene settings in Africa, you have to be very accurate. The water hazards are many and coupling with the splendid views of Mount Kenya from virtually every hole on the course with the variety of flowers and birds decorating it, the golfer is sure to leave Mt. Kenya with lasting memories.

GREEN FEES : Free for hotel residents Weekdays : Kshs 500/= for non-members Weekends : Kshs 500/= for non-members CADDY FEES : Kshs 400/= for 9 holes HIRE OF CLUBS : Kshs 1,600/= per set GOLF TRAINING : Tippable

NYALI GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB - NORTH COAST, MOMBASA 6510 yards - par 71 - 18 holes Tel: 041 472632 / 473731 / 471589 / 020 2024799 / 0726 414477 / 0733 188841

Nyali Golf and Country Club's championship golf course is the first 18 holes on Kenya's coast. This is a gently rolling course with a decent mixture of right and left doglegs and shallow fairway bushes. Players will see an abundance of wildlife including dik-dik and bands of vervet monkeys, the club's mascot, frolicking about the course. While the course is not located on the ocean, the intrinsic winds definitely influence the playing conditions. The course displays a number of beautiful flowering trees, including the flamboyant Flame tree, originally from Madagascar. This championship golf course offers all challenges experienced golfers look for, while at the same time it provides the high handicapped an entertaining round.

GREEN FEES 18 Holes Weekdays : Kshs. 3,000/= Week-ends : Kshs. 3,600/= 09 Holes Weekdays : Kshs. 2,000/= Week-ends : Kshs. 2,400/=

CADDY FEES : Kshs. 700/= for 18 holes 400 HIRE OF CLUBS : Kshs. 1,500/= PRACTICE RANGE : Kshs. 800/= per day GOLF TRAINING : Negotiable

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LEISURE LODGE GOLF COURSE - SOUTH COAST, MOMBASA Tel: +254 73333309 /722206968

Leisure Golf Club, the only golf course on Kenya's south coast is the latest golf course in Kenya. Featuring 18 holes it is one of the most challenging courses in Kenya. The course features American style bunkers. Tifdwarf, tifgreen and pennlinks grasses, imported from the United States of America are used for the tees, fairways and greens respectively. There are two water feature holes. The first is a manmade lake, converted from an old quary and holds 70 million litres (15 million gallons) and is the source for the course-wide pop-up sprinkler system. The finishing hole is a 547 yard par five dogleg, with a lake with live crocodiles planned for it. This course is certainly not for the weak- hearted.

GREEN FEES 18 Holes Day Visitors: Kshs. 3,500/= Resort Residents: Kshs. 2,100/= 09 Holes Day Visitors: Kshs. 2,200/= Resort Residents: Kshs. 1,500/=

CADDY FEES : Kshs. 700/= for 18 holes, 400/= for 9 holes HIRE OF CLUBS : Kshs. 1,400/= per 18 holes, 1000/= 9 holes HIRE OF GOLF CARTS : Kshs. 3,000/= for 18 holes, 2500/= for 9 holes GOLF TRAINING : Kshs. 2500 per hour

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THE MOMBASA GOLF COURSE – NORTH COAST, MOMBASA Tel: +254-718845611

The Mombasa Golf Club sports a 9-hole course, and provides some amazing views while you play. The course overlooks the Indian Ocean and stretches of white beaches. Though it may be beautiful, it has a reputation among golfers as a tricky course. The club is located on Mama Ngina Drive, just east of Kilindini Harbor in a very affluent residential neighborhood. It's one of the oldest golf courses in Kenya, founded back in 1911.

GREEN FEES : KSH 1,800/= per whole day CADDY FEES : KSH 500/= for 9 holes HIRE OF CLUBS : KSH 1,000.- GOLF TRAINING : KSH 2,000/= per hour for 1 person KSH 3, 000/= per hour for 2 persons

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VIPINGO RIDGE GOLF RESORT

7000 par 72 - 18 holes Tel: (+254) (0)728999806 / (0) 733609797 / +254 (0)41 2001047/ 2001042

The Baobab Golf Course at Vipingo Ridge is Kenyas’ newest golf course and has been built to international standards, with the world renowned USGA specification being used for all aspects of the course. The location of the course, having spectacular views of the Indian Ocean to the east and the vast African interior with its stunning sunsets to the west, gives golfers a fantastic visual of one of the most impressive areas of natural beauty in Kenya. The course was designed by David Jones, a board member of the European Tour and former Kenya Open Champion and was also officially opened by him during an inaugural ceremony in August 2009. A meandering system of waterfalls, lakes and streams runs through the course giving a real risk-reward quality to many holes and also creating new natural habitats for birds and wildlife.

Extensive fairway modelling and the planting of thousands of new trees has ensured that every hole has strategic elements to bring interest and enjoyment to ones game. The already-in-use 300 metre with targets and short-game greens, allows the golf enthusiast to replicate every conceivable type of shot. Endorsed by Ian Woosnam OBE, a former world no 1 and US Masters winner, both The Baobab and The Palm 18-hole par 72 championship courses at Vipingo Ridge will bring an unparalleled new dimension to golf in East Africa.

GREEN FEES 18 Holes Weekdays & Week-ends : Kshs.5,250/= 09 Holes Weekdays & Week-ends : Kshs.3,750/= CADDY FEES : Kshs.600 per 18 holes, Kshs. 300 per 9 holes HIRE OF BALLS : Kshs. 100 per bucket GOLF BUGGIES : Kshs.3500 per 18 holes, Kshs.2500 per 9 holes HIRE OF CLUBS : Kshs.2,000 per 18 holes, Kshs. 1500 per 9 holes

WATAMU GOLF CLUB

18 holes Tel: (+254) (0)713 326336

The 9-hole Par 3 of Golf Watamu Pitch & Putt grow on a course spanning a total of 616 meters, where alternate holes as the short number 6 of 45 mt, to medium long holes, as the number 9 of 95 meters, for a total Par course of 27.

The particularity of the course are the greens, medium sized and each one different from the other, technically very interesting to play and wavy, which are good for any golfer, who is a professional, having a good game or that is to his first experiences.

To protect the greens there are a series of bunkers well-distributed, most with low sides to get out of it. The starting tees, unique for both men and women, are spacious and lush.

The fairways of the Golf Watamu Pitch & Putt grow on land, where sometimes it can happen if you don't go directly into green with the first shot, having to play the ball with their feet are not perfectly flat.On the course are located a number of plants and palm trees to frame.

GREEN FEES 18 Holes Weekdays & Week-ends : Kshs.2,500/= 09 Holes Weekdays & Week-ends : Kshs.1,500/= COMPLETE SET RENTAL : Kshs.1,500/= 3 PIECES SET RENTAL(PITCH,SAND &): Kshs. 500/= DRIVING RANGE FEE(20 BALLS INCLUDED): Kshs. 500/= DRIVING RANGE EXTRA BALLS(20 BALLS): Kshs. 100/=

======GREAT RIFT VALLEY LODGE & GOLF COURSE 6580 yards – par 72 – 18 holes Tel: +254 729 407 160 / 720 264 836

This course was built in the year 2002. Although still taking root on the local circuit, the course looks set to earn major international kudos for its spectacular setting and challenging character. The first player to break the 71 par here, the Irish professional David Jones, described it as the best young course he had ever played on. This Thomas Fiesta designed course with Bermuda grass is a pleasure to play for the golfing tourist.

GREEN FEES

18 HOLES 9 HOLES Weekdays Day Visitor/Self Catering Guest 3,500/= 2,500/= Full Board Package Guest 2,500/= 2,000/= Weekends

Day Visitor/Self Catering Guest 5,000/= 3,500/= Full Board Package Guest 3,500/= 2,500/=

HIRING OF GOLF CLUBS

1 Golf set/bag - Kshs. 1,000 1 Club - Kshs. 100 1 Basket of balls (50) - Kshs. 100

CADDY FEE Grade A 18 holes Kshs. 800 9 holes Kshs. 400

THIKA SPORTS CLUB

6724 yards par 72 - 18 holes Tel: 0722 697751

Thika Sports Club is set in the serene countryside, amongst pineapple and coffee plantations and near the famous Thika Falls - the scene of Tarzans movies. Most of the fairways are undulating, most greens small and round. Only in 1996 the course was extended from nine to 18 holes. The clubhouse has a very rustic sense to it, with large uncovered wooden beams running the width of the ceiling, it is almost Swiss Alpine in appearance. A large fireplace warms both sides of the lounge. Thika Sports Club dates back to 1922, but the golf course was laid out 10 years later. The biggest event held here is the Winston Churchill Cup, which is scheduled as a Kenya Golf Union event since 1979. The Club which is only 15 minutes away from Safari Park Hotel will provide the visitor with a relaxing day of golf.

GREEN FEES Weekdays : KSH 2,500/= Week-ends : KSH 4,000/= CADDY FEES : KSH 600/= per 18 holes HIRE OF BALLS : KSH 100/= for 50 balls PRACTICE RANGE : KSH 700/= HIRE OF CLUBS : To be hired from the professional shop

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