Golf Courses in Kenya have come a long way. However, when most people think of Kenya, safaris come to mind first. And fair enough, the wildlife is extraordinary. But here’s what might surprise you: Kenya has been quietly perfecting the art of golf for over a century. Since the first course opened in Nairobi back in 1906, the country has developed more than 40 courses that genuinely rival anything you’ll find elsewhere in the world.
If you’re a golf enthusiast moving to Kenya and looking for your new home course, or planning something special that goes beyond the usual, Kenya deserves serious consideration. The combination of quality golf, stunning backdrops, and genuine affordability is hard to beat.
What Makes Golf in Kenya Different?
Picture this: You’re lining up your approach shot, and a family of Zebras wanders across an adjacent fairway. Or you’re on an elevated tee with Mount Kenya dominating the horizon. Perhaps you’re playing a coastal course where ocean breezes add an extra challenge to your game.
This is golf in Kenya, where the sport you love meets landscapes you won’t find anywhere else.
The practical side is equally appealing. You’re looking at an average of KES 5000 in green fees for 18 holes at championship courses where you’d pay triple or quadruple that in Europe or North America. Every course provides experienced caddies who not only know the terrain intimately but make the round more enjoyable with their local insights. And unlike many exclusive clubs elsewhere, Kenya’s courses welcome visitors without having to go through that pesky red tape.
Nairobi: Tradition Meets Championship Golf
Muthaiga Golf Club – The Standard-Bearer
If you’re serious about golf, Muthaiga is non-negotiable. Tucked against Karura Forest off Kiambu Road, this is where Kenya’s golf elite gather. South African architect Peter Matkovich completely reimagined the course in 2004, creating what many consider East Africa’s finest test of golf—7,169 yards from the tips, par 71, with greens so vast they host the Kenya Open every year.
The setting is remarkable. You’re playing through indigenous forest, water hazards dotted with Egyptian geese, and fairways where Sykes monkeys occasionally steal the show. That dog-legged 4th hole? It’s both beautiful and unforgiving. This is a golf course in Kenya that demands your A-game while rewarding you with an experience that goes way beyond the scorecard.
Karen Country Club – Literary History Meets Fairway
About 20 minutes from downtown Nairobi sits Karen Country Club, built on the actual site where Karen Blixen grew the coffee that funded her Out of Africa story. That’s her house just past the second green; you can visit it after your round.
But forget the literary tourism for a moment and focus on the golf. Designer Jean Remy Martin routed this par-72 course through natural woodlands, creating 6,924 yards that feel more like a nature walk than a typical course. The indigenous forests are alive with birdlife, wetlands add strategic interest, and at 1,830 meters elevation, you’ll notice your ball flying noticeably farther in the thin highland air.
It’s the kind of golf course in Kenya where you almost hate to leave after 18 holes. The pace is relaxed, the scenery constantly changes, and somehow playing here just feels right.
Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club – The Complete Package
Windsor has held its reputation as one of Nairobi’s premier courses for over 20 years, and once you play it, you understand why. Tom Macauley, who knew a thing or two about golf architecture, designed these 7,290 yards through a former coffee estate, carefully preserving massive stands of virgin forest.
Two of the greens are island greens; completely surrounded by water, which either excites or terrifies you depending on your iron game. And here’s the practical advantage: it’s a full resort with an on-site hotel, restaurants, a swimming pool, and tennis courts. If you’re hosting a gathering with people who golf and those who don’t, Windsor solves that problem elegantly.
Sigona Golf Club – High-Altitude Challenge
At nearly 2,000 meters elevation on the Great Rift Valley’s shoulder, Sigona offers something unique: genuinely thin air that affects every shot. What started in 1938 as one man’s private nine-hole fancy has evolved into a 6,890-yard championship test that’s hosted countless tournaments.
Tom Simpson’s design takes full advantage of the rolling terrain through former wattle plantations. The greens are immaculate, maintained by a sophisticated irrigation system and generous highland rainfall. Wildlife sightings aren’t guaranteed, but they’re common enough that spotting a Beisa oryx or antelope adds unpredictability to your round.
The facilities match the course quality: 300-yard driving range, professional putting greens, and a pro shop with high-tech training aids. For regular players, this is the kind of club that keeps you coming back.
Limuru Country Club – Tea Country Tranquility
Drive 30 kilometers northwest from Nairobi into Kenya’s famous tea-growing highlands, and you’ll find Limuru Country Club at 2,135 meters. The setting alone is worth the trip; radiant green tea fields stretching in every direction, the Aberdare Mountains rising in the distance, and air so crisp it’s almost energizing.
The golf lives up to the scenery. This par-71 championship course opened in 1952 and has been refined over decades to its current 6,739 yards. That signature par-5 3rd hole with views over the tea plantations? Photographs don’t do it justice. And at this elevation, you’re playing a different game than at sea level, so plan accordingly.
Beyond golf, the Limuru Club offers swimming, lawn bowling, squash, and tennis. It’s ideal for extended corporate outings where you want variety in activities and a genuine escape from city intensity.
Royal Nairobi Golf Club – Where It All Began
You can’t discuss golf in Kenya without acknowledging Royal Nairobi, the country’s original course established in 1906. Located on Ngong Road with panoramic views of the Ngong Hills, this is where Kenya’s golf story started, and the club maintains that heritage with pride.
The course has evolved considerably from its humble 5×4-meter beginnings, and now covers 429 acres with the largest tees in Kenya (Championship, Medal, and Ladies). But what makes Royal Nairobi special isn’t just the golf. It’s the sense of belonging to something that’s endured for over a century. For expats settling in Kenya, membership here connects you to a community and tradition that predates everything else in the country’s sporting landscape.
Mt. Kenya Region: Golf with Mountain Majesty
Nanyuki Sports Club – Playing at the Equator
Established in 1921 at Mount Kenya’s foothills, Nanyuki Sports Club offers something no other golf course in Kenya can claim: you’re essentially playing at the equator with Africa’s second-highest peak as your backdrop. The nine-hole course (playable as 18) is more intimate than championship layouts, but the setting is extraordinary.
The clubhouse is a standout feature with tall wooden-beamed ceilings, a large fireplace, and that particular colonial-era ambiance that’s become rare. It’s especially popular with golfers combining their round with Mount Kenya expeditions or safaris in Laikipia. The golf might not test you like Muthaiga, but the experience is uniquely memorable.
Nyeri Golf Club – Mountain Challenges
Kenya’s second-oldest golf course opened in 1910, and Nyeri Club has been humbling golfers ever since. This is genuinely difficult golf: mountainous terrain, well-bunkered greens, deep rough, tall evergreens, streams, and valleys that punish wayward shots.
From the 6th tee, Mount Kenya dominates your sightline, which is both inspiring and distracting. The course’s proximity to Aberdare National Park makes it popular with golfers who want to combine their rounds with visits to Treetops or the Ark—those famous tree lodges where Queen Elizabeth learned she’d become Queen. Golf and history, perfectly paired.
Central Rift: Playing in the Valley
Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort – The View That Never Gets Old
Every single hole on this course offers views over the Great Rift Valley.
Every. Single. One.
From Mount Longonot to the Aberdare Mountains, Lakes Naivasha and Elementaita; the panoramic views are almost distracting from the golf itself.
Almost, but not quite. This is a serious 7,107-yard test designed by Thomas Fjastad at 2,088 meters elevation. The altitude means your drives gain 10-15% distance, which changes club selection throughout the round. Zebras and antelopes cross the fairways regularly (they have right of way), adding an element you definitely won’t find at your home course.
The resort first won “Leading Golf Resort in Kenya” at the 2008 World Travel Awards, and has since maintained that standard by winning a record 4 times . For groups wanting a multi-day golf retreat away from city distractions, this location is hard to top.
Nakuru Golf Club – Kenya’s Only Uphill Course
Lord Francis Scott opened Nakuru Golf Club in 1929 on the slopes of the extinct Menengai volcano, creating Kenya’s only uphill golf course. The par-73 championship layout gradually climbs as you play, with most greens sitting above their fairways.
But here’s what everyone remembers: from the 8th and 18th tees, you look down on Lake Nakuru, often blanketed with thousands of flamingos creating pink patches against the blue water. It’s one of Africa’s finest wildlife spectacles from a golf course in Kenya. The course celebrated its centennial in 2023, and while dry-season conditions can be challenging, the unique characteristics and that view make it worthwhile.
Coast: Where Golf Meets the Ocean
Vipingo Ridge – PGA Baobab Course
Since opening in 2009, Vipingo Ridge has been the talk of East African golf. David Jones designed this 7,314-yard monster to full USGA standards, creating Kenya’s newest world-class addition. The course rises from sea level to a 140-meter ridge on a former sisal estate 25 minutes north of Mombasa.
Standing on the elevated holes, you see the Indian Ocean to the east and the Kenyan interior westward, both panoramic views that distract from the substantial challenge ahead. This is serious championship golf combined with luxury coastal living. The resort offers private residences for short-term rental, making it ideal for extended stays where you want your own space rather than traditional hotel arrangements.
Nyali Golf & Country Club – Coastal Institution
Nyali has been the home of golf on Kenya’s coast since 1958. Located in Mombasa’s Nyali suburb, this par-71 course stretches 6,715 yards through a classic coastal layout lined with flowering flame trees.
Monty Lowry designed these fairways for both beauty and challenge; the greens are among Kenya’s fastest, and vervet monkey troops add unpredictable character to every round. The location is supremely practical: easy access to Mombasa’s beach resorts, water sports, and historical sites like Fort Jesus National Monument. Plus, the club offers swimming, gym, tennis, and squash for those not golfing, which matters for anyone with diverse interests.
Diamonds Leisure Beach & Golf Resort – The Beach-Golf Dream
Thomas Fjastad accomplished something remarkable when he designed Diamonds Leisure (formerly Leisure Lodge) in 1998: he created a genuine championship golf course at sea level on the south coast. The construction alone was extraordinary: coral overlaid with imported soil and special grasses from the United States, all maintained by an intricate irrigation system.
The result is a 6,632-yard, par-72 test that’s both beautiful and challenging. But here’s the real appeal: you can play 18 holes in the morning and swim with whale sharks in the afternoon. That combination (serious golf and a true beach resort) is rare anywhere. This golf course in Kenya has become a favorite for those who want both elements without compromise.
North Rift: The Road Less Traveled
Eldoret Golf Club – Rift Valley Heritage
Located six kilometers from Eldoret on Nandi Road, Eldoret Golf Club was one of the six founding members when the Kenya Golf Union launched in 1928. This 6,649-yard, par-70 course represents traditional up-country Kenyan golf, maintaining its heritage while offering modern challenges.
You’re in Kenya’s “land of champions” here: the region that produces most of the world’s elite distance runners. The course provides an authentic experience away from Nairobi’s bustle, and the club’s long history shows in details you notice as a regular player.
Kitale Golf Club – Western Frontier
Kitale holds the distinction of being the only 18-hole championship golf course in Kenya serving the North Rift, Lake Victoria, and western regions. Mount Elgon looms majestically in the distance as backdrop, and the first nine holes are particularly challenging.
The club’s history includes Kenya’s first horse and carriage, introduced by early European settlers. Friday club nights have remained tradition since inception. If you’re exploring western Kenya or extending a trip into Uganda, Kitale provides quality golf with genuine frontier character.
Making it Happen
So where should you actually play? If you’re settling in Nairobi, you’ve got options within a 30-minute drive depending on where you live. Karen and Limuru are ideal if you’re in the western suburbs like Lavington, Westlands, or Karen itself. Windsor works well if you’re anywhere near the Thika Road corridor. Living in Runda, Muthaiga, or Gigiri? You’re closest to Muthaiga and Royal Nairobi.
The good thing about Kenyan golf clubs is that they’re refreshingly accessible. No complicated membership requirements like you might be used to back home. Just call ahead and book your tee time. The only catch is avoiding club nights (usually Wednesdays or Fridays) when members get exclusive access, and weekends can fill up with competitions, so booking ahead makes sense.
If you’re living at the coast in Mombasa or Diani, you’ve basically got paradise and golf rolled into one. Nyali is your convenient city option, while Vipingo Ridge and Leisure Lodge offer that premium resort experience. Weekend rounds at the coast might feel more like a vacation than routine, which isn’t a bad way to spend your Saturday mornings.
For those of you in upcountry towns like Nakuru, Eldoret, or Nyeri, the local clubs offer excellent golf with that authentic Kenyan feel you won’t get in the city. The greens might not be as manicured as Windsor or Muthaiga, but the character and hospitality more than compensate.
Kenya’s domestic flights and road network make it surprisingly easy to plan golf weekends and explore multiple courses. Several tour operators now specialize in golf safaris that combine courses with wildlife viewing. You can genuinely tee off at Muthaiga Friday morning, spend Saturday watching elephants in Amboseli, and play Vipingo Ridge Sunday afternoon. It sounds ambitious, but the distances are manageable.
One more thing: embrace the caddy culture here. These aren’t just people carrying your bag. They know every break on every green, they’ll read the wind better than you will, and they’ll find balls in rough you’d have given up on. Budget around KES 1000 – 2000 per round for your caddy, and tip generously if they’ve helped your game. Many expats find their regular caddy becomes part of why they love their home course.
Whether you end up playing weekly at your local club or exploring different courses around the country, Kenya offers something most golf destinations can’t match: genuine value, year round playability, and the kind of unique experiences that make every round memorable. Those moments become part of why you’ll eventually call this place home.