Golfing Safari in Kenya
Few destinations in the world offer such perfect variety for a fantastic golf holiday, as Kenya does. The opportunity to play your favourite 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 38 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 Royal Nairobi Golf Club founded in 1906; the latest is the Green Park Golf Club in Naivasha. There are several new courses under construction and a number are being up-graded from 9 holes to 18 holes. From the beach clubs set among palms and casuarinas with stunning views of the sapphire Indian Ocean, to those dominated by the perennial snow-cap of Mount Kenya there are a number of courses each vying for priority as the most attractive for location and interest.
Many courses are at an altitude of more than 1500 meters (5000ft) truly giving you an additional 10% yardage to your stroke and 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 caddies. Usually the caddies are very good players themselves and will not only carry your bag and look for your ball in the rough, but advice on local rules, assist with your swing and generally be your companion and mentor. Most of Kenya’s golf clubs are private membership clubs and are generally very quiet and especially so during weekdays. However visitors to Kenya who want to play golf are best advised to use the services of a tour operator specialized in organizing golf holidays. Apart from giving you very personalized service they will book your hotel, transfer you to the golf courses, book tee-times and make sure your golf holiday is a success.
Typical rounds of golf in Kenya may, in fact, seem quite atypical. But then again, sometimes the more exotic the destination, the more rewarding the golf experience. Imagine teeing it up on a lengthy course, surrounded by warm air and a plethora of nature. The course, designed for the walking golfer only, as is the country’s norm, sits on the slopes of an extinct volcano.
After an exhausting round, you retire to one of Kenya’s numerous peaceful beaches to stare into the heart of the blue ocean, preparing for the next trip around one of the country’s 38 diverse golf courses, 11 of which are challenging enough to host championship events, and one that rests right on the equator.
One of Kenya’s most attractive attributes is her perfect climate for year round. golf. The temperature rarely cools, and in some parts, daylight spans up to 12 hours. While April and November are the rainy season for Kenya, the majority of the precipitation comes before 10 am, and after 5 pm, still providing golfers with ample opportunities to get a round in.
Although vacationers and golfers are sure to find plenty of nice weather, they will not find golf carts, anywhere. A trend that is losing favor in the United States, all of Kenya’s clubs offer the services of experienced caddies, many of which are ready to lend a helping hand as golfers make their way around the difficult courses.
The golf industry in Kenya began when European colonists built the Royal Nairobi Golf Club, a 7,021-yard, par 72 course. And now, nearly a century later, the club remains one of the country’s most popular, and hosts several prestigious events each year.
Many of Kenya’s courses sit at above-average altitudes, the most notable of which is the Sigona Golf Club, resting at 6,600 feet. The view from the elevated tees is one of hilly fairways and lush grass, kept green by the plentiful amount of rainfall in the Rift Valley.
For all your questions on Kenya Golfing safaris, contact us through Kenya Safari travel form.
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