| Golf
in Kenya with
Tobs Kenya Golf Safaris
Mike
Klemme www.golfoto.com
One
of Kenya's best kept secrets is its numerous golf courses (see
the golfmap). Few places in the world offer such perfect
ingredients for a fantastic golf holiday, 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.
Soon after their arrival in the 1900's British colonists began developing
golf courses all over the country. They realized that Kenya had
the year round climate and most beautiful settings to construct
some of the world's most desirable courses.
Mike
Klemme www.golfoto.com
One
of the most appealing features of golfing in Kenya is the variety.
From the beach clubs set among palms and casuarinas with stunning
views of the sapphire Indian Ocean, to those dominated by the perennial
snowcap of Mount Kenya there is a medley of courses each vying
for priority as the most attractive for location and interest. One
is even built on the slopes of an extinct volcano!
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 18 hole course is Royal Nairobi
Golf Club founded in 1906, the latest is the David Jones design
pay and play 9 holes golf course Golf Park within the Nairobi race
course.
There are several new courses under construction and a number are
being upgraded from 9 holes to 18 holes.
The weather in Kenya
is ideal for golf all year round. On occasions you mighty need a
sweater or a jersey, but you will usually play in a polo shirt.
(see
also: weather chart)
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 day light and, depending on the season, 4 to 9 hours of sunshine.
During the two rainy seasons, (April and November) the rain usually
falls before 10 am and after 5 PM and almost never when you are
playing! More and more clubs have installed sophisticated
fairway watering systems to keep the course green during the dry
seasons.
Mike
Klemme www.golfoto.com
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 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.
Kenya's private membership golf clubs organize many competitions,
but also at club nights and weekends most courses are closed for
visitors, and it is advised to book your tee-times through a specialized
golf tour operator, to avoid disappointment if the golf courses
are closed.
For
the visiting golfer, Kenya has a 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. Kenya
has it all and golf
is no exception.
Click
on a golfball below for more information |
