Golf tourism is a treasure trove for Kenya that is waiting to be found

This week I thought I would revisit sports tourism related to golf.

Kenya is a nation with some of the most diverse landscapes in the world and is therefore a perfect destination for the golf fanatic to carry their clubs while enjoying the stunning scenery that the country has to offer.

Golf tourism is definitely gaining popularity every year, according to the Global Golf Trade Organisation (IAGTO). This unique trend in sport tourism continues to register a steady growth in the overall global tourism industry and, in line with Vision 2030, the Kenya Tourism Board appears keen on dramatically increasing its tourist arrivals.

Here are some of the top courses in the country that are well worth a visit, according to travel site www.jovago.com.Definitely one of Kenya’s best golfing destinations, Vipingo is home to a five-star private residential development overlooking the Indian Ocean in Kilifi, about 100 kilometres from Mombasa, and the 18-hole, par 72 course was designed and laid out by Wimbledon legend David Jones and constructed to USGA’s championship standards.

The course boasts a clubhouse and a five-star hotel, Vipingo Ridge, that lies alongside exquisite holiday homes mostly occupied by golfing enthusiasts.

Situated on one of the hills emerging from the floors of the Great Rift Valley, the Rift Valley Golf and Country Club’s 18-hole course merges nature and luxury for an ultimate sporty and relaxing break. From the clubhouse and lodge, players enjoy amazing views of Lake Naivasha along with Mount Longonot and the nearby Aberdare Ranges.

Muthaiga Golf Club, one of the most picturesque courses in East Africa, was founded in 1913 with a nine-hole course that was upgraded to 18 holes in 1926. Located in Nairobi, just outside the city centre to the north, Muthaiga has nurtured global champions – including the legend Seve Ballesteros and South African superstar Trevor Immelman.

HOME OF GOLF

At Muthaiga, fondly referred to by members as the “home of golf”, players can stay at the Kingdom Gardens Guest House, a minute’s drive away from the greens.

Ranked among 11 of the world’s top city golf clubs, the Windsor Golf and Country Club is an ideal course for business travellers wishing to catch a quick round of golf in between meetings. This is even made easier by the five-star Golf Hotel on site, made up of a cluster of impressive Victorian-style buildings designed into cottages and suites for resident guests. The course has a unique country feel characterised by coffee bushes and trees spread across the verdant valley. Bird lovers will enjoy significant sightings, including Egyptian geese, brown eagles and black kites.

Down at the Coast, lined with lanky palm trees, blooming Madagascan flames and flowering bushes, Nyali Golf and Country Club is a traditional coastal course complimented by the hospitality of the Swahili culture. The club is located in the green suburbs of Nyali with unhindered access to the world-renowned Mombasa beaches. Characterised by a mild gradient, this 18-hole course also has an established junior course and therefore takes pride in generational golfing. It is very ideal for young starters and boasts the highest number of junior players in the country.

One of Kenya’s newest courses, Thika Greens Golf Club is located just 40 minutes from Nairobi and boasts a beautiful 18-hole, par 72 course designed and maintained to international standards. The golf club has been operational for just over a year and the developers have big dreams to transform Kenya’s golf tourism market.

Kenya has 40 golf courses located in different parts of the country. But, despite golf being a niche sport, we cannot afford to ignore the growing numbers of tourists attracted to it. Although the country has a register of more than 10,000 golfers, the active ones among these are much less. With this in mind, it is important to grow the numbers by a great length.

TEE AT 1000 is now running three major golf recruitment benefits, which include a mentorship programme for all youngsters aged 11 to 18. Getting an internationally recognised handicap and access to golf courses worldwide, all without incurring huge joining fees and references from club members, means that Kenyan golf truly has a huge future. The company also plans to roll out packages for golf tourists to encourage more international visitors spend more time in the country by playing a game or two with a variety of courses to choose from. 

KENYA SEVENS IN CAPE TOWN

The new-look IRB Sevens circuit descends on Cape Town this weekend with the 55,000-seater Green Point Stadium sold out for Saturday and Sunday.

Fiji sits on top of the standings with England, USA and New Zealand completing the top four. Kenya is in 11th place after crashing out of the Main Cup pool stage in Dubai following losses to Australia, England and Wales.

Kenya Sevens head coach Benjamin Ayimba has made two changes ahead of the tournament, calling up Menengai Cream Homeboyz’s Oscar Ayodi and Eden Agero of Kenya Harlequins in place of Jeff Oluoch and Augustine Lugonzo, who suffered a back and a groin strain, respectively, at last weekend’s Dubai Sevens. The duo featured at the Olympic qualifiers last month.

In Cape Town, Shujaa are in Pool ‘B’, which features Dubai runners-up England, defending champions South Africa and Zimbabwe, who ran Kenya close in the Olympic qualifier final. Ayimba will be hoping for more cohesion and less errors from his players as his squad gets used to the increased work-rate in this Olympic year. The teams have raised their games and it’s time for Collins Injera and his boys to step up.

Seeing 100,000 people pack ‘7he Sevens’ stadium in Dubai last weekend and the Cape Town stadium sold out for both days should be a lesson for our lethargic Cabinet Secretary for Sports, who’s reluctant to crack down on rogue sports administrators fleecing their federations.

Those in charge must wake up and realise how much potential sports as an industry has in Kenya. They must think outside the box and make more concerted attempts to woo big sports events to the country.

Mind you, they are still dragging their feet in regard to the 2017 World Youth Athletics Championships, with nothing tangible being seen about the organisation of the event that is much larger than The African Games in terms of athlete participation.

This is one proof that the government is not taking sports with the seriousness it deserves. The recent debacles of Harambee Stars and the glaring silence of minister Hassan Wario has left a bitter taste in many people’s mouths.