About us
Karen Country Club has some unique features that distinguish it from other golfing clubs in Kenya:- flowering shrubs, lakes and wetlands, outstanding indigenous trees and many fine sporting amenities.
As you approach the terrace from the outside the country lodge styled clubhouse, what captivates your gaze is a magnificent view of the elegant outstretched golf course with beautiful flowerbeds, lush fairways and manicured greens. The sight seems to beckon you to go and experience the course, and that is just one of the alluring features of the club.
Situated at an altitude of about 6000 feet in the green residential district of Karen, twelve miles south of Kenya`s capital city Nairobi, Karen Country club offers the visitor one of the finest golf courses in the country, as well as a host of other attractions.
Founded in 1937, Karen prides itself in being one of the oldest golf clubs in Kenya. A large part of the 18-hole course was built on the former coffee estate developed by the Danish pioneer, Karen Blixen, whose life and times were depicted in the lyrical film `Out of Africa`. Indeed, the shade trees from her coffee plantation still dominate parts of the golf course, eighty years after they were planted.
The course is superbly maintained par 72 for men and 73 for ladies, and a challenging 6934 yards in length from the Men`s Championship tees. Greens have been built to exact standards set by American Professional Golf Association (PGA), with a newly constructed environmentally protected water hazard, in front and to the left of the par 3 14th hole.
An extensive watering system ensures excellent fairways even during the dry seasons. With Nairobi`s temperate climate, you can play golf 365 days in a year in comfort, which is an intangible asset that few golf courses in the world can claim.
The setting of the golf course is itself an inspiration. With the Ngong hills as a backdrop, the course is much admired for its rich variety of trees, indigenous forest, flowering shrubs, fauna and bird life.
Club Membership
Karen is a family club where members can join with their spouses & children. The club has over 3000 members, of whom 800 are golf members. Children of members under 18 years join free of charge, whereas other members of the family 18 years and over must pay an entrance fee and annual subscription fees. The membership of the Club reflects well the mix of nationalities in Kenya.Staff Policy
Karen county club acknowledges that to enhance the quality of services to its members, it has to invest in its staff. Consequently, the club has a sound policy that caters for retirement benefits, healthy insurance and housing provisions. The club has 150 staff, 34 of whom work on the golf course, and in addition approximately 170 caddies work on casual basis.Funding
The club is funded from sponsorship, membership entrance fee and annual subscription fees. The sponsorship and subscription money is used in running on the club, whilst the entrance fees are used to finance new projects. Currently, the interior of the clubhouse is undergoing a major refurbishment programme, the caddie quarters are also being upgraded, and a new laundry is being built. On the golf course extra water hazards are being planned, and a major tree planting exercise is currently being undertaken, so that future generations of golfers can continue to enjoy the beauty of the environment.Future
Plans are well advanced for a installing solar heating system both for the clubhouse and the swimming pool. The major project for the coming year however, will be the building of a new gymnasium with an aerobics section. Combined with the newly heated pool, the squash courts and a modern kitchen, this unit will serve as both a health food and a fitness center, which will appeal to all sections of the club. The gym will have the latest equipment available for exercising, and the club will appoint highly trained instructors, who will be well equipped to access and instruct a wide range of age groups. The Club has created an Internet Website that will show the entire golf course, the other facilities available and the services on offer also being discussed is the building of apartments that can be rented to visitors for accommodation. There is a possibility of a theatre being built on club property to cater for the interests of theatre lovers in its neighborhoods. This is a plan that local thespians are keen to promote and it clearly would be very welcome news for all club members.>>>"Karen Country Club: A Potted History"