This beautiful country called Kenya – A golfers perspective (Part 1):

We have a beautiful country people, truly remarkable in all the sense of the word. From the rolling plains, to the awe inspiring mountains and hills, to the wonderful beaches of the coast and the rift valley lakes and mighty rivers flowing across our grassy landscapes, we have it all and then some.

To the ardent golfer it is a paradise waiting to be explored and with 40 plus golf courses scattered across the country you are well and truly spoilt for choice. As a by the way did you know that Kiambu county has the most golf courses in any county in Kenya? They are at least 8 in total so count them and prove me wrong!

We started this group called Western Tour a few months ago, Easter time to be precise. It was conceived by a quintet of four and was contrived as comprising a group of golfers of similar mindedness and as being an all-male extravaganza so that we get away with the shenanigans that man can only get away with without the raised eyebrow of a disapproving madam! The intention was to take advantage of one of the long weekends and see how many golf courses we would be able to play at in the Western parts of Kenya over that weekend where many in the group had never played before.

So thanks to social media a Whatsapp page was set up and with invites sent out to the lucky 15 (I am not sure of the criteria used) the details of the trip unraveled with heated but genteel discussions on the likely courses to play over the long Madaraka Day weekend over four days as well as the bets to be in place and the winning percentages – 40%, 30%, 20% and 10% comprising sides and overall.

The group comprising mostly of Limuru Club members included the young in age, the young at heart and the silent but deadly. Tipplers were well represented, infact in the majority, with a scattering of teetotalers for good measure. The final decision was to play at Kitale Club on the Saturday, Nandi Bears Club on the Sunday and finally Kericho Club on the Monday before making our way back to Nairobi. It was also agreed that if we could all somehow manage to leave in our shared transport early enough, we would try and squeeze in 9 holes at Eldoret Club on the Friday that we were departing.

So the big day with the attendant excitement finally arrived. Sadly one of the participants had to cancel at the last minute on account of ill health otherwise it was a full house of 12. We were using common transport, a 15 seater bus and were leaving from Limuru Club at 7.00 am in retrospect an ungodly hour since it is at least a 30 minute drive from Nairobi where most of the group stays meaning a 6.30 am departure time from home. We were finally able to leave by 8.30 am with two of the group planning to catch up with us in Eldoret later in the day by their own means. It looked like we would in fact be able to make it in time to play 9 holes in Eldoret.

And we did make it to Eldoret by 2.30 pm after a smooth ride despite a few commercial and toilet breaks on a great road all the way from Nairobi. The last time I used the route was two years ago when the section between Salgaa and Eldoret was under construction and very slow going on account of the muddy by pass roads and the slow moving trucks. This time it was smooth sailing all the way!

The Great Rift Valley areas of Burnt Forest to Eldoret sped by in all its splendor and immaculate in its greenery being the rainy season and it was difficult to imagine that this had been a scene straight out of a horror movie after the post-election violence of early 2008 and the attendant murder and displacement of hundreds of innocents in an orgy of arson and decapitations.

Having arrived in Eldoret hungry but cognizant of the lateness of the hour we decided to take to the course and then order for a late lunch/early dinner as we turned at the nine hole break – it was decided that we play the whole 18 holes – and then head to Kitale in time for bed. Eldoret Club is a very well appointed family themed club and with a picturesque 9 hole golf course with beautiful vegetation and exquisite flora and fauna – snakes included as we watched a grass snake slither its way on No. 1 green! It is also bisected by the Sosian River across several holes, a raging torrent in the wet weather and a magnet for errant golf balls as some of the group found out the hard way. The course is also interspersed with drainage ditches to carry any rain water after a heavy downpour into the river so various hazards await the new and nervous golfer. It also has accommodation cottages which we learnt are very popular over the weekend with out of town guests from reciprocating clubs around the country.

After our golf game, a relaxing shower, some drinks over light banter and sharing of the bet money and dinner we finally left for Kitale Club at 10.00 pm to cover the 65 kilometers section of our trip where we arrived at 11.30 pm in time to catch up on the tail end of a party in honor of visiting golfers for a tournament the next day. Having checked into our well appointed rooms, those with the strength and determination to do so went back to the club house to continue with their merrymaking as the very few clever ones decided to call it a night while the die hards went to a nearby local lounge bar for a night on the town.

Our Kitale Club tee off times had been agreed in advance and were on the official draw and the first four ball was to commence play at 10.30 am. Little did we know what awaited the majority of us that had never played Kitale golf course before, the dreaded ‘dongas’. Had we known of these evil monsters lying in wait for us we would all have slept earlier ready to tackle these beasts while in a fresh state of mind. A ‘donga’ is a deep natural depression in the earth that over years has been formed through erosion by running water as it finds its way to the nearest river to empty itself. It becomes a natural hazard where you lose a stroke (or two) should your ball find its way in there with many of us falling victim to these beasts.

To add insult to injury, the fairways are quite narrow and lined with a thick forest and bushes where god knows what lurks so being on the fairway particularly on the first nine is a must though easier said than done. Also the par 5’s………all six of them are long and difficult and a torment to those who are not long hitters as are some of the par 3’s where a driver is required but is no guarantee that you’ll even make the green. Kitale is a golf course not for the faint hearted but is full of green riverine trees and bushes and verdant flowers reminiscent of a tropical forest all against the juxtaposition of Mt. Elgon silhouetted in the distance!

Part two of this amazing weekend shall follow shortly………….!!