Tales about the game of golf cannot be told without mentioning the Kenya Railway Golf Club (KRGC), one of the oldest golf courses in the country.

Situated just 500 metres from Nairobi CBD, the course sits under a rich variety of trees and flowering shrubs and offers a spectacular view of Nairobi City. KRGC has a Railway line that crosses right through the golf club, and golfers occasionally are put on pause to allow the train to pass.

The nine-hole par 72 course has a range of facilities to serve the taste and preferences of different guests, including a clubhouse, changing rooms and cabro car park in Nairobi’s green-belt.

KRGC was founded in 1922 as the Kenya Uganda Railway Golf Club (KUR GC) by the then Kenya Railways General Manager’s wife, Mrs Couper.

It boasts as the third oldest course after Nyeri Golf, founded in 1910, and Royal Nairobi, established in 1906.

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Initially, KRGC only admitted the Kenya Railways staff, but membership was opened to the public in 1924. The club was dominated by white golfers until in the mid-sixties when a handful of enthusiasts from Kibera started challenging the white golfers.

In addition, the club’s administration was dominated by colonial administrators whose hatred on Africans denied them a chance to access some sections of the club.

The entry to this particular section had a glaring notice reading “AFRICANS WOMEN AND DOGS NOT ALLOWED.”

African golfers bore the brut life until 1980 when a local African, David Mwiraria, took over the chairmanship. As local Africans took over the leadership, they removed some undesirable elements and initiated the development of new and modern structures surrounding the 9-hole course today.

The course area of the club extended from Haile Selassie Avenue all the way to Madaraka Estate with 27 holes. It is not clear when the golf course was reduced to 9 holes. However, the construction of the Aerodrome Road (Douglas Wakiihuri Road) and the present-day Uhuru Highway altered some sections of the course, making them unplayable.

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Moreover, the emergence of the second world war in 1939 and the shortage of golf balls affected the club’s operation leading to its scale down from 18 holes to 14, 12, and later 9, making it more compressed.

As the first African leader at the helm, Mwiraria oversaw the attainment of significant milestones of the club, including expanding membership and successfully pioneering the construction of a new clubhouse with a swimming pool, squash courts, and car park.

The construction of the Clubhouse and car park is estimated to be worth Sh11  million, with the funds sourced from Harambee donations and other funds collected in the form of levies.

The club presently has over 450 members and offers a range of activities, including an 18-hole championship golf course and tournaments, among others.

The current membership for family is at Sh400,000 with an offer rate of Sh 300,000, while membership for single golfers is at Sh350,000 with an offer rate of Sh250,000.