WORLD CLASS GOLF COURSE IN THE OFFING: Aberdare Hills Golf Resort in Naivasha will be game changer

Nakuru County is developing a par 72 world championship golf course, which is set to put Kenya on the golf global map.

The high profile Aberdare Hills Golf Resort located in Naivasha is a first of its kind in Kenya to be designed and developed by international golf course designers.

The course is being designed in accordance to the full international and United States Golf Association (USGA) championships specifications.

The 6,400m 18-hole course is uniquely planned to take advantage of the natural gorges that shape the 1,600 acres of land on which it sits, positioning it as one of the most fascinating and challenging courses in the world.

The course being built at a cost of $25 million (Sh2.5 billion), will anchor the $250 million (Sh25 billion) Aberdare Hills Golf Resort which is one of Kenya’s largest developments.

The course will overlook a five-star hotel with 120 rooms, conference facilities, a ball room and spa. The resort will also host a club house and multiple recreational facilities.

Professional Golfers Association (PGA) representatives Robert Maxfield and Mike Maloney, who jetted into the country to inspect the facility on Tuesday, are content with the ongoing development saying the design is truly a world championship course.

“This will take Kenya’s game to the next level as it will draw a new level of interest in the game and its transformation,” noted Maxfield, who is a Golf Resort, Commercial and Property Development Director.

Maxfield, who also doubles up as PGA’s Joint Chief Operating Officer in the UK said PGA will help Kenya to develop a proficient golf academy and education programme for children at the resort.
Kenya Golf Union (KGU) chairman Antony Muhoro while praising the idea of coming up with a golf resort in Nakuru County, said the development was in line with KGU’s vision 2030 strategy which is to spread the game in almost all counties in Kenya.
“This is a great noble idea which will add another golf course in the Kenyan soil. Soon we will also open the Kasarani golf course for members of public to attend, learn and play the game,”Muhoro said.

Nakuru County Governor Kinuthia Mbugua said the resort will help to mould the next Kenya’s golf stars from the course.

The design of the Aberdare Hills Golf Resort won the Best Golf Development in Africa award at the 2015 International Property Awards in London on Monday.

“The award was as a result of the upgrading of the course on the appointment of international consultants and European Golf Design as the next step in our strategy to achieve international golf status,” noted Pritam Panesar, Managing Director of Panda Development Company who is also the brain behind the golf resort.

 

ABERDARE GOLF RESORT

According to Panesar, the golf resort will be completed in the next three years and will have the capability of attracting over 5000 high profile guests, apart from the general public, every month in Naivasha when completed.
“Top level international golf tours attract guests from all around the world, and with proper investment, the country will benefit a great deal from this kind of sport tourism,” said Panesar.