The early colonial golf scene in Nairobi is closely linked to figures within the settler community, with The Hon. Berkeley Cole (Reginald Berkeley Cole) cited as one of the key founders of the Muthaiga Club, which later developed into the Muthaiga Golf Club.
Cole, an Anglo-Irish aristocrat and settler, was the son of the 4th Earl of Enniskillen and the brother of Lord Delamere, a prominent figure in the establishment of the white settler community in colonial Kenya.
Berkeley Cole and his family, particularly his brother, Lord Delamere, were among the influential figures in Kenya’s colonial white settler community, with interests spanning land ownership, agriculture, politics, and elite social life.
Lord Delamere became one of the earliest prominent settlers in colonial Kenya after acquiring large farms in the Rift Valley, including the Soysambu ranch, where he promoted large-scale European-style farming, including dairy, wheat, and beef production.
Berkeley Cole also owned extensive land holdings, including Kekopey Ranch near Lake Elmenteita, as part of the settler class that controlled significant agricultural land during the colonial period.
Who Owns Muthaiga Golf Club?
Around 1913–1914, Berkeley Cole bought a large tract in what is now Muthaiga and laid out the Muthaiga Club estate, including the original clubhouse and golf‑related infrastructure, for the white settler community in Nairobi.
This estate became the residential and club nucleus in the area; over time, it spawned both Muthaiga Country Club and Muthaiga Golf Club.
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Often called Kenya’s “Home of Golf” by its elite membership, Muthaiga Golf Club is one of the oldest and most storied golf courses in the country, with roots going back to the 1916 and formal incorporation in 1943.
Muthaiga Golf Club is not owned by a single individual or private company but operates as a member-owned institution.
It is incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee on 29 September 1943, meaning it has members rather than shareholders, and any surplus funds are reinvested into the club’s operations and development.
From the club’s “Management” section and related profiles, the Board of Directors governing the club includes ;
- Chairman of the Board: Dennis Mwirigi (elected Chairman in 2024).
- Eric Malonza (also serves as Golf Captain), and others.
The club is funded through membership fees and annual subscriptions, which support its operations and infrastructure projects, including planned developments linked to its facilities.
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Details of the Nairobi’s Early Colonial Golf Scene
Located in Nairobi’s leafy Muthaiga area, Muthaiga Golf Club emerged as one of the most prominent institutions linked to the city’s early colonial golf scene and settler social circles.
The club gained regional prominence in 1967 after hosting the inaugural Kenya Open Golf Tournament, which later grew into one of East Africa’s leading annual golf events.
Over the years, the Kenya Open has attracted internationally recognized golfers, including Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, and Vijay Singh.
Muthaiga Golf Club has also built a reputation for exclusivity, with membership historically associated with Kenya’s political, diplomatic, and business elite.
The 18-hole championship course is regarded as one of the leading golf facilities in Kenya and East Africa and has previously received recognition at the World Golf Awards.
