The Top 3 Best Golf Courses in Kampala
- Eda Alp
- May 9, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: May 10, 2023
Kampala is green, hilly, sunny, peaceful, and a former British protectorate. The perfect recipe for the iconic sport that is golfing.
I never saw the fun in golfing until I moved to Uganda: it’s easy to think of it as boring and frankly uneventful. But once you start, golfing can get addictive and bring the glamorous lifestyle that it represents into your life. Requiring good technique, golf is challenging and stimulating. Developing your talent for this sport is extremely fulfilling, and seeing your progress incredibly satisfying. Combined with the smooth, easy-going, relaxing nature of this sport, with long walks amongst vivid green hills, lazy palm trees and grandiose acacias, golfing is the perfect pastime of Uganda. Uganda’s golf courses are the definition of excellence: with deep, soothing green fields, fantastically maintained courses, and picture-perfect tropical landscapes, golfing in this country is absolutely delightful, playing an important role in the luxurious lifestyle as an expat in Kampala.
Here is my ranking of the best golf courses in Uganda.
1. Serena Golf Courses
A 30-minute drive from Kampala, on the road to Entebbe, Serena Hotel’s golf course is wonderful. Situated on the banks of the majestic Lake Victoria, the emerald green hues of the courses compliment the deep royal blue of the lake. The invigorating coolness of fresh water combined with the soft, sunny weather of the lakeshore make golfing in Serena a peaceful, beautiful experience. With an abundant avifauna, soothing bird songs and joyful chirps add color to this luxurious, tropical atmosphere. This golf course combines the experience of verdant nature and pure bliss with a quality terrain and modernity.
This 18-hole course is well-maintained, and offers golf games for players of all levels. With a restaurant proposing generous portions of delicious food for tired golfers for a relaxing break with lake views, Serena Golf Courses offers the whole package.
The glamor, peace and beauty of this course make it a must-see in Uganda.
2. Uganda Golf Club in Kololo
A tropical escape in the middle of the lively city, Uganda Golf Club is a peaceful haven for golfers. Its characteristically Ugandan vibrant, enticing, deep green color is its best quality. In this silent, serene, yet incredibly central and prestigious golf course, all and any problems one might have seem to magically fade away.
What makes Uganda Golf Club unique is its atmosphere: the surreal shade of deep, intense green evokes a profound feeling of abundance, refreshment and peace. Very accessible as it is situated in the luxurious area of Kololo, this 18-hole course is the place to meet some of the most interesting people of Uganda, thanks to its popularity and prestige.
Again, this course is the exquisite combination of luxury and nature. Tall, majestic trees swish lazily, the noble Maribu Storks, immense and august birds, walk around, as confidently as the Pterosaur dinosaurs they so oddly resemble. Golfing in Uganda Golf Club feels like a glamorous remake of a Jurassic Park movie, with this time peaceful, kingly dinosaurs roaming around in the luxuriant nature of Isla Nublar.
Thanks to its superb location, you can try out this beautiful golf course anytime you want, and even make it a habit to practice your best shots. This course is the most convenient, prestigious and glamorous of Kampala, sure to level up your lifestyle in Uganda.
3. Entebbe Golf Club
Although not my favorite, Entebbe Golf Club is a perfectly respectable course if you need to play close to the airport waiting for a flight or a forgotten luggage (speaking from experience, unfortunately). While I do think Serena Golf Course is a better option if you want to golf in the suburbs of Kampala, you absolutely can enjoy this simple but charming course, golfing amongst beautiful trees and the refreshing breeze of Lake Victoria.
Entebbe Golf Club’s advantages are its wonderful location, close to the unmissable attractions of Entebbe, such as the Entebbe Botanical Gardens and the iconic Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary. If you desire a game in your day in Entebbe, this course should do the trick. It’s also reasonably priced, giving you a pleasant golf experience without breaking the bank. Some challenging holes among the 18 make the game just the more stimulating and interesting.
This course also has historical importance: it's said to be the oldest golf course of East Africa! This history and heritage adds to Entebbe Golf Club's charm.
However, the surfaces are, compared to other golf courses, more in need of maintenance. Overall, while it is a wholesome experience, it isn’t as impressive, lavish or breathtaking as Serena Golf Course or Uganda Golf Club. Howver, because it is less frequented than other courses, it offers a quiet, peaceful experience, with dedicated and attentive caddies for a leisurely game in the delightful town of Entebbe.
In conclusion, Kampala offers a variety of high-quality golfing options, all lavishly green, luxuriant and peaceful. Golfing is an absolute must in Uganda, as it allows you to relax in the country’s deep shades of green, surrounded by grandiose trees, rolling African hills, and the majestic birds of East Africa.