About Karen

Nearly a century in the same forest

Founded in 1937 on what was once coffee-farming country, Karen Country Club has grown from a small golfing society into Kenya's premier private lifestyle club — without ever quite leaving its roots behind.

1937Founded
4,000+Members, multinational community
18 HolesChampionship golf course
KWS RecognisedWetlands conservation project
Our Heritage

From coffee estate to country club

The land Karen Country Club sits on carries its own history — one that predates the club itself, and still shapes how the grounds feel today.

A coffee-farming landscape

Long before it was a club, this stretch of land south-west of Nairobi was coffee-farming country — part of the same district later known as Karen, named for Karen Blixen, whose "Out of Africa" memoir gave the area its enduring literary association.

1937 — the club is founded

Karen Country Club was established, becoming one of Kenya's oldest golf clubs — built around a golf course carved into the indigenous forest that still frames it today.

A growing sporting reputation

Over the decades, the club earned its place among East Africa's leading golf venues — affiliated with the Kenya Golf Union and Kenya Ladies Golf Union, and a long-standing host of the Barclays Kenya Open on the European Challenge Tour.

A family-oriented lifestyle club

What began as a golfing society grew into a full private lifestyle club — dining, wellness, sports, weddings, conferences, and accommodation, alongside the golf that started it all.

Indigenous forest and wetlands near the club grounds
Conservation & Wetlands

A working wetland, not just a backdrop

Alongside the golf course, Karen Country Club maintains an indigenous forest and a wetlands conservation area — a genuine habitat, not a landscaping feature. The project has been recognised by the Kenya Wildlife Service, and draws a wide variety of birdlife throughout the year.

  • An ongoing wetlands conservation project, recognised by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)
  • Indigenous forest maintained throughout the club grounds
  • A regular home to birdwatchers, walkers, and — increasingly — wedding couples
See the Wetlands as a Wedding Venue
Careers

Join the people who make Karen feel effortless

Karen Country Club is run by a team who care about hospitality as much as members do — from the golf course to the kitchens to the front desk.

Current openings vary by season and department. If you'd like to be considered for a role at the club, send us your CV and a short note about what you're looking for — our HR team reviews every application personally.

Contact Our HR Team
Frequently Asked

Questions you'll probably ask

The club is a private members' club, though many of its experiences — weddings, conferences, dining, and accommodation at The Residences — are open to non-members. Regular use of the golf course and sporting facilities is reserved for members and their guests.
The club takes its name from the Karen area of Nairobi, itself named after Karen Blixen, the Danish author of "Out of Africa," who farmed coffee in the district in the early twentieth century. The connection is one of place and era rather than direct ownership.
The Wetlands are most often seen by non-members as a wedding or event venue. For general visits, the grounds are best experienced as a member's guest, or as part of a club event.
Join the Story

Become part of Karen's next chapter

Nearly ninety years in, the club is still growing — one membership at a time.