The Oldest Golf Club in Every Country: Africa Edition

From the the palm-fringed links of Mauritius to the historic fairways of Cape Town, Africa’s golfing story is older and richer than many imagine. Across the continent, colonial and local pioneers founded golf clubs in the 19th and early 20th centuries, still thriving today as custodians of golf’s enduring legacy.

In this special edition, The Centenary presents the oldest currently operating golf club in each African country. All African golf clubs listed remain open and are part of the living history of golf in African.

🇲🇺 Mauritius: Mauritius Gymkhana Club (Founded in 1844)

Mauritius Gymkhana Club, established in 1844, is the oldest golf club in the Southern Hemisphere and the fourth oldest in the world. Originally set up by British military officers, its 18-hole course still welcomes golfers to this day.

Website: Mauritius Gymkhana Club

🇪🇬 Egypt: Gezira Sporting Club Golf (Founded in 1882)

Gezira Sporting Club in Cairo, established in 1882, holds the distinction as Egypt’s oldest golf club and one of the earliest in Africa. The club is part of a large, multi-sport complex on Gezira Island, offering lush parkland golf in the heart of bustling Cairo.

Website: Gezira Sporting Club

🇿🇦 South Africa: Royal Cape Golf Club (Founded in 1885)

Royal Cape Golf Club, founded in 1885 in Cape Town, is the oldest golf club in Africa. Granted its “Royal” title by the Prince of Wales in 1910, it has moved locations but always remained at the heart of South African golf. Its fairways beneath Table Mountain are iconic, and it remains a regular host to the South African Open.

Website: Royal Cape Golf Club

🇿🇼 Zimbabwe: Bulawayo Golf Club (Founded in 1895)

Bulawayo Golf Club, established in 1895, is Zimbabwe’s oldest. Located in the city of Bulawayo, the club boasts a long-standing tradition in southern African golf.

Website: Bulawayo Golf Club

🇲🇼 Malawi: Blantyre Sports Club (Founded in 1896)

Blantyre Sports Club is Malawi’s oldest, founded in 1896 by British settlers. The club is a hub for sporting and social life in Blantyre, featuring a classic parkland course surrounded by jacaranda trees.

Website: Blantyre Sports Club

🇺🇬 Uganda: Entebbe Golf Club (Founded in 1901)

Entebbe Golf Club, founded in 1901 on the shores of Lake Victoria, is the oldest golf club in Uganda and one of the earliest in East Africa. With lush fairways, scenic water views, and a welcoming club atmosphere, it remains a focal point for the region’s golfing community. The club is steeped in colonial and local history and is still active more than a century after its founding.

Website: Entebbe Golf Club

🇿🇲 Zambia: Chipata Golf Club (Founded in 1902)

Chipata Golf Club, located in the Eastern Province city of Chipata (formerly Fort Jameson), was established in 1902. It is considered the oldest golf clubhouse in Zambia and one of Africa’s earliest. Perched in a scenic valley near the Malawi border, it remains an active 9‑hole course with a welcoming clubhouse.

Website: no website

🇸🇱 Sierra Leone: Freetown Golf Club (Founded in 1904)

Freetown Golf Club, founded in January 1904 by military officers in Freetown, is the oldest golf club in Sierra Leone and among the earliest in West Africa. It began at Brookfield’s before relocating to Lumley Beach, where it offered a picturesque 12-hole (expanded later to 18) woodland course overlooking the Atlantic.

Website: Freetown Golf Club

🇰🇪 Kenya: Royal Nairobi Golf Club (Founded in 1906)

Royal Nairobi Golf Club, established in 1906 as the Nairobi Golf Club and later granted “Royal” status by King George V in 1936, is Kenya’s oldest and most prestigious golf club. Originally a 9-hole course with sand greens, it was expanded and fully grassed in the 1920s. Nestled just off Ngong Road, the championship 18-hole course offers sweeping views of the Ngong Hills and has hosted the renowned Tannahill Shield tournament since 1924. The club’s rich colonial and sporting heritage is bolstered by its lush fairways and longstanding prominence in East Africa.

Website: Royal Nairobi Golf Club

🇨🇻 Cape Verde: Sao Vicente Golf Club (Founded in 1906)

Sao Vicente Golf Club is the oldest club in Cape Verde, founded in 1906 in Mindelo on the island of Sao Vicente. Its unique Atlantic setting makes it one of the most remote and atmospheric golf courses in the world.

Website: Sao Vicente Golf Club

🇳🇬 Nigeria: Kano Golf Club (Founded in 1908)

Kano Golf Club, established in 1908 in the ancient city of Kano, holds the distinction of being the oldest golf club in Nigeria and one of the earliest in West Africa. Originally founded as a sports centre of the British colonial administration, the club’s historic grounds witnessed the first aircraft landing in Kano in 1925. Today, it remains an important regional golfing institution, hosting the annual Kano Open since the early 20th century.

Website: Kano Golf Club

🇲🇦 Morocco: Royal Country Club de Tanger (Founded in 1914)

Royal Country Club de Tanger is Morocco’s oldest golf club, established in 1914 in the port city of Tangier. Known for its old-world charm and undulating terrain, the club has welcomed generations of Moroccan and international golfers.

Website: Royal Country Club de Tanger