Most People's Image of Kenya is of spectacular game preserves with open savanna where lions, cheetahs, and giraffes roam wild. Who knew that more than 35 golf courses and several exceptional golf resorts dot Kenya's incredible terrain?

On a recent two-week golf and safari excursion through Kenya, I had the pleasure of experiencing one of those, Windsor Golf & Country Club Resort, which is a 20-minute drive from downtown Nairobi and 45 minutes from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Elegant, sophisticated, and well-secured, Windsor is the ideal spot for golf-loving groups seeking a sense of adventure and a memorable golf experience.

High Style

Windsor has a distinctly British feel, with Victorian-style, gray stone hotel buildings topped with red slate roofs and framed by elegant gardens. Inside, dark hardwood floors and plush rugs enhance the property's English-manor ambience. The list of amenities at this 12-year-old property rivals that of any top-notch American golf resort: three restaurants, five tennis courts, a jogging trail, a fitness center, and a shopping arcade.

All of the 80 double rooms have panoramic views of the golf course and feature large marble bathrooms, in-room safes, and direct-dial telephones. Other accommodations include 20 studio suites and 15 two-bedroom cottages.

Windsor's six conference rooms can accommodate small board meetings of six to 18 people or up to 240 people theater-style.

Jungle Golf

Windsor's 18-hole championship course is carved through dense tropical forest, coffee plantations, and lakes, with awesome views of the Aberdare Mountain Range and Mount Kenya. The tree growth is so thick that walks from one hole to another make you feel as though you're traversing a tunnel.

There's an ever-changing wildlife show on the course, with birds such as Egyptian geese and egrets, and even the occasional monkey. In fact, the bird life on the golf course is so amazing that a resident ornithologist organizes tours around the resort.

On Safari

You'll never get closer to big game than in Kenya. Typically, a 10-day safari/golf package includes up to six golf opportunities and two game-drive safari experiences. The Windsor is included in most packages designed for U.S. groups. An excellent place to start your research and planning is with Tob Cohen, the most experienced golf tour operator in Kenya and head of Kenya Golf Safaris in Nairobi (www.kenya-golf-safaris.com).