GOLF: No other game combines the wonder of nature with the discipline of sport in such carefully planned ways. A great golf course both frees and challenges a golfer’s mind.
THINK GOLF HOLIDAY and most people would dream of Scotland or Ireland. But Indonesia harbors one of the best-kept secrets in the world of travel: it is a golfer’s paradise.
Indonesian golf courses – a paradise for all players: beginner, amateur or professional. These top of the line courses designed by professionals in picturesque locales make for the perfect setting for a golfer’s dream vacation. The archipelago is sprinkled with golf courses, though they’re concentrated more on the islands of Java near Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta and Surabaya, Batam, Bintan and Bali.
These championship courses, including a few that are par-72, are designerd by the who’s who of the golfing world: Jack Nicklaus, Jack Nicklaus II, Thomson, Woveridge & Perret, Rodney Wright & Robin Nelson, Robert Trent Jones Jr., Greg Norman, Graham Marsh, Gary Player, Walter Raleigh Stewart and Desmond Muirhead.
Golf in Jakarta can be traced back to 1872. British businessmen formed the Batavia GC, subsequently renamed the Jakarta Golf Club when it was reconstituted sixty years later. There are around 35 golf courses in and around Jakarta with all the top tracks located within an hour’s drive from the city centre.
Add to your bucket list of Golf Courses in and around Jakarta
Royale Jakarta Golf Club
Royale Jakarta Golf Club, one of five great new golf courses in Asia, is designed by Bob Moore Jr. & JMP Group. Its green paradise concept of expansive meadows decorated with Sea isle Supreme Paspalum (the first of its kind in Asia) over 27 holes, combined with beautiful purple carpets of exotic plants and the calming beauty of the lake waters fulfil both the challenging golf and visual serenity, resulting in a new and exclusive golfing experience. For a consistent feel, the Sea Isle Supreme Paspalum is transplanted whole to generate a consistent speed in accordance with the International standard. This beautiful and challenging golf course located 15 minutes from the heart of Jakarta is accessible by the city toll road, 700 meters from Pondok Gede toll exit. It’s an exclusive club for the privileged, who appreciate life’s finest splendour and style.
Jagorawi Golf & Country Club
As a golf and country club, Jagorawi Golf & Country Club (JGCC) is by far Indonesia’s most reputed. It’s the only golf club in the country that offers 45 holes of championship golf divided over the Old Course (18 holes), the New Course (18 holes) and the Z-Nine (9 holes). The Old Course is the jewel in the crown of Indonesian golf and can compete with reputed golf courses of the world. The Country Club offers its non-golfing members activities ranging from trekking, jogging or a relaxing swim at its spacious pool, spa, sauna, jacuzzi and massage.
The Z-Nine was created by Jagorawi’s owner and founder, Zakir, in close coordination with an American course designer par-excellence Max Wexler. This is probably the most challenging 9-hole course in Indonesia. Nine terrific holes snake through the Cikeas River Valley, where the original landscape has been retained to create this little devil. Low handicappers love the Z-Nine, while higher handicappers play this course to up their game to a higher level. The Cikeas River needs to be negotiated eight times, indicating the presence of ample water hazards that may or may not come into play.
The Jagorawi New course is long and difficult, though a choice of 4 tee boxes makes it an enjoyable experience for players of all levels. Twice the venue of the Indonesian Open, the new course is open and wide encouraging long hitters to grip and rip. The front nine sets the pace for the back nine. Holes #11, 12 and 13 are score killers where accuracy trumps distance. The same designer duo, Thomson and Wolveridge created an equally interesting yet very different layout from the Old course.
Pondok Indah Golf Course
Established on August 17, 1976, the Pondok Indah 18 hole Golf Course is unique and symbolises a partnership between man and nature. Each game affords golfers opportunities to not only measure their skills against the course, but also enjoy the beauty of the natural surroundings of lush greenery and tall trees, in the fresh scented air carrying the songs of birds.
The architect designed the course keeping in mind the requirement to host major championships (event World Cup), yet offering pleasure while testing players: experienced and beginners.
Located south of Jakarta, this course is about 45 minutes from Jakarta International Airport, Soekarno-Hatta, and 10 km from the business district. The first hole has a wide fairway to enable golfers to reach the green on the second shot. The green, located next to a pond, forces the golfers to approach carefully for a straight hit. The last and most challenging hole on the course provides an out of bound (ob) with a long hard sandy surface to the left and a deep fairway bunker to the right. In addition, there are two huge water hazards on the sides of the fairway. You need to carefully plan the second shot to land on the green located at a higher-level and guarded by deep bunkers on either side.
Emeralda Golf Club
Emeralda Golf Club gives its member the finest golf and family-oriented golf club in Indonesia. It combines a residential ambience with a 27 championship holes golf course. A unique Golf Course, it’s south course 9 holes are designed by Jack Nicklaus and north course 18 holes by Arnold Palmer, both golf legends. A spectacularly spacious Club house has been designed by the internationally acclaimed Klages, Carter and Vail. They incorporated the traditional celebrated Bandung style, Gedung Sate.
Senayan National Golf Club
The Senayan National Golf Club, located in the heart of SCBD is a brand-new 18-hole course. It incorporates the old corridor, altering the play direction for better playability and safety. A par 69 course, it offers a challenging yet enjoyable golfing experience.