Majestic South Pacific islands
FIJI
For many of us, planning a golf vacation to the South Pacific islands of Fiji promises the vacation of a lifetime. Offering a warm tropical climate on a year-round basis and home to some of the friendliest people on the planet, Fiji is an idyllic South Sea travel experience that remains firmly fixed as one of the world’s most spectacular golf holiday destinations.
The famed land of the “Bula Spirit,” this collection of more than 300 volcanic islands and coral atolls, with its and its famously friendly people, make the perfect holiday solution with a myriad of destinations and activities on offer within the archipelago.
And while families, couples, and honeymooners have traditionally formed the bulk of the destination’s annual visitor intake, the ever-evolving Fiji of today caters to everyone—from romantic hideaways to fun-filled family holidays, from luxury island resorts to boutique cruising, world-class spas and a huge range of soft adventure activities and, most importantly of all, irrespective of budget. But for golfer’s, Fiji represents a veritable golfing nirvana.
Fiji is a golfer’s paradise, offering players—irrespective of your ability—a huge range of courses and facilities. Choose from hacker-friendly pitch and putt nine-holers to the challenging greens and fairways of the internationally acclaimed, world-class Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course.
It doesn’t seem to matter where you are in Fiji, there’s always somewhere to swing a club, but many of the courses—including several championship courses—are located on the main island of Viti Levu. Other golf courses abound on Vanua Levu, Taveuni and there’s even a private championship-rated, Red Bull-owned island style course located on the very exclusive Laucala Island.
Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course is the most prestigious and most challenging of links. The par 72, 7,000-yard course at Natadola Bay on the western side of Viti Levu is a 45-minute drive from Nadi International Airport. Sitting alongside Fiji’s first-ever 6-star resort, the Intercontinental Fiji Golf & Spa Resort, the course is both a golfer’s dream as well as a challenge, with 10 of its 18 holes hugging the coastline and up to five different tees per hole.
Denarau Golf and Racquet Club is located on the doorstep of some of the finest 5-star resort hotels to be found anywhere in the South Pacific, this premier par 72, and 7,164-yard championship course has been described as a “thinking” course no doubt due to the water hazards featured on 15 of its 18 holes. Facilities include a driving range, two practice putting greens, golf and tennis Pro Shop, adult and junior clinics, private lessons and mini-golf.
The Pearl Championship Fiji Golf Course and Country Club is just a short drive from Suva. Set among tropical rainforest and winding canals is the Robert Trent Jones Jr. par 72, Pearl Championship Fiji Golf Course & Country Club. What fun—it has no fewer than 66 bunkers and multiple water hazards on 12 of the 18 holes. Measuring 6,908 yards from the tee, the links are described as one of the most adventurous golf courses in Fiji.
This was first published in Essential Golf – you can read the complete magazine here.