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Christmas comes early for golf lovers
Photo courtesy of BNGC Golf lovers across the country will have a reason to party earlier this year with the reopening of Bali National Golf Club (BNGC) in Baliâs posh tourist enclave of Nusa Dua
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Photo courtesy of BNGC
Golf lovers across the country will have a reason to party earlier this year with the reopening of Bali National Golf Club (BNGC) in Bali's posh tourist enclave of Nusa Dua. Opening its gates this month after some 18 months of comprehensive reconstruction, the former Bali Golf and Country Club has been transformed into the flagship golf facility on the island.
BNGC is now only 20 minutes' drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport via the scenic Bali Mandara toll road, offering an opportunity for visitors who have just disembarked from a long-haul flight to stretch their legs, breathe the fresh air and hit some balls.
Nusa Dua tourist enclave boasts some of the island's most exclusive hotels, restaurants and shopping centers. All are set alongside nearly 5 kilometers of well-preserved white sandy beach. Spending a holiday with the family and golf buddies, therefore, is not an impossible feat to accomplish.
BNGC was designed by Nelson, Haworth Golf Course Architects. The superb design and equally meticulous execution has earned the BNGC the '2014 Best Renovated Golf Course in Asia-Pacific' from the prestigious Asia Pacific Golf Group. The award was presented during a gala dinner at the Asia Pacific Golf Summit Conference, held Nov. 14-16 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
The golf course's lush tropical landscape is set against the breathtaking backdrop of Mt. Agung, the island's holiest peak, and the infinite blue of the Indian Ocean. Golfers will find that their journey starts amid a verdant wood and moves along hilly parkland and stunning ravines. The 17th and 18th holes are just moments from the sparkling white sand where some of Asia's finest and most elegant private villas lie.
In BNGC, Nelson, Haworth Golf Course Architects have created a golf course that is challenging to all, but with ample fairways and meticulously maintained greens. It promises to be an enjoyable course to players of every level.
The amazing 9th is only 407 yards from the back tee, but features a fairytale babbling brook that empties into a water hazard paralleling the right side of the fairway and ultimately surrounding the peninsula green; be satisfied with a par here. Then it's on to the back nine and the lush landscaped coconut groves before arriving at the penultimate par 3, 17th hole, where a golfer's question may well be 'where's the fairway?' Yes, this hole requires a precise tee shot to a magnificent island green.
The 18th then awaits; a 400 yard dogleg par 4, with the green directly in front of the clubhouse terrace, where one's putts will be dissected by the watching audience, while they are enjoying their cocktails as well as excellent golfer's fare prepared by the club's multi-award winning executive chef and his team.
Additionally, BNGC boasts one of the most exclusive golf memberships in the world, some 25 percent were spoken for prior to opening.
BNGC is also taking a leadership role in the arena of golf development in Indonesia, continuing the tradition of producing Bali's finest golfers. The newly opened and redesigned Ancora Golf Institute will groom young Indonesian golfers to be future champions. The institute declared its goal as 'To bring recognition to Indonesian players and Indonesia, with a view of developing Indonesian golf heroes on the world stage.'
Australian PGA professional Robert Turvey and his team are offering the latest state-of-the-art swing analysis equipment as well as top quality balls for both warm up and practice sessions.
Well-appointed locker rooms, a well-stocked pro shop, the Golfer's Restaurant & Terrace overlooking the 18th green, as well as a meeting room and lounge facilities are all available at BNGC, where every day is a great golf day.
