Golfing

  

Sri Lanka is yet to occupy its rightful place in the world of Golf. It is home to three of the finest 18 hole championship Golf courses in Asia. The three golf courses of international standing are located in Colombo, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. And they are The Royal Colombo Golf Club, The Victoria Golf and Nuwara Eliya Golf Club respectively. The scenery in and around the golf courses in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, both in the Central Highlands, are of great beauty and variety. The golf courses running through the untouched jungle and bush, the flying golf ball always seen in the background rich green canopy. Since Sri Lanka hasn’t been known in the perspective of a major golf playing destination, the fairways in these Golf courses most often remain calm. From Colombo these two Golf courses can be reached by car as well as by helicopters and sea-plains.

Etiquette

Royal Colombo Golf Club in Colombo is the most formal golf club in Sri Lanka. All three golf clubs in Sri Lanka have somewhat informal atmosphere easing the players and guests in a relaxed mode. A local caddy would be handy not only to haul around the golf bag but also to handle bargaining with ball spotters and pond boys.

Popular Clubs

Nuwara Eliya Golf Club

Proud of its century old heritage hidden amidst tea estates and misty hills, the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club is a favorite destination among pro golfers as well as beginners who come on vacation to the hill station. The 18-hole Golf Course and its Club House has a members club while visitors are welcome at all times. Boasting of one of the finest Golf experiences, the Golf Club offers accommodation as well as dining options while the bar and lounges are open to visitors as well. Dress codes and Golf standards should be adhered at all times.

The well-kept Nuwara Eliya Golf Club that spreads north from Grand Hotel Road of Nuwara Eliya is located in Nuwara Eliya, the heart of the highland region of Sri Lanka. Founded by British servicemen and colonial tea planters in the year 1889, Nuwara Eliya Golf Club features fir lined fairways, bunkers and scenic surroundings.

Playing golf at Nuwara Eliya Golf Club in Nuwara Eliya is to time travel back to the colonial days of Sri Lanka. The club has a convivial wood-lined bar and a badminton hall and billiard room. Dinner served in the dining room of Nuwara Eliya Golf Club includes classic English cuisine.

The Nuwara Eliya Golf Club is ideally located at the foot of Mount Pedro which is known as Mount Piduruthalagala among the locals. Surrounded by lush green mountains and some of the country’s finest tea estates, the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club is found in as what locals call ‘Little England’. Nuwara Eliya is located approximately 180km away from Colombo while the nearest train station is Nanu Oya which is about 5km away.

Enriched with tradition and an age old ambience, the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club has a distinguished members list while the club always welcomes visitors during the holiday seasons and all year through. Everyone including visitors are welcome to make use of the bar and lounges while you will have to enquire about the opening hours via the club office. Catering facilities are made available from 08.00 am to 07.00pm while you can make arrangements at off times upon prior request.

Visitors and members are all expected to conform to the best golf standards on and off course since it has always been the tradition. Smart casual wear is accepted in the Bar and Lounge while a jacket and tie is a must in the dining room after 07.00 pm. Golf shoes, water proof clothing are not allowed in the club house other than the locker rooms while jeans, track suits, polo t-shirts, training shoes and sneakers are not permitted in the club house or on the course under any circumstance. On the course, tailored longs/shorts and golf shoes has always been the dress code.

Nuwara Eliya has always been a major holiday destination among locals and tourists and is much loved by many due to its cool climate, misty hills, green tea estates, raging waterfalls and simply the enthralling natural beauty of the environment. Known as the tea capital of the country, there are many estates that you can visit upon permission while during season time, there are various festivals organized to attract visitors to this beautiful hill station. Other attractions excluding the Golf Club includes Lake Gregory, the Race Course, the Victoria Park and Mount Pedro. Excursions include the Haggala Botanical Gardens, Devon Falls, St. Claire Falls and the Horton Plains National Park with the World’s End Precipice.

Victoria Golf and Country Resort

“Some golf courses have a splendid undulating terrain over which the holes are routed. Some golf courses have a scenic backdrop of hills and lakes, which excite the senses. However, the Victoria Golf Course near Kandy is blessed with both attributes”

Victoria Golf and Country Resort is a 517-acre property set in the lush hills of the Knuckles Range on the shores of the Victoria Reservoir in Kandy, the cultural capital of Sri Lanka located at a distance of 115km into the interior of the island from the capital of Colombo. Victoria Golf Course is a part of a residential complex that also has an equestrian club, tennis court and a swimming pool set in the backdrop of rings of hills. Spreading over peaks and slopes with vast Victoria Reservoir breathing soothing breeze, Victoria Golf Course is as fine as any in the world. Still more it awarded as the finest and the most immaculately maintained golf course in the Indian subcontinent for several years and voted ‘Best in Asia 2005’ by Asian Golf Monthly. The 6877m (par 73) golf course which has made the full use of features of the terrain: undulating hillside, majestic forest of Jak Golfers Digest ranks it in top 100 Most Beautiful Courses in the World.

Victoria with its serene environment, an ideal holiday resort for relaxation in an outstation. The putting range and driving range are set in spectacular sceneries.
Sri Lankan and International cuisine are served at the restaurant “Araliya” and the bar serves a range of spirits and beer.
The riding school offers horse rides for children as well as adults while the tennis court is floodlit in the evening.
The large outdoor infinity swimming pool and facilities to have Ayurvedic massages complements the resort.
The accommodation options available at Victoria Golf and Country Resort range from boutique hotel villas and guest houses catering all budgets and tastes.

Royal Golf Club

The Royal Colombo Golf Club, one of the oldest golf clubs in the world received its Royal Charter from the British Crown in 1928. Set within a 96 acre former model farm that is located in a picturesque suburb area of Colombo 8, the Golf Club gives away the feeling of a sanctuary in the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. The Royal Colombo Golf Club that can be reached within 20 minutes by car. Kelani Valley Railway line runs through where sixth hole of the golf course is located. Through its many water hazards and bunkers this 5770 m (par 71) golf course offers challenges that would out to test even the seasoned players.