Golf is just one of the many reasons to visit this idyllic part of the world post-COVID. But it’s a very enticing one.
Golf in Fiji? A reasonable question given that diving and idling under the sun by the beach are arguably the two most popular activities for holidaymakers here. But if you do enjoy teeing it up when on vacation, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the quality, challenge and beauty on offer in arguably the friendliest nation on the planet.
As we write this, it’s been exactly one year since Australia’s international travel ban was lifted, giving fully vaccinated Aussies the green light to get away for a well-earned escape. In those 12 months, data collected by travel provider Expedia revealed that Bali – surprise, surprise – was the most popular destination for Aussie travellers with London coming it at No.2. Next, though, was perennial family favourite Fiji, an honour rubberstamped by a staggering 38,950 visitors from Down Under in the month of September alone – that’s about 1,300 people per day.
On the back of what has been a horror few years for global tourism, it’s a remarkable comeback from Fiji, and reflects how the unwavering appeal of its world-class hospitality among the hundreds of luxury resorts, stunning beaches and spectacular golf courses has not been lost through COVID.
“Tourism is the lifeblood of Fiji, and we couldn’t be happier to see the incredible tourism recovery happening here,” chief executive officer of Tourism Fiji, Brent Hill, told Australian Golf Digest. “In September, we set an all-time record for the number of Australian visitors, while we also hit 90 percent of our overall 2019 numbers.
“Australia is still our strongest market, and many Aussies have great connections to Fiji and its people,” he adds. “When you hear stories of families returning and them being reunited with long-standing resort staff, that to me is what travel is all about – the connections we make.”
Hill said with affordable fares still available via Fiji Airways, and travel deals offered via the likes of MyFiji, Travel Online, Luxury Escapes and more, Fiji was well and truly “open for happiness”.
Here’s why you should get amongst the joy. Don’t forget to pack the clubs!
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It is true that Fiji is made up of more than 300 islands, many of them uninhabited, but perhaps the most “famous” island of them all doesn’t require a boat to get to.
Denarau Island, located just 10 kilometres from Nadi where the international airport is located, is reachable by road. In fact, you won’t even realise that you’re on the island given how well it’s connected to the “mainland”. But over the bridge into this resort-cum-residential neighbourhood and you’ll see why many expatriates and visitors choose to make this their home or base when they’re in Fiji.
Several global-chain hotels can be found on Denarau, and one of the premier ones is the Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort. The spaciousness and grandeur of the property is likely to be something few resorts offer today.
The resort is well spaced out, with a variety of dining options to choose from. All the rooms come with their own private balconies or patios from which you can enjoy the balmy seaside breezes that blow in from the beach at the property.
One of the greatest advantages of staying at the Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort, and the nearby Sheraton Denarau Villas and Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa, is that you can just walk across to Denarau Golf Course on the other side of the road (the hotels offer play-and-stay packages).
Opened in 1993, the Denarau Golf & Racquet Club course is truly resort in nature, featuring wide, palm tree-lined fairways and little undulation. But designer Eiichi Motohashi put together 18 fun and highly playable holes that stretch to 6,538 metres (par 72), so it’s no pushover by any means. Mangrove swamps and marine-shaped bunkers and greens are unique to Denarau Island, and 15 of the holes have water hazards.
Having a hit while on a beach holiday is one thing here, but this is also a great place to hone your game. Lessons and clinics are available, and the practice facilities include chipping and bunker areas, and a very nicely appointed putting green.
Another advantage of staying and playing at Denarau is that there are dining options that extend beyond hotel restaurants. A short stroll around the resort community opens up a whole new world of Fijian fare.
A salute to Mr Singh
Mention Fiji and the first things that generally come to come to mind are fine, tropical weather, breathtaking sunsets, and of course, rugby. But unbeknown to most, this is also where you’ll find Natadola Bay Golf Course, arguably the top layout in Oceania.
Located in the south-western corner of the main island Viti Levu, the Vijay Singh-designed course and its accompanying hotel enjoy the famous sunsets that the country is known for. Planning a round in the late afternoon affords a glimpse at multi-hued skies and a straight-line horizon that is devoid of boats as far as the eye can see.
Taking your eye and attention away from the irresistible surroundings when playing Singh’s course is probably something you’d rather not do if you don’t want to find yourself losing too many balls or needing a calculator to add up your strokes. Though it’s “resort” in nature, the course crafted by the native Fijian Major-winner throws up 18 holes that are as varied from each other as they are linked by their stunning countenance.
You’re never too far away from the water – whether it’s the ocean or one of the ponds and canals – when playing Natadola Bay. One of the great privileges is that the sea is visible on many of the holes. And on those that don’t afford that view, the tranquil hills and lush vegetation of the Fijian countryside more than make up for it.
Given Singh’s penchant for practice and the high standards he puts on himself, it won’t surprise that the course kicks off with a testy, long par-4 that slaps you awake from the get-go. The 415-metre hole features a narrow fairway with bunkers on either side, and a green that sends all balls hit long and right to a pond at the back. If you don’t hit the ball far enough, and can’t shape the ball left to right, be happy with a bogey and carry on.
Many of the holes compete for signature status, and there is no clear winner. The fourth – noted as “the hardest and most scenic par-3” on the course – plays along the beach; the par-4 sixth has a tee at the top of a cliff looking down at the entire hole with a view of the Pacific; the short but treacherous par-4 12th has the ocean beyond, and water all along the right; and the 16th is a delightful hole that demands a straight and true tee shot over a large lake.
Singh’s achievement in his homeland is a feather in the cap for a player who has brought golf glory to this small collection of islands in the sun.
If you have the time, and the desire, to play one more course in Fiji, you may want to venture south to Pacific Harbour where you will find The Pearl Resort. Like Natadola Bay and Denarau, The Pearl Championship Golf Course is associated with the resort of the same name and is located conveniently right next to it.
This Robert Trent Jones Jnr design is a hoot to play. The 18-hole course was where Greg Norman won one of his first professional titles and was ranked the country’s No.1 layout shortly after it opened in 1978.
THE DETAILS
PLAY
Denarau Golf & Racquet Club
Denarau Island, Nadi, Fiji Islands,
denarau.com +679 675 9710
Natadola Bay Golf Course
Maro Rd, Natadola, Fiji Islands,
natadolabay.com +679 673 3500
The Pearl Championship Golf Course
The Pearl Resort, Pacific Harbour, Fiji Islands, thepearlsouthpacific.com/play/golf +679 773 8214
STAY
Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort
Denarau Island South, Nadi, Fiji Islands, sheratonfiji.com +679 675 0777
Aussies’ new Port of call
Australian Josh Dixon probably didn’t expect to land a job in golf, let alone one in a left-field location like Papua New Guinea.
Dixon, whose résumé includes operational stints with the InterContinental Hotels Group, New Zealand’s famed Eden Park stadium and Melbourne catering experts Epicure, now finds himself running a club that hosts its country’s national open – no small feat.
With a population of more than nine million that speaks some 850 indigenous languages, Dixon’s mission is to help spread the universal language of golf. While the rugby league-mad nation doesn’t consider itself a golf-holiday hotspot by any stretch, it does boast a thriving corporate market, thanks to the large number of expats regularly jetting in for work.
“That demand has allowed Royal Port Moresby Golf Club, which is just 15 minutes from the city’s CBD, to remain a focal point among the region’s recreational pursuits,” Dixon says.
“I’ve only been here 10 months but I’m incredibly excited to help get the PNG Open back where it belongs after a challenging period due to COVID.”
The club itself is steeped in history and stature, a reputation only boosted by the annual arrival of some of the best players in Australasia. South Australian tour pro Peter Cooke, the reigning PNG champion from 2019, was glad he took advice from friends to experience Royal Port Moresby for himself. Upon winning the title three years ago – his maiden win on the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia – Cooke relayed his first impressions of the challenge.
“My friends that have played here told me, ‘You should go and play – the golf course suits you.’ And my first impressions of the week were, Wow. This place is pretty narrow,” Cooke said of the tree-lined layout. “As I played it a couple of times, I got a bit more comfortable with it and a lot of the landing zones suited my eye.”
For those who happen to be in the area and fancy a hit, the club’s 18-hole course is complemented by an impressive 10-bay driving range and short-game facility that includes two putting greens. The on-course kiosk offers a wide range of snacks and beverages to keep you on your game in the PNG heat. After your round, sit back, relax and enjoy the club’s amenities as you reflect on one of the more unique golf experiences you will ever have in this part of the world. For more information, visit royalportmoresby.com
