Bali, Indonesia: For golfers, the welcome mat is being laid out to the ‘World’s Best Destination’ throughout 2018.
Top of the tree in the 2017 Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice Award, Bali’s reputation as an idyllic getaway continues to blossom.
Accepting the award, I Gde Pitana, Deputy for International Tourism Marketing Development of the Ministry of Tourism, said: “It is a great honour, indeed, for Bali to be chosen as the World’s Best Destination. I am convinced that this Award will strengthen Indonesia’s position as a nation that places high priority in developing the Tourism Sector.”
Among the areas of focus is golf with last year’s launch of a new partnership of golf clubs on the Island of the Gods contributing to a significant rise in the number of visitors enjoying Bali’s exceptional golfing facilities in 2017.
Named Play Golf Bali, the partnership is comprised of Bali National Golf Club, Bukit Pandawa Golf & Country Club, Handara Golf & Resort Bali and New Kuta Golf, along with Baltic Tour and Travel, Indonesia’s foremost golf travel operator.
“Bali has all the ingredients for the ultimate golf holiday packages,” said Baromeus Gosal, President-Director of Baltic Tour and Travel. “As well as world-class courses, world-class caddies, world-class service and wonderful weather, all the Bali golf clubs also offer top quality dining and a variety of accommodation options.
“Over the years, Bali has gained a well-deserved reputation for its yoga and meditation retreats. Now we’re stepping up our efforts to tell the world about the very special and unique golfing delights of Bali.”
For 2018, the consortium has put together a series of events designed to showcase Bali’s award-winning courses to golfers from all corners of the globe.
Teeing-off this year’s special activities is the Bali Hai Golf Week (April 10-15) to be followed by the Bali Golf Festival (May 14-June 15), Bali Carnival Golf Week (September 23-28) and the Bali Golf Extravaganza (November 1-December 20).
Bali Hai Golf Week is being staged in collaboration with two four-star hotels – Wyndham Garden Kuta and the newly-opened The Elements Ubud Hotel by Westin.
The six-day, five-night package includes rounds at all four of the Play Golf Bali member clubs.
Mark Holland, General Manager at Bali National Golf Club, said: “All of Bali’s golf clubs joined forces last year with the mutual intention of elevating the island’s golfing profile to a global audience. We’re immensely encouraged by the response and look forward to building on that success in 2018.”
Evidence of the quality of Bali’s golfing offerings came at the 2017 World Golf Awards at which Bukit Pandawa was voted the World’s Best Par-Three Course while New Kuta Golf was named Best Course in Indonesia. New Kuta Golf was designed by Golfplan, a Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
Bagus W. Kurniadji, General Manager at New Kuta Golf, said: “It is a tremendous honour for New Kuta Golf to be named as the Best Course in Indonesia. The last 10 years have been a great journey for us. During that time we’ve hosted several significant championships as well as witnessed the growth of the golf industry in Indonesia and also the unique market of golf in Bali.
“By receiving this award we hope we will be able to spread the word about New Kuta Golf, Bali and all destinations in Indonesia to golfers around the world.”
Details of all Play Golf Bali packages, as well as profiles of the member clubs of the partners, can be found at www.playgolfbali.com