Indonesian golf trips usually mean Bali or Bintan. Bali’s golf has changed: Bali National in Nusa Dua played its last rounds in May 2025, and Nirwana Bali at Tanah Lot has been listed as closed, so the island now has two main championship options. New Kuta Golf sits on limestone cliffs above Dreamland Beach, 20 minutes from the airport. Handara, a Peter Thomson course from the 1970s, lies inside a volcanic crater 1,142 metres up in the cool highlands, and celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026. Across the strait from Singapore, Bintan Island has Gary Player’s Ria Bintan, 50 minutes by ferry. Klook sells a Bali golf pass covering New Kuta and Handara, which simplifies booking two very different rounds.
Gary Player’s jungle-and-sea Ocean Course, 50 minutes by ferry from Singapore.
Destination imagery
Where to base yourself.
Southern Bali & the Bukit Peninsula
New Kuta Golf’s clifftop course is 20 minutes from Ngurah Rai Airport, close to Uluwatu, Jimbaran and Nusa Dua’s resorts. Bali National in Nusa Dua closed in 2025, so New Kuta is the south’s championship round. Its holes run along limestone cliffs above Dreamland Beach, and the sunsets over the Indian Ocean are the reason many visitors book a late tee time. Uluwatu temple and the Jimbaran seafood beach are short drives away.
The Bedugul highlands
Handara Golf & Resort sits in a volcanic crater beside Lake Beratan, about two hours from the airport and an hour from Ubud. Cool air, bentgrass greens and family chalets make it a good night away from the coast. Peter Thomson and Ronald Fream designed the course, which opened in the mid-1970s and plays to about 7,024 yards. Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, the lake temple pictured on the 50,000-rupiah note, and the Jatiluwih rice terraces are both nearby.
Bintan Island
Ria Bintan’s 27 Gary Player holes, including the seaside Ocean Course, are 50 minutes by ferry from Singapore’s Tanah Merah terminal. Lagoi’s beach resorts and Laguna Bintan’s course are nearby. The Ocean Course opened in 1998 and mixes tight jungle holes with a run along the sea, including a par-three 9th often counted among Asia’s best short holes. Golfscape users rate it 8.9 out of 10.
When to go.
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Bali’s dry season runs from about April to October and is the best time to play; the wet season from November to March brings heavy afternoon rain. The highlands at Handara are cooler and wetter than the coast all year, so morning tee times are best. Bintan is warm year-round, with the north-east monsoon bringing more rain and choppier ferry crossings from about November to February.
Getting around.
Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) has direct flights from across Asia and Australia. Hire a car and driver for golf days, as traffic in southern Bali is slow and the road to Bedugul winds through the mountains. Bintan is reached by ferry from Singapore’s Tanah Merah terminal, with resort shuttles on the island.
Plan it well.
Check that a course is open before you plan around it: Bali National and Nirwana Bali have both closed in recent years. Green fees in Bali often include a cart, and tour packages usually add a caddie, so compare totals. Klook’s Bali golf pass covers New Kuta and Handara. For Bintan, carry your passport, allow for immigration on both sides and check ferry times before you book a tee time. In Bali, leave plenty of time for the roads: the run from the airport to Handara takes two hours or more, and southern traffic around Kuta and Seminyak is slow at peak times.
Questions golfers ask.
Is Bali National Golf Club open?
No. Bali National in Nusa Dua played its last rounds in May 2025 and was reported closed by July 2025. New Kuta Golf and Handara are now Bali’s main championship courses.
What is the best golf course in Bali?
New Kuta Golf for clifftop ocean views close to the airport, and Handara for a cool highland round inside a volcanic crater. Many visitors play both, and Klook sells a pass covering the two.
Can you play golf on Bintan from Singapore?
Yes. Ria Bintan is 50 minutes by ferry from Singapore’s Tanah Merah terminal, with a short shuttle to the course. Gary Player designed its 27 holes.
When is the best time to play golf in Bali?
During the dry season, from about April to October. The highlands around Handara are cooler and can cloud over in the afternoon, so tee off early.
