E. Java capital boasts variety of golf courses<\/p>\n
Indra Harsaputra and ID Nugroho, Correspondents, Surabaya<\/p>\n
There are many courses for golf lovers in Surabaya, East Java.
\nBut if you want to play golf in an international-standard golf
\ncourse and at the same time enjoy the cool, fresh air of the
\nmountains, you should try either the Taman Dayu or Finna golf
\nclubs outside the city.<\/p>\n
At the Finna Golf and Country Club in Pasuruan, Roger
\nBradshow, an amateur golfer from the United States, hits a ball
\nthat lands not far from the second hole.<\/p>\n
"Yes -- this is good!" he shouts.<\/p>\n
Standing a short distance away, his partners in the game, Jab
\nBall, Walter Mcguire and Mark Wheeler, applaud.<\/p>\n
"Let's take a ride in the cart to the next hole," a smiling
\nBradshow tells The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Bradshow and company say they enjoy playing at Finna because
\nof the mountainous scenery. While the course is about 60 k.m.
\nfrom Surabaya's Juanda Airport, Bradshow and his friends say they
\ncome here often.<\/p>\n
"You can stay here for hours and not realize it because of the
\nbeautiful landscape," Bradshow said before leaving for the
\ncountry club for a fruit juice and a salad.<\/p>\n
Finna offers its members a range of dining options -- the
\nLotus Chinese restaurant, Pool Cafe, Spike Bar and Golfer
\nTerrace, which looks out on Mount Arjuno.<\/p>\n
Course public relations manager Erly Rizka said that about 30
\npercent of Finna's members were expatriates from the US, Europe
\nor Australia.<\/p>\n
"They have chosen our golf course not only because of the
\npleasent atmosphere but also because of its challenging nature,"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
She added that only a few golfers, professional or otherwise,
\ncould play well at Finna. That's why there was a saying among
\ngolfers that unless one could "conquer" Finna, one couldn't
\nbecome a professional.<\/p>\n
Chun Gon Young, a pro from South Korea said the course was
\ndifficult but enjoyable.<\/p>\n
The eighteen-hole course was designed by international golfers
\nPeter Thompson, Michael Wolveridge and Ross Perret. Thompson and
\nWolveridge were British Open champions and captains of 1998
\nPresident Cup Tournament.<\/p>\n
In terms of its design, Finna has features of the St Andrew
\nGolf Course in Scotland, the Royal Golf Course in Hong Kong and
\nthe Handara Golf Course in Bali.<\/p>\n
Located in a similarly mountainous landscape, Taman Dayu,
\nmeanwhile, is similarly popular among expatriates. Both courses
\nrank in Indonesia's golf course top 10, according to Asia Golf
\nmagazine.<\/p>\n
Taman Dayu is a subsidiary of cigarette company PT Hanjaya
\nMandala Sampoerna Tbk.<\/p>\n
Also with 18 holes, Taman Dayu was designed by golfing legend
\nJack Nicklaus, who has also designed courses in Norway and
\nSweden.<\/p>\n
Taman Dayu has become an international-class golf course and
\nhas frequently organized national and international golf
\ntournaments, including the Tamandayu Sony Putri Open.<\/p>\n
Course public relations officer Elanora says many expatriates
\nhave bought houses or plots of land around Taman Dayu.<\/p>\n
"A Japanese man working in East Java recently bought a house
\nin Taman Dayu. He is enchanted by the natural surroundings," she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Other golf courses in West Surabaya include Bukit Darmo Golf,
\nGraha Family Golf, Ciputra Golf and A. Yani Golf.<\/p>\n
Bukit Darmo Golf (BDG), which has 18 holes, is located in West
\nSurabaya and is managed by PT Adhibaladika Agung, a real estate,
\nproperty development and general contracting company in Surabaya.
\nIt is designed by Jack Nicklaus II, the eldest of Jack Nicklaus'
\nfour sons.<\/p>\n
Another course Nicklaus II designed is the Traditions Club at
\nthe Texas A&M course in the city, which is close to exclusive
\nresidential areas where many expatriates, particularly from
\nJapan, Korea and the US reside.<\/p>\n
Sidebar<\/p>\n
Golf means good business<\/p>\n
The presence of many golf courses in Surabaya and its
\nsurrounding area means good business for hotel owners and leather
\ngolf bag makers.<\/p>\n
One of these golf bag makers, Lili, who comes from
\nTanggulangin, Sidoarjo, says her business is booming.<\/p>\n
She says she sells up to 30 percent more of her bags every
\ntime there is a tournament.<\/p>\n
Locally made Tanggulangin bags are much cheaper than those
\nsold in the golf shops in Tunjungan Plaza in Surabaya and several
\nother shopping malls in this city. The prices range between Rp
\n500,000 and Rp 2 million. The quality, however, is excellent.<\/p>\n
There are also stalls selling other golfing items such as
\nleather shoes and hats. Clubs, however, are obtainable only in
\ngolf shops in several hotels and shopping malls, including the
\nShangri-La Hotel sports shop.<\/p>\n
Hotel public relations manager Wike Trisnandhini said that the
\noccupancy rate of the hotel was high during major golf
\ntournaments in Surabaya.<\/p>\n
"We cooperate with golf tournament organizers. We prepare
\nhotel rooms and provide our guests with transportation facilities
\nto get to the courses," she said.<\/p>\n
Box<\/p>\n
1.Golf courses in Surabaya<\/p>\n
-Bukit Darmo Golf Resort
\n-Yani Golf Club
\n-Satelit Driving Range
\n-Ciputra
\n-Finna Golf and Country Club
\n-Taman Dayu Golf Course
\n-Bumi Citra Fajar Golf Sidoarjo<\/p>\n
2.Golf Tournament Calendar in Surabaya
\n-May 14-15: Bukit Darmo Golf -- Acacia Golf Tournament
\n-September: Ryder Cup Charity Golf Tournament
\n-September: TI&A Golf Tournament
\n-November 20: Fourth Annual Deepavali Open Golf Classic<\/p>",
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