Bali Golf and Country Club a unique setup
Bali Golf and Country Club a unique setup
By Lukman Natanagara
NUSA DUA, Bali (JP): If you are looking for a place in Nusa
Dua where you can play golf and stay a night or two in luxury
within putting distance of the course, you would do well to try
the Bali Golf and Country Club (BGCC).
A 10-minute drive from Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport
takes you to the grounds of the club that claims to be different
from all others in Indonesia.
"The club is unique because guests do not stay at a hotel
outside the golf club but stay in any of the three villas within
the club," said Stephen R. Lomax, the club's general manager.
"Our motto is good hospitality to our guests. We want to make
them as comfortable as possible."
The quality of the Bali and Country Club has been recognized
internationally. In its Nov. 18 edition, Fortune magazine
selected it as one of Asia's best five golf courses.
The others were Royal Selanggor Golf Club (Malaysia),
Singapore Island Country Club (Singapore), Blue Canyon Country
Club (Thailand) and Bukit Jambul Country Club (Malaysia).
Fortune chose the BGCC based on the location, atmosphere and
opinions from people who had visited the club.
Many said they loved the BCGG because of the starkly different
types of terrain it offers.
But Lomax said it would be difficult to maintain the
prestigious accolade, considering Bali has several other good
golf courses.
"We let the guests see our club for themselves and so far we
had not received any complaints. Of course that's not enough, we
make an annual evaluation of our club so as to know whether we
need improvements," Stephen said.
BGCC was established on March 4, 1991 with a preopening tee-
off by three heads of government -- Indonesia's President
Soeharto, Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and the Sultan
of Brunei Darussalam, Hassanal Bolkiah.
It was developed by PT Narendra InterPacific, a joint venture
between PT Narendra Persada and the Inter-Pacific Group.
The 18-hole, 6,849-yard course was designed by Robin Nelson
and Rodney Wright. It has already hosted such prestigious
international competitions as the Alfred Dunhill Masters.
Holes one through nine have panoramic views of Nusa Dua, the
Indian Ocean and even faraway volcanoes. Creeks, canyons,
cascading waterfalls and verdant native vegetation color the
picturesque landscape, where tropical birds make their home.
Holes 10 through 16 are characterized by the sculptured
fairways set amid a mature coconut grove, with the tress climbing
to as high as 100 feet.
The 17th and 18th holes skirt the beach with the 18th bringing
golfers back to the clubhouse.
Less energetic players need not worry about walking from one
hole to another as buggies are provided. Small restaurants are
also to be found scattered around the course for anyone needing a
pitstop.
BGCC offers reasonable green fees; 18 holes will set you back
US$135 while a 9-hole round costs $77 per person. The green fees
are inclusive of one golf cart and four caddies but not equipment
which is extra.
Tee-off times are available from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lomax said most of the visitors to BGCC are Japanese,
Americans and Australians.
"Fifty percent of them are Japanese, 30 percent Americans and
Australians, and the remaining 20 percent are Indonesians. They
come here not only to play golf but also to feel the surroundings
and atmosphere of the club," Lomax said.
Villas
BGCC's three villas have three or four rooms. The three villas
are located separately and are rented out either per villa or per
room, although one does not have to stay at the club in order to
play there.
For the three-room villa, the rent is US$725 a day while the
four-room villas cost $1,050.
A guest bedroom in the three-room villa is $225/day, the
master bedroom in the three-room villa is $275/day, a guest
bedroom in the four-room villas is $250 and the master bedroom in
the four-room villa costs $300.
They also include kitchens, living rooms and a private
swimming pool.
"We also have rooms for the maids and servants. The guests may
order food from us or cook for themselves. Our kitchen is always
open day and night," Lomax said.
He believes the prices for both accommodation and meals are
far cheaper than at five-star hotels. "Many people come to our
country club because it is cheaper than the hotels."
That may be so but occupancy rates have still to take off.
Data for the last year shows that on average fewer than four
people stayed on any one night.
The management's biggest concern is how to protect the golf
course from damage, particularly caused by nature.
He said that the grass is regularly damaged by worms. "We have
chickens to do the work for us and it is the most effective way.
The chickens are scattered around the 18-hole course and eat the
worms."
Birds, snakes and reptiles can regularly be seen all over the
course. Stephen said that they do not harm the guests unless they
are attacked.
"We always warn our guests not to attack the birds, snakes and
reptiles. If they do, we catch the animals and put them into
cages," Stephen added.
Lots
The country club has also 23 lots plots of land for sale.
Prices vary from $600,000 for 1,910 square meters to $1.39
million for 5,600 square meters.
The buyers all allowed to build their own houses or ask for
assistance from the country club.
"We will help the buyers if they want us to build a house or
villa for them," Stephen said.
Muhammad Gusri, the club's marketing manager, told The Jakarta
Post that the buyers will not receive land certificates but only
building use permits.
"A buyer may purchase more than one lot. The house or villa
they build may be rented out. We can arrange it all. The buyers,
however, are obliged to pay maintenance fees for their lots,"
Gusri said.
Buying a lot is probably beyond most people's pockets but for
those wanting a luxury golfing holiday at reasonable rates, BGCC
is definitely worth considering.