Just a 60-minute ferry ride from the skyline of Singapore lies a completely different world. Bintan Island is a sensory detox a place where the noise of the city is replaced by the sound of waves crashing against granite boulders and the call of macaques in the rainforest. For golfers, Bintan offers the ultimate “resort golf” experience. It is home to some of the most photographed holes in Asia, where fairways slice through ancient jungle and greens perch precariously on cliffs above the South China Sea. If you want a quick, seamless international golf holiday that feels like a true castaway adventure, Bintan is the answer.
Ria Bintan Golf Club (Ocean Course) Gary Player’s Masterpiece Consistently ranked as one of the best courses in Asia, the Ocean Course is the reason golfers come to Bintan. Designed by Gary Player, it offers a visual drama that is hard to match.
Laguna Golf Bintan The Greg Norman Challenge Originally designed by Greg Norman and revamped in 2016, this course offers a “tale of two terrains.” It winds through diverse environments from lush rainforest and natural wetlands to beachfront coconut groves. It demands creativity, as you navigate around massive granite boulders and ancient trees.
The 17th Hole. A stunning par-3 played from a tee box perched on a cliff, over a jagged rock formation, to a green sitting by the sea.
Ria Bintan (Forest Course) The Strategic 9 While most visitors rush to the Ocean Course, the 9-hole Forest Course (also by Gary Player) is a formidable challenge in its own right. It cuts deep into the tropical woodlands, offering tight fairways and strategic bunkering that will test your iron play.
The serenity. Without the ocean wind, the air is still, and you are surrounded by the sounds of the jungle. It is a perfect, peaceful 9-hole add-on to your morning round.
• Gonggong:
The must-try local delicacy. These are sea snails boiled and served with a spicy chili dipping sauce. You pull the meat out with a toothpick it’s the taste of Bintan.
• Kelong Seafood:
Eat dinner at a Kelong (a traditional wooden platform built over the water). The Kelong Seafood Restaurant at Nirwana Gardens offers the freshest black pepper crab you will ever taste, with the water lapping beneath your feet.
• Otak-Otak:
A spicy fish cake grilled in a banana leaf. It’s the perfect savory snack after a round.
• 500 Lohan Temple:
A surreal and photogenic site featuring 500 life-sized stone statues of arhats (Buddhist saints), each with a unique facial expression.
• Mangrove Discovery Tour:
Take a boat ride through the Sebung River mangroves. Go at night to see thousands of fireflies lighting up the trees like Christmas lights.
• Trikora Beach:
Escape the resort enclave and head to the east coast to see the rustic side of Bintan, with white sand beaches and local fishing villages.
Gonggong
Kelong Seafood
Otak-Otak
500 Lohan Temple
Mangrove Discovery Tour
Trikora Beach
The Vibe:
The best time for golf. The seas are calm, the skies are blue, and the wind is manageable.
Golf Conditions:
Prime. The courses are fast, and the ferry ride over is smooth.
The Vibe:
The “North-East Monsoon” brings strong winds and choppier seas.
Golf Conditions:
Exciting but challenging. The wind on the coastal holes at Ria Bintan becomes a fierce defender of par. Rain showers are frequent but usually pass quickly.
It’s an island; logistics are everything.
Taxis are scarce on the island. Our private drivers meet you at the ferry terminal and shuttle you between your resort and the courses.
Bintan resorts often have service charges and taxes that add up. Our packages are all-inclusive, so you know exactly what you are paying.
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