Golf in Sri Lanka

Golf in Sri Lanka
Golf in Sri Lanka dates back over one hundred years and golfers who holiday in Sri Lanka will not be disappointed. Sri Lanka’s first golf course opened in 1896 and it now boasts three fine 18 hole golf courses situated in Colombo, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. The altitude and climate in each location is very different providing a unique experience at each course. If you are a keen golfer then let us incorporate a round or two of golf into your holiday with Expressions to Sri Lanka.

Royal Colombo Golf Club
Colombo’s venerable Golf Club, dating back to 1896, sits on a 96 acre site and has a well-maintained 18-hole golf course, flat with some trees and gentle slopes. At 6,560 yards, this par 71 course has a railway track running through it. It has a separately accessible practice range and a clubhouse with veranda overlooking the course.
The Colombo course is easily accessible from hotels in Colombo and Wadduwa.
Nuwara Eliya Golf Club
Situated at 2,000 metres above sea level, this golf course hugs the slopes around the market town of Nuwara Eliya, popularly known as Little England. The club is over 100 years old and has a 6,100 yards, par 70 course. Narrow fairways and thick rough in between trees and bushes make it a challenge when balls go astray. Nuwara Eliya is very busy during April and May when golfers come up to escape from the heat of Colombo and there is usually a Golf Classic in June. Stay at: hotels in and around Nuwara Eliya
The Victoria Golf Course
The Victoria Golf Course is around 1 hour’s drive east of Kandy in the heart of Sri Lanka, surrounded by majestic mountains, glistening waters and tall tropical trees. “Try stopping me playing here! Wonderful” said Sir Ian Botham, former England cricket captain. Rated by Golf Digest USA as one of the 100 most scenic golf courses in the world, the Victoria Golf Course is a challenging 18-hole par 73 championship course. Designed in 1997 by British golf architects Donald Steel & Co, it is guaranteed to provide you with an unforgettable golf experience.
Built and maintained to USGA standard, the course is 6,933 yards long and meanders through tree-lined fairways on a peninsula overlooking the Victoria reservoir and dam. Perhaps the 6th stands out as the most spectacular with its tee set 100 ft above the fairway commanding breathtaking views over the course to the waters beyond. This is recognised as the toughest par 4 in Sri Lanka, sure to set the pulse racing, and with three of the holes over 500 yards long this is a most challenging and rewarding course for any golf lover.
The Victoria Golf & Country Resort also has a driving range to practice on as well as putting and chipping greens. Golf equipment and clubs are available for hire at the Golf Pro Shop and a resident golf professional is on hand for advice and lessons. The use of Ball Spotters is compulsory - you pay an extra Ball Spotter fee – they will help make sure you find the balls and aid speed of play on the golf course. Expert trained caddies will help give you the correct line on your tee shot as well as carry your clubs – the use of one caddie per player is compulsory. Electric buggies are available for hire, if required. The Victoria Clubhouse provides a welcome 19th hole with a restaurant and bar, changing rooms and plenty of comfy seats.
Where to stay: Victoria Golf & Country Resort chalets or the luxurious boutique residence Clingendael. Alternatively, the hotels in and around Kandy are 45 minutes to 1 hour drive away.

Being active can pose its challenges in this tropical island; visitors need to take into account the heat and humidity, especially at the height of the day, as well as the profusion of insects and wildlife that could become hostile when disturbed.

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