Golf in Nusa Dua & Bali: The Championship Courses Right by the Villa

By Villa Soleil · Published June 2026 · Updated September 2026 · 8 min read

For years the round most of our guests played was Bali National Golf Club, a 10–15-minute drive from Villa Soleil. That has changed for now: Bali National closed in May 2025 for a complete refurbishment under new ownership and is scheduled to reopen around the first quarter of 2027. The good news is that Nusa Dua still puts you within easy reach of Bali’s other courses: an 18-hole par-3 layout on the cliffs at Kutuh, a historic nine-holer by the beach in Sanur, a links-style cliff course near Pecatu, and a misty highland course near Bedugul, two hours north. This is the host’s guide to playing them from a Nusa Dua base — the green fees, the dress code, the tee-time tricks, and the logistics that make the difference between a good round and a great morning.

Why Nusa Dua is the golf base of Bali

Golf in Bali clusters around the southern peninsula, and Nusa Dua is its natural anchor. The reason is distance. Bali National Golf Club is woven into the Nusa Dua resort enclave itself — and once it reopens in 2027, guests will again be on the first tee in the time it takes most visitors to find a taxi. In the meantime, Bukit Pandawa and New Kuta Golf are a short hop across the Bukit, and Bali Beach Golf Course in Sanur is an easy run up the toll road. And because Nusa Dua sits roughly 12–20 minutes by car from Ngurah Rai airport, even the long drive north to Handara starts from the most efficient corner of the island.

There is also the matter of recovery. A round of golf in the tropics is a workout; the heat and humidity take more out of you than a temperate course at home. Coming home to a private pool, an air-conditioned suite, and a kitchen where a chef can be arranged beats trudging back to a crowded hotel lobby. For golfers travelling as a foursome, the four en-suite bedrooms at Villa Soleil mean everyone gets their own space after an early start. If you are still deciding where in Bali to base yourself, our comparison of Nusa Dua versus Seminyak and Canggu makes the case for the quiet south.

Bali National Golf Club — closed for refurbishment until 2027

For years this was the round most of our golfers played, and for good reason: it was, until its 2025 closure, the closest serious course to the villa, roughly 10–15 minutes away depending on traffic, an 18-hole championship layout winding through valley, lakeside, and ocean-view holes. Right now, though, you cannot play it. Bali National closed in May 2025 so that its new owner could carry out a complete refurbishment — the original architects, Nelson & Haworth, are redesigning the course, and a hotel is being developed on the property. The reopening is scheduled for around the first quarter of 2027, and the club may well return under a new name.

We will update this page the moment the tee sheet opens again; until then, please check with us or with the club before planning a trip around it, as reopening dates for projects of this size do move. If you were counting on Bali National for an easy morning round close to the villa, the next section covers the two courses that fill that gap — and for a full 18-hole championship test, New Kuta Golf is the nearest course that is open. Play nine at Sanur or eighteen at Bukit Pandawa, shower at the villa, and you are still poolside or down at the beaches of Nusa Dua by early afternoon.

• Format: 18 holes, championship layout, currently being redesigned by Nelson & Haworth
• Distance from Villa Soleil: about 10–15 minutes by car
• Status: closed for refurbishment since May 2025; reopening scheduled for early 2027 — check with us or the club before you travel
• Green fees: not yet published for the reopened course; we will update this page when the club announces them

Bukit Pandawa & Bali Beach Sanur — the courses you can play now

With Bali National out of action, two courses take over its role as the quick, close-to-the-villa round. The nearest is Bukit Pandawa Golf & Country Club at Kutuh, about 20–25 minutes from Villa Soleil on the road toward Pandawa Beach. It is an unusual and rather brilliant idea: 18 championship-standard par-3 holes (par 54) laid out on a limestone cliff top above the Indian Ocean, so you use every club in the bag, walk off in around two hours, and still get the sea views. Visitors are welcome daily, cart and caddie are included, and 2026 green fees run roughly IDR 1,600,000–1,900,000 depending on the day — ask us to confirm the current rate when you book.

The other option is Bali Beach Golf Course in Sanur, 30–45 minutes away via the toll road. This is Bali’s oldest course — a flat, palm-lined nine-hole par 36 a few steps from Sanur beach — and it is the relaxed, walkable round rather than a championship test. Expect about IDR 1,080,000 for nine holes for foreign visitors (around IDR 500,000 with an Indonesian ID or KITAS), including caddie and push trolley, with a second loop for 18 holes costing a little more. It is also the easiest place on the island to introduce a beginner or a child to the game.

New Kuta Golf — the links-style cliff course

If Bukit Pandawa is about convenience, New Kuta is about drama — and while Bali National is closed, it is also the nearest full-length 18-hole course to the villa. Designed by Ronald Fream’s Golfplan team and opened in 2007 as Indonesia’s first links-style course, it sits on the limestone cliffs of the Bukit peninsula near Pecatu, where several holes play right along the cliff edge with the surf crashing below. The fairways thread between native scrub and rock outcrops, and the wind off the Indian Ocean shapes almost every shot — the round serious golfers tend to remember longest. One honest caveat: the course has been through significant renovation work in recent seasons, so ask us about the current condition of the greens before you book — we will tell you straight whether it is playing at its best.

From Villa Soleil it is roughly 35–45 minutes, climbing up onto the Bukit and out toward the Uluwatu side of the peninsula. That makes it a natural pairing with a sunset elsewhere on the cliffs — finish your round, have lunch at the clubhouse, and your driver can be routed past Uluwatu temple for the evening kecak dance on the way home. Be warned: the wind makes club selection a puzzle, and the exposed holes are unforgiving in the midday sun, so an early start matters even more here.

Handara Golf — the highland escape up north

Handara is the wild card — and for many, the most memorable. Set at around 1,100 metres above sea level in the volcanic highlands near Bedugul, it was carved out of a caldera and ringed by forested mountains that are often wrapped in mist. The air is cool, sometimes genuinely chilly by Bali standards, and the famous stone gate at the entrance draws a steady queue of photographers. The course itself is a mature, tree-lined par 72 that plays completely differently from the coastal layouts — soft, green, and quiet.

The catch is the drive: roughly 2 to 2.5 hours each way from Nusa Dua, climbing through Bedugul’s lake country. We treat Handara as a full-day expedition rather than a quick round, ideally combined with the lake temple at Ulun Danu Beratan and lunch in the cool air. It pairs beautifully with the kind of slow, scenic touring you will also find on an Ubud day trip — the highland scenery is the reward as much as the golf. If you only play one round in the mountains, this is it.

Green fees, club & caddie rental, and what to budget

Booking direct in Bali — rather than through an overseas package — is almost always cheaper, and we are happy to secure rates and tee times on your behalf. Caddies are compulsory at every course and are part of the charm; a good caddie reads the greens, finds your ball, and keeps your round moving. A caddie tip on top of the fee is customary and appreciated. Here is a realistic 2026 budget per golfer, in Indonesian rupiah, to plan around.

Prices shift with season, time of day, and whether a buggy is included — twilight and replay rates can bring the green fee down considerably. Most clubs accept cards, but it is wise to carry some cash for the caddie tip and the halfway house; our guide to money and ATMs in Bali covers the practicalities. Renting clubs locally is sensible if you are travelling light — the rental sets are decent and it saves you wrestling a travel bag through Ngurah Rai.

Dress code, tee-time tips & the tropical climate

Every course enforces a standard golf dress code, and it matters more than first-timers expect. Collared shirts are required; no singlets, no football jerseys, no swimwear. Tailored shorts or trousers are fine, but not denim or beach shorts. Soft spikes are standard. If you turn up underdressed you may be sent to the pro shop, so pack at least one proper golf outfit — our Bali packing list has the full rundown.

The single most important piece of advice for Bali golf is to play early. Tee off at first light — around 6:30 to 7:30am — and you beat both the heat and the afternoon clouds that build over the island in the wet season. Midday rounds in the tropical sun are genuinely punishing. A few practical notes:

• Hydrate hard. Carry more water than you think you need; the humidity is deceptive.
• Sun protection. Hat, high-SPF sunscreen, and a towel — the exposed cliff holes at New Kuta offer no shade.
• Wet season (roughly Nov–Mar): morning play dodges the typical afternoon downpour; courses drain quickly but a passing shower is common.
• Dry season (Apr–Oct): firmer fairways, clearer skies, busier tee sheets — book further ahead.

For more on when to come, our overview of the best time to visit Bali breaks the seasons down month by month.

Beginner or serious golfer — how to plan your rounds

You do not need to be a low handicapper to enjoy golf here. Beginners and casual players are well looked after: every course has practice facilities, and a patient caddie makes a huge difference when you are still finding your swing. If golf is one item on a varied holiday, base everything around Bukit Pandawa or Bali Beach in Sanur while Bali National is closed — one easy morning round, no long drives, and the rest of the day free for the beach, the spa, or a sunset. The all-par-3 format at Bukit Pandawa is especially kind to newer players.

For the serious golfer chasing a memorable trip, the ideal while Bali National is closed is to play three very different courses: New Kuta for the cliff-top championship test, Bukit Pandawa for the short-game challenge of 18 par-3s, and Handara for the cool highland contrast. Spread across a week, with rest days for the beach and a spa session to recover, it makes for a strong golf itinerary — and Nusa Dua remains the base from which all of them are comfortably reachable. Travelling with non-golfing partners or family? The villa’s pool and the calm beaches nearby keep everyone happy while you play, and there is plenty for families with kids within a short drive.

What we arrange at Villa Soleil

Tell us which courses you want to play and when, and the Villa Soleil team will confirm tee times, club and caddie arrangements, and a private car with a driver who knows the early-morning routes. Planning the rest of your transport? Our guide to getting around Bali explains the options. Message the Villa Soleil team on WhatsApp to set it up.

Related reading

• Things to do in Nusa Dua
• Tanjung Benoa water sports
• Uluwatu sunset temple
• Nusa Dua restaurants

Written by the team at Villa Soleil. Message us to plan your stay in Nusa Dua.