International flight networks, five-star accommodation and buggies on hand are just some of the prerequisites to golfing in paradise.
From New Caledonia to Fiji, the Pacific swings a pretty great range of destinations and as more countries reopen borders, we enlist some go-to-greens for your travel plans.
• New Caledonia – Exclusiv Golf Deva
• French Polynesia – Moorea Green Pearl
• Vanuatu – Port Vila Golf Country Club
• Fiji – Denarau Golf & Racquet Club
NEW CALEDONIA: Exclusiv Golf Deva
The 18-hole Exlusiv Golf Deva spans 6,663 -metres for a par of 72 and boasts the unique views of a UNESCO World Heritage-listed lagoon.
This one-of-a-kind course is nestled on the Bourail coast of central New Caledonia, a scenic two-hour drive from the international La Tontouta Airport in Noumea.
Wide fairways and endemic trees are incorporated into the course – the first in the Pacific by American golf architecture firm, Dye Designs.
Membership options include a business club and which is perfect for entertaining corporate clients and maximising your professional network in one of the Pacific’s most beautiful settings. It’s an easy jaunt with New Caledonia only a two-hour flight from Australia and New Zealand.
You can enjoy solo or group lessons through the academy, with a demarcated training area and certified professionals to guide both adults and younger players.
There’s a Pro Shop onsite at the plush Sheraton New Caledonia Deva Spa & Golf Resort, with babysitting and other family-friendly services on hand.
Off the course, a range of immersive Bourail experiences await. The Deva Estate has the largest dry forest tract in the region and over 60 per cent of its plant life is endemic.
Enjoy hiking, cultural excursions, surfing, horse-riding and sightseeing landmarks like the monolithic rock formation known as Bonhomme.
FRENCH POLYNESIA – Moorea Green Pearl
Adding to the mystical beauty of Mo’orea, this incredible 18-hole course cradles Lake Tema’e between the island’s mountains and lagoon. It provides some truly incredible vistas.
The course was opened in 2007 as the creation of French company Grégori International and design of “Golden Bear” Jack Nicklaus, and spans 6,663 metres (Par 72).
The picturesque scape boasts more than 600 metres of lagoon frontage and is a scenic drive from the island’s domestic airport and ferry docks, less than 20 minutes away.
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There’s plenty to do onsite with Le Green Pearl Restaurant, a pro shop and an academy for individual and group lessons.
With a calendar of frequent tournaments, travellers to the island can book in at partner hotels and enjoy overwater bungalows at the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa or Manava Beach Resort and Spa.
Off the course, you can cruise Lake Tema’e with local boat operators, and opt to explore other ocean and land attractions on the island; snorkel and lunch tours, quad biking up Magic Mountain, culinary excursions and even whale watching in the open sea.
Regular ferry services can bring you over to Mo’orea from mainland Tahiti in around 30 minutes, or for a quicker route, opt for a 10-minute domestic flight from Faa’a International Airport to Moorea Airport.
VANUATU – Port Vila Golf Country Club
Only ten minutes from the capital’s central business district, this charming 18-hole (par 72) course overlooks beautiful Mele Bay and is a conveniently short distance from Bauerfield, the country’s international airport.
The club was founded by Vanuatu’s first President, Ati Sokomanu in the 80s and spans 5943 metres, boasting ocean view fairways and over 50 bunkers.
With a Golf Australia course rating of 128 (men) and 129 (ladies), the club is open to non-members and traditional calendar highlights include the annual Vanuatu Open, sanctioned by the PGA.
A club restaurant and bar provide an ample spread to wind down with a lively social scene.
Off the course, there are many attractions to soak in the Vanuatu sunshine on mainland Efate Island, including the nearby Mele Cascades waterfall, jungle ziplines, eco tours, river kayaking, buggy and quad biking, hiking and day tours to nearby islands like Lelepa up the coast.
For accommodation, Vanuatu offers an amazing range of stays by local and international hotel brands like the Warwick Le Lagoon, Ramada Resort by Wyndham and Holiday Inn by the InterContinental Group.
FIJI – Denarau Golf and Racquet Club
This 72-par course is a playground for all skill levels and spans 6538-metres of manicured greens and scenic waterways on the Pacific’s largest integrated resort island.
A breezy five minutes from Port Denarau and only 20 minutes from Nadi International Airport, you can hop off a yacht or plane and get swinging in little to no time.
There’s a range of membership benefits and public fees, clubs for rental and lessons offered, alongside a retail selection to top up your gear.
Facilities are generous and include the Heineken House Restaurant & Bar, popular for wood fired pizza, panoramic views and social butterflying.
The greens are sculpted from a former mangrove swamp and for three decades, has hosted regional and international tournaments, including annual calendar highlights like the Sheraton Classic.
A waterpark and mini golf are right next door and the whole place is easy walking distance to surrounding five-star resorts, eateries, shopping and spas, and the Port Denarau Marina, where day cruises to nearby island trips, fishing charters and other memorable activities can be easily scheduled.
You can golf as a group, go solo or bring the whole family along, and still keep everyone entertained.
