5 Best Golf Courses in Bali: Where Scenic Beauty Meets World-Class Fairways

Bali is a place where landscapes feel painted by the gods, a tapestry of volcanic mountains, oceans that shift from turquoise to deep sapphire, and villages wrapped in spiritual warmth. But beyond its temples and beaches, the island offers something many travelers don’t expect: some of the most breathtaking golf courses in Southeast Asia.

Here, fairways cling to dramatic cliffs. Greens sit against mist-covered mountains. Tees open toward glittering seas. And everywhere, the island’s atmosphere, calm, artistic, deeply spiritual, follows you from hole to hole.

Whether you’re a seasoned golfer chasing championship-level environments or a curious beginner wanting a memorable day outdoors, these five best golf courses in Bali offer unforgettable experiences shaped by nature, culture, and world-class design.

1. Handara Golf & Resort Bali — A Highland Icon Wrapped in Clouds

High in the serene mountains of Bedugul, Handara Golf & Resort feels like stepping into another Bali. Mist drifts slowly across the fairways. Cool air brushes your arms. Tall green walls of ancient rainforests surround the course, creating a natural amphitheater unlike anywhere else on the island.

Handara is more than a golf course, it’s a journey into Bali’s highland soul.

A Scene Set in Nature

As you walk to the first tee, the temperature drops, a refreshing embrace after the coastal heat. The scent of pine trees mixes with morning dew. Birds echo through the valley. You swing, and the ball sails through crisp mountain air that seems to carry it farther than usual.

The greens are soft, the fairways narrow, and the challenges rewarding. Every hole feels framed by emerald mountains, timeless, untouched, and peaceful.

Why Golfers Love It

• Cool mountain climate (perfect for long games)

• One-of-a-kind scenery, no beach views, but vast volcanic landscapes

• Photogenic iconic Handara Gate, one of Bali’s most Instagrammed spots

Perfect For

Travelers seeking calm, nature lovers, couples on romantic mountain retreats, and anyone wanting a “non-beach” Bali experience.

Practical Tips

• Best time to play: Early morning for soft light and gentle mist

• What to bring: Jacket or long sleeve (cool temperatures), rain cover (occasional mountain showers)

• Location: Bedugul highlands, about 2 hours from Canggu, Seminyak, or Ubud

2. Bali National Golf Club — Luxury Fairways in the Heart of Nusa Dua

If Handara is nature's sanctuary, Bali National Golf Club is Bali’s polished luxury. Located in the exclusive Nusa Dua tourism area, the course feels refined, elegant, and world-class from the moment you arrive.

Designed with championship precision, it blends tropical gardens with sculpted fairways and ocean breeze, a perfect balance of difficulty and beauty.

A Journey Through Three Landscapes

The course is brilliantly structured into three distinct zones:

1. The Parkland Holes — Wide fairways lined with tropical foliage

2. The Canyon Hues — Rugged terrain, cliffs, and dramatic hazards

3. The Lake Zone — Calm water views to finish the day

You can almost feel the shift in atmosphere as you move through these environments. There are holes where you swing with the scent of frangipani in the air, and holes where you face bold challenges that demand strategy and accuracy.

Why Golfers Love It

• Championship-level design

• Premium facilities including pro shop, lounge, and excellent restaurants

• Close to luxury resorts, ideal for golf-focused holidays

Perfect For

Golfers seeking a polished, modern, upscale experience. Also great for couples or groups staying in Nusa Dua’s resort area.

Practical Tips

• Best time to play: Late afternoon, cooler temperatures and golden light

• Dress code: Strict, so prepare proper golf attire

• Location: Nusa Dua, 20–30 minutes from Jimbaran or Seminyak

3. New Kuta Golf — Clifftop Play With Breathtaking Ocean Views

Imagine standing on a tee box perched above towering limestone cliffs, the Indian Ocean roaring below. The wind shifts. Waves crash rhythmically. Your shot arcs over a backdrop of endless blue.

This is New Kuta Golf, located in Pecatu near Dreamland Beach, one of Bali’s most dramatic golf courses.

Pure Coastal Drama

Designed as a links-style course, New Kuta combines open terrain, ocean winds, rolling greens, and cliffside challenges. On windy days, the course tests both skill and creativity; on calm days, it feels like a postcard unfolding in real time.

The highlight?

Hole 15, the signature clifftop hole with 240-degree ocean views, where sunlight sometimes turns the sea into liquid silver.

Why Golfers Love It

• Unmatched ocean panoramas

• Exciting coastal winds that add challenge

• Location near Bali’s best beaches, including Dreamland and Bingin

Perfect For

Golfers who love dramatic scenery, photographers, adventure seekers, and anyone wanting a course that feels like part of the coastline itself.

Practical Tips

• Best time to play: Sunset tee times for incredible sky colors

• What to bring: Sunscreen, hat, extra balls (windy days can be intense!)

• Location: Pecatu/Uluwatu area, about 20 minutes from Jimbaran

4. Bali Beach Golf Course — A Relaxed and Friendly Golf Experience in Sanur

On the peaceful eastern coastline lies Sanur, one of Bali’s oldest beach destinations, calm, traditional, quietly charming. Here, tucked beside a leafy park, sits Bali Beach Golf Course.

It’s smaller than others on this list, but that’s part of its appeal. With nine well-designed holes, this course offers a relaxed, welcoming environment perfect for families, beginners, and travelers short on time.

A Charming Local Feel

Walking the course, you hear soft ocean breezes drifting from Sanur Beach. You might catch the scent of incense from nearby temples, especially in the morning. Squirrels sometimes dart across fairways. It feels local, lived in, and wonderfully laid-back.

Despite its compact size, the course offers tricky doglegs, narrow fairways, and strategic bunkers that create satisfying gameplay.

Why Golfers Love It

• Quick rounds, ideal for short itineraries

• Friendly atmosphere

• Affordable compared to larger courses

Perfect For

Families, new golfers, casual players, travelers staying in Sanur or Denpasar, and anyone seeking a light and easy golf day.

Practical Tips

• Best time to play: Mornings for cooler air

• What to bring: Mosquito repellent (green surroundings attract bugs)

• Location: Sanur, 15 minutes from Denpasar Airport

5. Bukit Pandawa Golf & Country Club — The Most Beautiful Par-3 Course in Asia

Bukit Pandawa Golf is a masterpiece, visually stunning, intelligently designed, and unlike any par-3 course you’ve ever seen.

Sitting on the limestone plateau of south Bali, the course offers breathtaking ocean views, dramatic cliffs, and ornate Balinese architecture woven into the landscape.

A Course Designed Like a Mythical Story

Each hole has its own character. Some are surrounded by ancient-style temple walls. Others sit high above the sea, where wind sweeps across the plateau. At several holes, you stand on elevated tees that reveal the coastline stretching far into the horizon.

Because it's a par-3 course, every hole is short — but every shot counts. Precision is everything.

Why Golfers Love It

• Asia’s most scenic par-3 course

• Memorable photo opportunities

• Great for quick but visually spectacular rounds

Perfect For

Travelers wanting a luxurious but time-efficient golf experience. Also perfect for mixed-skill groups, beginners can enjoy it too.

Practical Tips

• Best time to play: Sunset, the ocean turns gold

• What to bring: Camera, lightweight clothing (sun can be intense)

• Location: Kutuh / Uluwatu area, 15 minutes from Nusa Dua

Reflection & Closing: The Spirit of Golfing in Bali

Golfing in Bali is not just about sport, it’s about immersion.

As you finish your round, whether in the mountains of Bedugul or on the cliffs of Uluwatu, you begin to notice a quiet pattern. Everywhere, the island invites you to slow down. To breathe. To let nature, culture, and spirituality blend into the experience.

You hear the soft ring of temple bells drifting from nearby shrines. You see locals placing morning offerings along the roadside as you drive to your course. You feel the island’s unique energy, a peaceful rhythm that shapes every moment.

What makes Bali’s golf courses unforgettable isn’t only the scenery. It’s the harmony: world-class design woven into landscapes that Balinese people have honored for generations.

In these moments, looking out across the ocean, or into the heart of a volcanic valley, you realize Bali is more than a luxury escape. More than a sports destination.

It is a reminder of simplicity, beauty, and presence.

As the sun sets across the fairways, turning the greens to soft amber, you understand something quietly profound: Bali is not a place you visit. It is a place you feel, in the breeze, in the silence, in every swing that connects you to the island’s soul.