The Best Place to Play Golf in Sri Lanka

Shangri-La Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa is the only choice if you want to combine luxury accommodation with golf on the Indian Ocean island of Sri Lanka.

To be honest it would be hard to find a better option - the hotel has everything needed for a luxury break, the course is literally on the doorstep and provides a great game without being too challenging. Perfect for holiday golf in the sun.

Sri Lanka has just been voted Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year for the Asia-Pacific region by the golf travel trade organisation IAGTO, so now is the time to go.

The Resort

Situated on Sri Lanka’s dreamy south coast the hotel complex which opened in 2016 occupies 58 hectares right on the beach overlooking the Indian Ocean.

As well as the 18 hole course there are three pools, complete with water park, spa, health club, a host of kids’ activities, and a local craft village so there is plenty to do as well as relax in the sun reading a book.

The 274 rooms and suites are spacious and all feature views of the beach, tropical gardens or golf course.

Dining in the four restaurants ranges from all-day buffet style in the Bonjunhala restaurant to street food inspired spicy treats from Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia in the excellent venue named Sera.

The colonial-styled clubhouse bar serves international classics such as a club sandwich that can be readily washed down by the local Lion beer.

The Course

The 18 holes here, designed by South African Rodney Wright, run among a former coconut plantation and over an abandoned sapphire mine, with the ocean and a lagoon on either side.

Its clubhouse and splendid 19th hole are part of the large hotel complex where young caddies politely await your custom outside.

It’s a short walk to the first tee, by which time you may have realised that the local wildlife isn’t afraid to give you a cautious and enquiring welcome. A peacock’s eerie call, and a number of raucous exotic looking birds are likely to check you over and you are very likely to spot the local troop of gray langur monkeys scampering across the fairways. As you wander further away, don’t be surprised to see a basking water monitor slither back towards its pond out of harm’s way.

Most of the course is flat and fairways fairly straight, lined by coconut palms and some tangly rough made up of a variety of native tropical plants.

This is a typical resort course - not too difficult, greens playing at a friendly pace and bunkers you could almost putt from.

Not that it’s a total pushover however, and some testing holes are made all the more demanding when the wind blows off the Indian Ocean.

The opener might be a straight forward par 4, but the next plays long at 403 yards with a dogleg right.

Each hole is charmingly named; Windy Corner, Coconut Alley and The Tempest give some impression of the course characteristics while Peacock Paradise, Leopard’s Lair, Big Monitor, Monkey Business, Eagles Nest, Elephant Trail and The Viper reference the great variety of wildlife which makes Sri Lanka a popular destination for tourists with a sense of adventure.

Holes named Little Gem, Sapphire Mine, and Hidden Treasure reflect the former use of the land which has resulted in a considerable number of lakes created by man’s scramble for the precious blue gemstones.

The first standout hole is the par 3 4th requiring a strong hit over water to a green some 180 yards in the distance.

Hole 11, the Elephant Trail, is a difficult par 5 with water running the length of the left hand side. At 531 yards it’s the longest on the course.

My fourball considered the back nine to be the more interesting and challenging. Indeed the double dogleg 15th playing uphill to an elevated green was probably the best on the course, requiring three good hits. The following hole, in common with many of the shorter par 4s, requires absolute precision to avoid a chorus of laughter from the monkeys spectating from high in the palms.

The finale, a long par 3 played alongside the hotel with a lake in between, is a lovely finishing hole setting you up nicely for a cool Lion beer from the nearby Ulpatha clubhouse.

Off Course

It would be a shame not to explore beyond the confines of the hotel and the perfect excursion should be to the Yala National Park for a jeep safari to spot elephants, crocodiles, water buffalo, mongoose, deer and many species of exotic birds. If you are lucky your may see an elusive Sri Lankan leopard. A safari 4x4 picks up guests from the hotel and the one hour journey to the park is an eye-opening exploration in itself. Our jeep screeched to a halt in the middle of the highway as the driver had spotted an elephant enjoying breakfast in a field by the side of the road. 

The southern parts of Sri Lanka are also renowned for secluded beaches, ancient temples and fishing villages. It is famed as an area where people can admire elephants and whales in the same day.

Location

Hambantota is about a three and a half hour drive from Columbo International Airport but the roads are good and uncrowded. Those travelling long haul from European often stay over at Shangri-La sister hotel, Shangri-La Columbo which is convenient and well appointed.

Climate

Hambantota features a microclimate within a tropical wet and dry climate. There is no true dry season, but there is significantly less rain from January-March and again from June-August. The heaviest rain falls in October and November. Average temperatures range from 26.3C in January to 28.1C in April and May. 

Getting There

Sri Lanka is readily served by non-stop flights from the UK while Emirates offers a good service from London and several regional airports via connections in Dubai.

Verdict

Sri Lanka is a beautiful island with so much to offer to adventurous travellers. Shangri-La Hambantota, with its impeccable and attentive service, suits couples, families and small groups looking for relaxing golf with a huge amount of off-course interest.

• Guests staying a minimum of two nights can enjoy the resort’s Ultimate Golf Getaway to make the most of their experience.

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Booking Meet and Greet parking means you can enjoy more holiday with less hassle. Plus with Flextras, if you need to cancel or amend you can without charge. Four nights Meet & Greet parking at Manchester Terminal 1 is £112.19 based on arrival 27th May.

For more information and to book, see HolidayExtras.com or call 0800 316 5678.