Golfing in Fiji - Is Denarau Golf Course Fiji worth playing?

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Golfing in Fiji – Is the Denarau Golf Course Fiji worth playing?

Denarau Island is a very popular holiday destination located just 20 minutes from Nadi airport in Western Fiji. Travellers from all over the world flock to this recreational haven to unwind in the beautiful ‘year round’ warm climate.

The Island of Denarau offers a selection of accommodation, restaurants and activities, catering to families, couples and independent travellers alike. There are many options to fulfil the adventurous or ‘active’ traveller (think waterslides, jet skis, ziplines, fishing, day trips to surrounding islands) but also caters to people looking at basking on a lounge chair and relaxing by the pool with a cocktail. Another noteworthy area is The Port Denarau Marina which is only minutes away. This offers a further selection of shopping, bars and restaurants. The port itself is home to many boats and yachts, made up of commercial and personal moorings. This marina grants tourists and locals further access to Fiji’s beautiful waters and surrounding islands.

Like a lot of popular holiday destinations, there is often a golf course close by, and (I’m sure you’ll agree) it’s always good to get some insight from others who have played it.

True to its name, the Sheraton Golf & Beach Resort is a premium chain resort destination, with an added golf course and racquet club. It’s located right in the heart of Denarau Island. Luxury Adventures was fortunate to be hosted for a round of golf at this resort.

So here I am, sharing my experience of the Denarau Golf & Racquet Club, Fiji with you.

Course Design and Statistics –

The Denarau golf course has a par of 72. The club features an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Eiichi Motohashi. The course is beautifully landscaped and features challenging holes with bunkers, water hazards, and undulating greens. The course offers tee positions for all levels of golfers. It includes four water carry par-threes, four challenging par-fives, and 10 par-fours. The longest hole is 516 metres, and the shortest is 158 metres. (Off the Black Tees)

The course has 4 teeing positions

– Black Tees – 6,513 metres

– Gold Tees – 6,109 metres

– Silver Tees – 5,780 metres

– Jade Tees – 5,169 metres

The Pro Shop at the club sells sports equipment, golf and tennis apparel, and other merchandise, such as souvenirs and gifts. I found the staff to be helpful and courteous. I played in mid February 2024. It was 29 degrees celsius with 86% humidity. Before leaving the Pro shop I made sure stocked up on gatorade, water and snuck in a bar of chocolate to keep me fueled and hydrated for the round. I always choose to walk the courses I play, if I can. I believe it gives me more sense of my surroundings and playing conditions. Carts are compulsory if the course is busy.

Hot Tip: The wet season in Fiji is from November through to April. My wet season experience was nothing more then a bit of warm rain for a couple of minutes. Just enough for me to get wet, but not enough to be drenched and affect my grip or swing. You could take an umbrella if need be.

On a resort golf course, you traditionally pay a little bit more on green fees then you might at your local course. This often comes down to a higher level of course quality & layout (meaning more maintenance & upkeep), facilities, exclusivity, and demand. It will sometimes include cart or buggy hire too.

If you’re hiring clubs, this can feel like a gamble if you take your golf seriously. The Denerau club offers sets of clubs for hire, which includes everything you need: a driver, fairway woods, irons, and a putter. The rental fee also includes a small bucket of practice range balls. Golf shoes are also available for rent.

The set of clubs provided for me was made up of a PING driver, PING fairway woods (3 & 5 wood) and PING putter. The irons were a set of 4 through to SW, JPX Mizuno irons. Yes, you could tell they had seen their fair share of golf (they are hire clubs after all) but you could also tell they were a quality set of late model sticks not too long ago.

Course Condition –

Alrighty, onto the good stuff…playing golf.

Overall, the course was in good shape when I played, lush and green. The general condition was aesthetically pleasing compared to my ‘home track’, without being the most spectacular course I’ve ever played. Please note: I’m being a little critical. Still a lot of beauty.

There is a spacious, well manicured practice green for putting and chipping and also a driving range (I didn’t hit at the range so I can’t comment on those facilities). The greens on the course were large in size and offered different slopes and undulations. The grass was a little thicker then I’m used to, so I thought they were a little ‘slow’. There was the odd blemish on the course with a few GUR’s but nothing you wouldn’t expect from any other course.

I’m no physicist, but I think the Fijian humidity must have had a positive impact on my game. If you miss badly on this course, you’re going to have fun trying to find your ball. When I missed with Driver (I have a natural fade) it wasn’t too far off the mark. Was it the humidity? Maybe it was the PING Driver? Or maybe, just maybe, I was just hitting them well?!

The other thing that struck me was how well the groups of players in front and behind were managed, I wasn’t held up and I didn’t feel rushed like can happen on some golf courses. Tee times and spacings were spot on. Everyone who plays golf should be able to feel relaxed and enjoy it.

Course Highlights – Playing off the Gold Tees

The Front Nine

3058 metres of lush fairways, large greens, a number of tricky water hazards and bunkers accurately placed to challenge your golf skills!

The first hole summed up the course quite nicely. A relatively straight Par 4 with all the aspects you would expect from a Fijian resort golf course. A wide fairway, a green peppered with bunkers and big beautiful palm trees that really give it that tropical island feel. It was a pleasant introduction into what was to come.

The highlights from the front nine was the 3rd hole, a Par 3 137 metres over water onto a large undulating green. And the 4th, a tricky Par 4, 370 metre dog-leg right hole, which has well placed bunkers and is lined with palm trees (and villas).

On the front nine you can expect the following:

2 x Par 3’s

5 x Par 4’s

2 x Par 5’s

The Back Nine

Was probably my favourite of the two. Measuring 3051 metres of generous fairways framed by sweeping palm trees, ocean side play and tiered greens that will put your putting skills to the test!

If there was one hole which captures the beauty of the Denarau golf course, it would have to be the 15th hole. Although it’s a fairly straight 372 metre Par 4, it has just enough to keep you on your toes. For the long hitters off the tee, it has two well placed large trees on each side of the fairway and a couple of bunkers either side. Hot tip: It’s best to just hit it up the centre (simple right?!). From there the hole backs onto a spectacular ocean view. This is in addition to the spread of palms trees, and epitomises what you would visualise a resort course in Fiji to look like.

The Par 3, 138 metre 17th has an island type feel with the green being ⅔ surrounded by water. Hot tip: Coming up short will be the biggest challenge on this hole. Plenty of room at the back!

Rounding it out is the Par 5, 453 metre 18th hole with two lots of water hazards to overcome. The first being whether to try and carry the creek (would be a big hit) off the tee. The second is a body of water coming from the left hand side and making its way in front of the green. There are plenty of bunkers aligning the hole and there is also a perfectly placed round bunker in the middle of the fairway. This will cause grief if you ‘duff’ or miss hit your second shot.

On the back nine you can expect the following:

2 x Par 3’s

5 x Par 4’s

2 x Par 5’s

Denarau Green Fees –

November 2023 – March 2024:

Adult

– 18 Holes – FJD130

– 9 Holes – FJD110

Junior (17 & under)

– 18 Holes – FJD91

– 9 Holes – FJD77

Fiji Resident (Proof of local ID required)

– 18 Holes – FJD104

– 9 Holes – FJD88

Marriott International Fiji Resorts Guests

– 18 Holes – FJD117

– 9 Holes – FJD99

PGA Member

– 18 Holes – FJD65

– 9 Holes – FJD55

Seniors (ID required) – 55 years and over

– 18 Holes – FJD97.50

– 9 Holes – FJD82.50

Sunset Golf – (Tee off after 3.45pm)

– 18 Holes – FJD70

– 9 Holes – N/A

Lessons & Rates –

Denarau Golf Course also offers international standard golf lessons and daily clinics by the resident golf professional, an experience that can be enjoyed by golfers of all levels. Appointments needing to be made at least 24 hours prior.

– 45 Minute tuition – FJD $100

– 60 Minute tuition – FJD $150

– 9 hole playing lesson – $350 (includes green-fees)

Other Amenities –

Rental clubs, pull trolleys and electric carts, golf bag storage, showers and changing rooms. Browse through the well-stocked golf shop where you may decide to take a piece of Denarau home with you.

Heineken House – Heineken House Restaurant & Bar at the Denarau Golf & Racquet Club provides a casual dining experience for lunch and dinner. Choose from the tempting delights on the a la carte lunch menu, or enjoy a special wood fired pizza.

You can also hire the Denarau golf & racquet club and its facilities for weddings, corporate gatherings, and charity golf events. The team at Luxury Adventures can help you plan and host a memorable occasion.

I had very enjoyable day and if you’re a golfer at any level, I encourage you to put the Denarau Golf & Racquet club on your golfing checklist when holidaying in Fiji.

This Blog was written by golf enthusiast and Luxury Adventures company director Steve McKean.

Get in touch with Luxury Adventures today to plan your next luxury golfing holiday in Fiji, Australia or New Zealand, or why not combine all 3 countries for the ultimate golf trip!