The Best 4 Golf Courses in Jakarta
If a golf aficionado skipped playing at the golf courses in Jakarta, it cannot be construed as criminal. It’s not nearly the same as not bothering to open an invite to play at the Augusta National. But let’s get real – it’s not a fair comparison, in fact not a comparison at all. The first opportunity is infinitely more probable than the second. That said, you should not miss out on golf in Jakarta, if you could help it. The golf courses below are not only the best in Jakarta, they are also reasons to play in Jakarta.
The Royale Jakarta Golf Club
Whichever combination of the North, South and West Nines you play, you will have a blast.
Golfers who have experienced Royal Jakarta are known to be blown away by both the beauty and challenge. You don’t even have to step on the tee to sense that. The view of the closing holes of the South and West courses separated by a massive lake is seductive enough. On one you can’t hook it left, on the other you can’t slice it right. While these closing holes will remain etched in memory, many others will captivate as well. The closing hole of the North Course, a par 5 is an example. 3 consecutive accurate shots are what it takes to get to the elevated green, a common feature on the course.
Just as the other top golf courses in Jakarta, the condition of Royale Jakarta tells you it is special. In fact, it may even be half a notch higher in that respect. The rest of the infrastructure is commensurate – the practice facilities, locker rooms, the pro-shop and the restaurant. It is no surprise that it regularly hosts the Indonesian Masters, a top billing Asian Tour event. Also, there is a certain lure about it. Golfers who come back to Jakarta, always include Royale Jakarta, even if the other golf courses are different. Some would argue they do it because of the caddies. Possible, but that’s a topic for another time. For now, let us just agree that Royale Jakarta tops the list of reasons to play golf in Jakarta.
The Damai Indah – Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) Golf Club
Situated to the west of Jakarta, in Tangerang, the Damai Indah BSD Golf Club is Jack Nicklaus designed golf course is a favorite of many golfers. It is unlikely that the ride to the course will be bereft of expletives, such could be the traffic. However, if ever there was a case of misery changing to ecstasy, this would be one. One quick view from the clubhouse restaurant and the ride to the golf course is a distant memory. Most of the top golf courses in Jakarta have one thing in common – a view, even before you tee off.
Once on the course, you are already transported. In many ways you are captive to the settings and the layout. The undulating fairways, the seemingly uncanny placement of bunkers and the sandy wastes all mess with your head. And it doesn’t get too different on the greens, with many ridges and slopes in play. Several memorable holes come to mind. The par 3, 3rd, the par 4, 9th, the par 4, 16th and the sensational finishing hole 18. The spell of one of the finest golf courses in Jakarta will last at least until you leave the clubhouse. What happens after that is not the golf course’s problem. But then again, it would have still been worth it.
The Damai Indah – Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) Golf Club
PIK’s location near the airport puts it at an advantage versus the other golf courses in Jakarta. The course may be flat and relatively less undulating than the others, but let that not fool you. Robert Trent Jones II, the designer ensured that there are plenty of challenges to overcome. First of all, there is water almost always in play. Almost, equally on the right and on the left. So – neither the hooker nor the slicer is spared. To top that there is limited room if you want to attack, so aggression is definitely heavily risk-laden. No hole emphasizes that better than the finishing 18th.
The design and interiors of the restaurant are exquisite and an experience by itself. Adequate facilities that include a beautiful lake driving range, chipping and putting areas leave you nothing to complain about.
The Pondok Indah Golf Course
This is possibly the most exclusive of the golf courses in Jakarta. Primarily a members’ course, visitors can play here in the tee times to spare. If PIK’s location near the airport puts it at an advantage, Pondok Indah is not too far behind. Its location in South Jakarta puts it at close proximity to hotels in Central/South Jakarta and the CBD area. Pondok Indah does not have the luxury of land, as the other courses, which makes it relatively tight. Staying in play is the name of the game as you go through some great holes with immaculate conditioning. The par 5, 18th is a memorable finishing hole. Whether you do well on this hole or mess it up, you want to come back and do it again. Another that can cause anguish is the par 3, 12th with a severely downhill green surrounded by water and bunkers.
The course is a regular host of the Asian Tour fixture – the Indonesian Open. Obviously, it ticks many boxes like course layout, challenge, condition, clubhouse and other infrastructure to claim such an event.
