Golf packages in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is not a natural choice when deciding where to go for a golf holiday but it has a very long golf heritage with some golf courses in Sri Lanka dating back to the mid-19th Century.  Sri Lanka is a perfect golf holiday destination if you would liem to combine your love of golf with either some sightseeing or pehaps some time relaxing on the beach.

You have many options when playing golf in Sri Lanka but most people arriving to the island from abroad will land in Colombo and this is a great place to start.

Colombo

Colombo is both the commercial capital and largest city in Sri Lanka.  Many Sri Lanka holidays begin in Colombo, which is on the east coast and you will find many top hotels and restaurants in the city.  There is a mix of modern, high rise buildings and colonial era buildings in Colombo and it is a fascinating place to begin a Sri Lanka golf holiday.

In addition to the sights which include street markets, Buddhist temples, Muslim mosques, museums, shops and galleries, Colombo is home to some great golf courses.  A good example of which is Royal Colombo Golf Course.  This course is famous for receiving the Royal Seal from King George V in 1928 and is full of history having opened for play in 1879.

The course is not long but you will struggle to find a better way to start a golf holiday in Sri Lanka than a round at Royal Colombo Golf Course.

Kandy

Moving in from the west coast and to central Sri Lanka you will find Kandy.  This was once the capital city of Sri Lanka when the coastal areas were occupied by the Portuguese. 

Many of the highlights in Kandy surround the temples and one of the best is Sri Dalada Maligawa, also known as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.  The city of Kandy has been registered as a world heritage sight by UNESCO and its easy to see why.  The Kandy Lake is one of the dominating features and you can enjoy a walk around the water, with plenty of seats and a nice park. 

One of the major highlights of a visit to Kandy is the Victoria Golf and Country Club.  Situated next to the Victoria Reservoir, this golf course is in a stunning location and you will struggle to keep your eyes on the course thanks to the marvellous scenic views.

Hambantota

Hambantota is the major town of the district with the same name and can be found on the southern coast of Sri Lanka.  It can be reached using the E01 coastal road from Colombo and the journey takes between 4 and 5 hours.

The town has seen a great deal of development in recent years and is being promoted as the second commercial centre of Sri Lanka after Colombo.  The bustling town is home to an international port, botanical gardens, a long beach and the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, which was used at the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

Golf lovers can enjoy a tremendous round of golf at Shangri-La Golf and Country Club, which was the first purpose built golf resort in Sri Lanka.  Surrounded by a coconut plantation and the Indian Ocean, the location could not be any better and the golf course is the perfect blend of design and nature.  With plenty of water throughout the course, its not an easy round but one of the best you will have during a Sri Lanka golf holiday.

Nuwara Eliya

If you enjoy tea, you will want to visit Nuwara Eliya as part of your Sri Lanka golf holiday.  This town is located in the countryside and hills of central Sri Lanka.  It is a great place to see local plants and wildlife, in addition to the tea plantations.

Referred by many as ‘Little England’, Nuwara Eliya has a British country village feel thanks to the colonial bungalows which are situated throughout the town.  The gardens and hedges are all kept in pristine condition and as one would expect from a region which has a rich history of English and Scottish tea developers, Nuwara Eliya is home to a historic golf course.

Nuwara Eliya Golf Club was established in 1889 and this makes it one of the oldest golf courses in Asia.  The colonial style clubhouse overlooks the first, second and 18^th greens and makes a splendid sight when coming down the final fairway. 

A good test for golfers of all abilities, you should not plan a Sri Lanka golf holiday without a visit to the town of Nuwara Eliya and the excellent golf course.