About Denarau Golf and Racquet Club
The Denarau Golf & Racquet Club opened on the 9th June 1993 with a par 72, 6538-metre resort golf course designed by Mr Eiichi Motohashi of Pannya Planning, Japan. Created from a mangrove swamp with marine shaped bunkers and greens, the layout has water hazards on 15 of its 18 holes. The Denarau Golf & Racquet Club was built with the use of Mr Motohashi’s acquired craftsmanship and skilled techniques. As the South Pacific’s premier golf facility, the Denarau Golf & Racquet Club strives as a testimony to his vision and passion for the game.
The Golf program at Denarau Golf & Racquet Club includes international standard golf lessons and daily clinics. The club also provides rental clubs and shoes, pull trolleys and electric carts. Golfers have the choice of the practice facility with target greens, chipping green, putting green and bunker practice and now also the Mini Golf course and bungee trampoline.
Golf Course (Hole Description)
Hole 1 – 399 metres – As you walk onto the first tee you will be confronted by a spectacular par 4 that demands a solid drive to carry the water and just right of centre to avoid the palm tree-shaped bunker. The approach shot to the green requires a mid to long iron. Be accurate, this green is protected by two bunkers.
Hole 2 – 338 metres – A drive down the right side of the fairway will help to avoid water on the left and the crab-shaped bunker. Achieve this and you are left with a short iron into a large green.
Hole 3 – 160 metres – This 160-metre par 3 requires an accurate iron off the tee. With a severely sloped green, you will want to place your tee shot on the correct tier. The green is protected by a spectacular lake and tidal bunker directly in front of the green, (no you can’t wait for the tide to go out).
Hole 4 – 388 metres – From the tee is where this hole will be won, left and long will leave you in a great position to play into the green, right and short and you will need to negotiate palm trees and falling coconuts back to safety.
Hole 5 – 465 metres – This short par five will give you some freedom to get a shot back, the fairway is generous and with a long drive, you have the opportunity to go for it in two. Play conservatively, and your third shot will have to negotiate two greenside bunkers that protect this narrow green some 40 metres deep.
Hole 6 – 416 metres – The most difficult par 4 at Denarau stretches to 416 metres. Off the tee, you will need to negotiate bunkers and place the ball just left of centre. Two long shots will put you in a good position to reach the green.
Hole 7 – 214 metres – And what a hole it is. This par three requires a long accurate tee shot to get you to the green. Once there you will need to negotiate this two-tiered green that will test your putting and green reading skills. Forget about the water down the right side of the hole and the swordfish bunker behind the green and par goes to the card.
Hole 8 – 393 metres – Off the tee lets, you see water in front of you, water down the right side and a giant sea snake-shaped bunker on the right side of the fairway. The green slopes from front to back and you will enjoy the grass and sand bunkers around the green. Hit the middle of the green and par goes to the card.
Hole 9 – 512 metres – This par 5 will need some concentration and a good tee shot. Off the tee, you will need a long and accurate tee shot to carry the water and put you in position for your second shot, which is also over water. Do this and you are rewarded with a short iron to a two-tiered green that slopes from back to front. Don’t go easy yet, there are three greenside bunkers protecting this difficult green. Par is a good score here.
Hole 10 – 391 metres – This hole is a slight dogleg left that requires a tee shot just right of centre. This will allow you a clear view of this generous green protected by bunkers.
Hole 11 – 193 metres – This par 3 demands a long straight tee shot to reach the green. The green is large and slopes from back to front, so choose the correct club. Short is okay as there is a little forgiveness at the front, be right or left of the green and you will have some work to get up and down from here.
Hole 12 – 366 metres – This is a short par 4 doglegs to the left and requires you to place your tee shot just right of centre. This should leave you with a short to mid-iron for your second shot and will put you in good shape for a par. Stay focused three greenside bunkers protect this green.
Hole 13 – 397 metres – This par 4 requires an accurate long tee shot just left of centre. Accomplish this and you will need to negotiate water carry just 40m from the green and a large rain tree, which protects the right side of the green. Do not belong with your approach shot, this green slopes severely from back to front. Par is a good score here.
Hole 14 – 516 metres – The longest of the par 5 requires an accurate tee shot just left of centre. This will leave you with a clear opening to the landing area just short of the green. Avoid the water down the right side and the octopus-shaped bunker on the left and a par can be yours.
Hole 15 – 404 metres – This is Denarau’s Signature Hole. As you play along the fairway you will have the sense of something different to the previous holes. Walk onto the green and be swept away by the South Pacific Ocean breeze on a warm summer afternoon. Look out beyond the green as you putt to see the islands keeping guard of the horizon. Make sure you don’t hold the group up behind with the most amazing sunset any golf course has to offer.
Hole 16 – 330 metres – This is the shortest of the par 4’s. Place your tee shot right of centre to avoid the large rain tree that protects the left side of the green. This will leave you with a short iron into this well guarded undulating green.
Hole 17 – 158 metres – This is the shortest par 3 over water to a very generous green that is protected by a large tidal bunker. Hit a good shot here and a possible birdie opportunity awaits you.
Hole 18 – 473 metres – The final hole is a par 5 with two water carries. Hit your drive down the middle to set you up for your second shot over water. If you are a long hitter, then you will have to decide to go for it or just lay up. Hit your second shot just short of the water that fronts the green and you are left with a short pitching wedge to this two-tiered green that slopes severely from back to front. Par here and the floor is yours back to the bar and a day you won’t soon forget.
