Traveling golfers rarely get to know a course. It is generally one or two rounds, put a tick in the box and off they go to the next ‘must-play’ course. In a majority of cases, this is fine, given there really isn’t much to get to know.
However, Nirwana Bali Golf Course, located forty minutes from the Denpesar Airport on the south west side of the island of Bali, warrants more study. Greg Norman’s golf design team, headed by Bob Harrison in Asia Pacific, built a highly strategic course. There is an advantage (sometimes more subtle than others) to be gained on virtually every hole, whether it is a better angle to the green, a level stance, a shorter club in, etc. These options deserve to be understood and appreciated. Fortunately, given Bali’s rather remote location, people tend to stay at least a week, if not more at the Nirwana Resort, and have time to get to know the course.
The fairway bunkering is superb and gives the golfer plenty to think about on most tees. The more the golfer challenges these bunkers, the more he is rewarded. For instance, on the 3rd hole, a stream and two deep greenside bunkers on the left of the green suggest the right side of the fairway would be optimal. This assessment is correct. However, there is also a bunker on the right hand side of the fairway that the golfer must confront in order to gain this optimal angle into the well-contoured green. The golfer faces similar decisions throughout the round.
In addition, the approach shots hold plenty of options. As is typical of a Norman/Harrison golf design course, rarely is there equal trouble on both sides of the green. For instance, on the 2nd hole, a creek and a bunker protect the left side of this par three green. However, there is no trouble to the right of the green and the natural slope of the ground is from right to left. The unsure player can aim to the right and use the land to propel the ball back toward the green.
The property contains quite a bit of movement. The architects capitalised and the terrain confronts the golfers in all manners. The golfer plays through valleys, over valleys, across rice paddies, over an inlet, across beaches, along cliff tops and past Balinese temples. There is not one remotely flat hole on the course. Most importantly, the inland holes features the most innovative design work. This work ties the whole course together nicely, which is no mean feat given the spectacular cliff holes.
Level stances in the fairways are highly desirable yet often elusive. In general, the golfer needs to take on the trouble in order to gain the best stance. For instance, on the 10th, the hole gradually bends to the right. On the inside of the dogleg is a stream and jungle. Also, however, the right side of the fairway offers the more level stances. The golfer who gambles in going for this par five green in two well appreciates the benefit of a level stance. Otherwise, his ball is more likely to end up in a stream, ala the 13th at Augusta National.
The balance of the course is admirable. Both nines feature several holes that play along and over the ocean. The routing twists and turns in all directions; the golfer is forever trying to gage the wind direction. Only after playing the cliff top 14th hole do a couple of the holes run in the same board direction as the golfer heads for home.
Nirwana Bali Golf Course challenges the best player yet is flexible enough to accommodate the different playing levels that any resort attracts. This flexibility is exemplified in the long par fours. The fairways on the long par fours (the 4th, 5th, 15th, and 16th) holes are relatively wide and encourage golfers of all abilities to give it a good thump. The approach shots become exacting. However, the average golfer is given plenty of room seventy yards short of these greens to lay up and wedge on for a bogey. The more accomplished golfer will need to be exact with his long iron approach shots if par is to be secured. Both level golfers will be rewarded by sound judgement.
