Our Review

The Victoria International Golf and Country Club, popularly known as the Victoria Golf Club located 40 minutes from the royal city of Kandy- the ancient and historic hill capital. It is nestled within the Kandyan mountain range, an area of breathtaking scenic beauty surrounded by the Victoria Reservoir. This 517 acre 6877m (par 73) course is one of the latest in Sri Lanka and was designed by the famous British Golf Architects – Donald Steel and Company.

The course layout has taken full advantage of the terrain incorporating the undulating hillside, planted coconut and majestic Jak forests, together with the spectacular vistas of the surrounding mountain and reservoir to form one of the most picturesque courses in Sri Lanka and the Asian Sub-continent. This area with a moderate temperature of around 20 -30 degrees C offer the best playing conditions.

This quiet location allows the golfer to become absolutely absorbed in his game, whilst if he takes a short break, he is liable to spot one of over several species of birds ; the White-bellied Sea Eagle, the Egret, the Red-wattled Lapwing, the Indian Roller ; along with the Deer, Mongoose, Fishing cat, and other wild life commonly found in the region.

The facilities include a charming clubhouse with full changing and showering facilities; it has a bar and restaurant providing light meals and all beverages ; there is a Pro shop catering to all the golfers needs. There is a large practice putting green and driving range for the golfers to warm up. For the non-golfer there are plenty of activities to choose from a swimming pool, a horse riding school, mountain bikes, bird watching, a dip in the reservoir for a swim; or a quiet stroll along the meandering pathways in the cool of the early evening.

Our Review

Jacques – This course was set between the hills and valleys and the views with the Victoria reservoir in the distance was amazing. We had two great caddies and trust me when I say that these are the most happy go lucky people you have ever met and we really enjoyed their knowledge of the course and company.

Mark – As you drive in to Victoria Golf Club you pass a par-5 with the narrowest fairway I have ever seen – my accuracy has always been a problem so my heart was in my mouth as we prepared to tee off. Fortunately the rest of the course was much more forgiving and thoroughly enjoyable, and I played some of my best golf in a long time. This stunning course with its amazing views, huge trees and clever layout is in my top 10 courses and I’m delighted to have finally played it after hearing Ian Botham raving about it during a cricket commentary many years ago.

I understand that he never fails to play here when cricket tours bring him to Sri Lanka. On one occasion, he wrote in the visitor’s book; “try to stop me playing at Victoria.” I can fully understand why and know my next trip to Sri Lanka will involve at least one round at Victoria!

The Nuwara Eliya golf course was constructed in 1889 by a Scottish soldier of the Gordon Highlanders for the British servicemen and officials who were posted at Nuwara Eliya.

The course covers approximately 40.5 hectares (100 acres) of land and was originally built amidst the tea plantations of this central highland region. The course is located at an altitude of 1,830 meters (6,000 ft) above sea level. It is an 18 hole, 5,550 m (6,070 yd), Par 70 layout – the scorecard is in meters, however the distance from the yardage markers to the edge of the green are measured in yards.

Our Review

Situated at 2,000 metres above sea level in ‘Little England’, Nuwara Eliya golf course has narrow fairways and heavy rough in between trees and bushes making it a challenge if you spray the ball around! When we visited we didn’t have particularly high expectations of Nuwara Eliya golf course but were delighted to arrive at a lovely old clubhouse and a well-maintained course.

Being such an old course it was no surprise to find that the trees lining the fairways were all very mature. It’s definitely a quirky course which has been moulded to fit its location in the centre of the town, it has a few crossing fairways and one of the tee boxes is across a narrow laneway next to the course.

One tee box is virtually in the high street so as you are teeing off, the local shoppers are watching from behind a fence just a few yards away! We came off the course very pleased with having played a well-designed, clever layout with some superb holes and all in a stunning region high in the more temperate mountains.