On Wednesday, the 16th, we bid a fond farewell to Club Med with its idyllic beach and array of diversions to satisfy our gastronomic and playful interests. Aron wanted to investigate nearby Ria Bintan, rated Asia's number one golf course by some vaunted publication. Now mind you, he has never played a round of golf, and I haven't touched my clubs in at least 3 years, so it felt a bit ridiculous for our motley group to be checking in for one evening at this haven for serious golfers.
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| Hapny in the lobby at Ria Bintan |
Sofie was an oddity in this world of adults and there was grumbling at the absence of any swimming pool. It turned out not to matter much since we spent the afternoon in a taxi investigating potential temporary residence arrangements on Bintan for Hapny, Sofie and me. The challenge for Aron is he has to return to work in Papua by the 21st, but the company maternity benefit that will pay for our residence and some expenses in Singapore doesn't kick in until May. Singapore is a rather pricey place to live. So, we need to live very frugally until then. Long story short: the Bintan plan was nixed. We will find the solution in Singapore. Stay tuned.
On Thursday afternoon, we took the ferry back to Singapore as planned, but that morning we managed to satisfy our curiosity to experience this beautiful golf course at Ria Bintan designed by the great Gary Player more than 15 years ago.
Another newer nearby course and lodge called Nirwana was designed by Jack Nicklaus, but it hasn't ascended to the reputation of Ria yet. So, my golfer friends, consider Bintan, Indonesia, if you want a first rate, first class golf vacation in a beautiful and exotic locale...but I digress....
What the four of us did is rent two golf carts and a caddy/ driver to show us the ocean course. I rode with Gusman and peppered him with questions about the course (most challenging holes, notables who've played here, etc.). Aron drove the second cart with Hapny and Sofie. The tour lasted about a half hour with stops as requested by me for photo ops. It rained while we were on the course, but that didn't matter. A midday shower is not unusual in these parts. We are practically sitting on the equator and this is the tail of the rainy season.
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| Looking at the green from the front edge of the tee on hole #14. |
The course is superb and the 14th hole is the most beautiful and arguably the most challenging. You tee off from one jut of land by the sea, and hope to arc your ball over the water a hundred and fifty or so yards to the green on the other side of the surf. I wondered how many two stroke penalties victimized the unsuccessful.
There are some nasty bunkers and a man made water hazard or two, but you have to be mindful of a few hazards not a problem on courses in the States: wild monkeys that steal not only golf balls, but clubs out of golf bags! Although less pesky, there are two-foot long monitor lizards that roam the course. In fact, I caught this one with my camera.
Farewell, Bintan. It's been great!
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