WE WELCOME ALL GOLFERS TO JOIN US FOR A ROUND OF GOLF
ORIGINS OF RAMAH
In 2008, New Kuta Golf Club’s General Manager, Stephen Banks, started a Saturday afternoon competition with the aim of selling memberships for the recently opened golf course. This later changed to a game on Friday afternoon.
The regulars in the early days included Banks, Tony Smith, John Sampson, Putu Mahendra, Craig Steeples & David Campbell – several of whom are still members of our Club.
Sir Stamford Raffles had a significant association with Indonesia before becoming the founder of modern Singapore. His name adorns many landmarks and edifices in SE Asia, including streets, schools, an MRT station, parks, a hotel and city squares. So the name Raffles Golf Club was deemed appropriate for this new initiative.
Raffles was not really a constituted Club in the early days, it was more of a gathering of players getting together to enjoy some golf and amber refreshments at the end of each round (and during the round as well). At the end of that first day, Stephen presented the winner with a small prize (worth about Rp20,000).
The weekly winner thereafter would provide the next week’s prize. The first ever winner was current Club stalwart Putu Mahendra, whose substantially better trophy for the second week set a higher bar for following winners.
In early 2009, the numbers of Raffles players grew as more people joined NKG Club, and the need was felt for a more structured association. As a result, John Sampson, Tony Smith, Jon Dean, Mark Watson, Roland O’Neill and Risto Poskiparta moved to set up a slightly more organised weekly event and started selling Raffles memberships costing about Rp200,000.
There was no official committee in those days, but player numbers were growing by ‘word of mouth’. The core organisers decided to formalise the group.
Raffles Golf Bali was begun with an inaugural Annual Meeting in July 2009. The elected Board was headed by Risto Poskiparta as President and Mark Watson as Club Captain.
A Mission Statement, By-Laws & a web site followed. More games weekly were held at New Kuta & discounted rates were negotiated at other Bali golf clubs. In 3 years the Raffles Membership base grew to over 700.
Club competitions became more structured and in 2010 a Golf Week was introduced. This has grown into one of the most celebrated events of Bali’s golfing calendar.
As the Club continued to grow, it became impossible to manage the ever-expanding data manually, so Raffles shifted to the computer based system we know today.
In September of 2016 through the hard work by the Chairman Robert Nelson, Club Captain Peter Manz and Treasurer Mark Dyson, Raffles moved further ahead by replacing the by-laws (which the Club had out-grown) with a new Constitution that better served the needs of Raffles whose membership had swelled to over 500 active members and well over 1200 long-term and short-term memberships.
Raffles Golf Bali is now incorporated in Australia as a non-profit sporting organisation and is affiliated with both Golf WA and Golf Australia.
We have been very active in providing charitable support to Bali over the years, but particularly over the Covid pandemic, which devastated everyone on an island dependent on Tourism. Thanks to our Membership our substantial support for Golf employees and their families has been much needed, and much appreciated by all.
In late 2019 we were informed that Accor, the relatively new owners of the venerable Raffles Hotel in Singapore, had registered the name of Raffles in all sporting associations in Indonesia, and demanded we change our name. We of course attempted to reach a mutually amicable compromise, however in the end had no choice but to accede to their demand.
So now Ramah International Golf Club takes up the mantle as the premier independent golfing association in Bali, dedicated to offering affordable golf with great camaraderie to members and guests, along with a continuing dedication to supporting the wider golfing community.
The Indonesian word ‘Ramah’ means, amongst other words, friendly, hospitable, amiable, cordial… apt descriptions for the core of our Club
This is a long way from what the Founders of Raffles, now Ramah International ever envisaged, however their early philosophy of having a fun, relaxed group of social golfers enjoying the Bali lifestyle, remains the cornerstone of our club.
NEW KUTA GOLF
View location on Google Maps here.
Home to Raffles Golf Bali, New Kuta Golf is an 85 hectares championship standard course and the first links style layout in Indonesia. It will challenge both the low handicapper and reward the novice. With five sets of tees, there’s enough variety to ensure a satisfying experience for all skill levels.
Located on the southwestern rim of the island’s Bukit Peninsula, within the Pecatu Indah Resort grounds. Perched above a limestone cliff, over-looking stunning Dreamland and Balangan Beach. 20 Minutes driving distance from the International Ngurah Rai Airport.
Landscape Natural desert-like vegetation with native trees, a semi Scottish rough of existing shrubs, long grass and creepers. This 18 hole and 72 par course is designed by Ronald Fream, David Dale & Kevin Ramsey (USA).
For more information, visit the New Kuta Golf website.
BALI PANDAWA
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Opened in October 2016, Bukit Pandawa Golf & Country Club is the first golf course of its kind in Bali, if not in all Southeast Asia. While the par-54 layout is a time-saver with a typical round lasting approx. 120 minutes, it is not short on its own challenges.
Set across a limestone clifftop as it meanders through dramatic rock outcroppings, terraced rice paddy field, the course in itself is a work of art with the spectacular white sandy beach and the Indian Ocean as its backdrop.
The plethora of bunkers and strategic waterfalls sprinkled into this latest creation of Bob Moore, have redefined golf unto a new pedestal of harmony and balance.
For more information, visit the Bukit Pandawa Golf website.
BALI NATIONAL
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Bali National Golf Club is located in The Maj Nusa Dua. Whether you are a beginner, a pro or just a casual weekend golfer looking for a relaxing Bali golf holiday, Bali National Golf Club is an experience not to be missed.
Bali National Golf Club offers visitors to Bali a truly luxurious golfing experience. The redesigned course has three distinct playing environments throughout the 18-hole course.
Holes 1 through 9 feature creeks, canyons and native vegetation filled with tropical birds, whilst holes 10 through 16 offer the golfer lush gently sculptured fairways through a mature grove. Finally the island green hole 17 and lakeside hole 18 are the challenging finishing holes to test every golfer.
For more information, visit the Bali National Golf Club website.
BALI HANDARA
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Handara Golf & Resort Bali is a mountain golf course & resort. It boasts a world class golf course in a magnificent setting, cozy hotel and cottage accommodation and a beautiful dining experience.
Come and experience the natural wonderland featuring lush tropical gardens, cool weather, and breathtaking mountain scenery. A perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle.
Handara has benefited from some major recent renovations. Come and experience the new Breeze Terrace with amazing 180 degree panorama over the spectacular mountain view. Other renovations include the new Pro-Shop, Ladies Locker Room, renovated Cottage and Chalet rooms.
For more information, visit the Handara Golf & Resort Bali website.
BOARD MEMBERS
Rishi Kumar
Club President
Alan Legg
Club Captain
Mark Dyson
Treasurer
Michael Page
Secretary
Ronald Fletcher
Tony Colley
Amanah Aliasari
Chris Neale