Golf holidays in Bintan

When searching for the perfect golf holiday on an Asian island, you are spoilt for choice but we recommend looking at the Indonesian island of Bintan.

Bintan island is part of Indonesia's Riau Archipelago and if you dream of staying in a luxurious resort, with championship golf courses, white sand beaches and an array of water sports to enjoy, your dream is about to come true.

Bintan offers everything listed above and you will struggle to find a more complete golf package than a stay on this lovely Indonesian island.  Continue reading to find out more about the island and what you can expect to find during your golf tour.

Geography and Travel

Bintan is part of the Riau Islands province and the capital city is called Tanjung Pinang, which is the second largest city in the province.  Tanjung Pinang is on the south of the island and is home to the largest community of people on Bintan.

The total area of Bintan is just over 60,000 kilometres and the island is just an hour away by boat from Singapore, which is the closest major city to the island.

Over time, Bintan has been split into north and south zones and each has it differences.  The highest point of the island is Bintan Besar, which stands at 1,180 feet and can be reached by hiking through the forest which covers much of the mountain.  Seaside villages and white sand beaches are what draws many visitors.

You can reach Bintan for a golf holiday by first arriving in Singapore.  From there you can take one of the many ferries which takes passengers across to Bintan several times a day.  Bintan does have its own airport called Raja Haji Fisabilillah Airport but there are no international flights.  However, you could use the airport to connect to other regions of Indonesia and this would be a great way to build an Indonesia golf tour. 

Weather and Best Time to Travel

Bintan is close to the Equator and enjoys a tropical climate.  The weather can be split into two seasons, with the northeast monsoon bringing the wettest weather.  This falls between the beginning of October and the end of May and while it sees more rain than other times of the year, the temperature remains warm and you can play golf without any issues.

The southwest monsoon season is considered the drier time of year in Bintan and runs from the beginning of June to the end of September.  You will still see some rain during this period but it is also prime diving season, as the ocean remains calm and clear. 

Things to do Away from the Golf Course

Other than the superb golf courses, the beaches are the main attraction in Bintan and it is impossible to avoid their draw.  There is miles of palm tree lined coast to explore and the white sand beaches are fantastic.

If you are travelling for a golf holiday in Bintan between June and September, you will have the opportunity to dive.  The ocean is calm and there is plenty of colourful plants and fish to view.  Even if you have never dived before, there are many qualified instructors and you will soon be scanning the sea bed.

If you enjoy seeing wildlife, the elephant centre is a good place to visit and you can join in with the cleaning and feeding of the animals, which is great fun.

When booking a golf package in Bintan, you are not restricted to staying on the island.  There are many other islands to explore and you could enjoy a day trip to Masjid Raya Sultan Mosque on Penyengat Island and Banyan Tree Temple on Senggarang Island.