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Golf

Non-golfers are often bemused at how golfers can become addicted to such a painful obsession but if your passion is whacking that little white ball about, Port Vila has a few options. There are resort courses at both Le Lagon and Holiday Inn resorts as well as The Port Vila Golf and Country Club.

The Port Vila Golf and Country Club is an excellent 18-hole golf course. It is measured in metres, has a driving range and Australian handicapping and general rules of golf apply. The PVGCC is at Mele (on the way to Hideaway Island, Cascades Waterfall and Devils Point).

Visitors are encouraged and made to feel welcome. Tuesday is Ladies Day (9 hole comp in the afternoon) and Saturday is only for players with a registered handicap. There are morning and afternoon fields on Saturdays with more people turning up in the afternoon. As in most golf clubs worldwide, comps flow to the 19th hole with prizes etc presented at 6pm (nearest to the pin, longest drive, NAGA etc).

Mele is a reliable, pretty, seaside course (you can look across to Hideaway Island). The greens are slow by Australian standard (Tifton Dwarf grass). The two-storey clubhouse overlooks the water, drinks are reasonably priced and meals are available.

You can grab a bus from town (300vatu one way) or we can arrange transfers with one of our drivers. Green fees are just 2500vt (AUD$30) for 18 holes or 2000vt (9 holes) if playing with a member and caddies are 1000vt ($12) for 18 holes and 500vt for nine holes. The caddies come from the local village, are very friendly, but may not be too reliable with advice on which club to use. Air Vanuatu is ‘golfer friendly’ and doesn’t charge excess baggage for people taking a set of clubs. Club hire is 1300vt ($15) and there’s a limited selection of left and right-handed clubs. Buggy hire is 700vt as is a bucket of balls. While it’s always wise to take water with you, there are drink stalls on four tee boxes.

Remember, it is the tropics, so slip an umbrella in your bag and take bottled water because of the humidity. If you opt to socialise after a game, there will always be a local who will give you a lift back to Vila but do choose wisely – there are no drink driving laws in Vanuatu! Probably better to enlist a local bus with driver – just give him a ring on his mobile when you need to be picked up.

The Tusker Vanuatu Golf Open and Pro Am follows the Vanuatu Amateur competition in late August each year. The field is open to visitors providing proof of handicap. We can organise playing in the Open for you, as well as accommodation – but travel isn’t restricted to the Open – you can get four days of golf in a week any time of year – five if you want to join the locals for the Saturday comp (again, just need proof of handicap).


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