Denarau Golf Club
Beside Fiji's biggest cluster of resorts near Nadi, Denarau is the country's flagship golf course. Designed by Eiichi Motohashi and opened in 1993, this par 72 was carved from mangrove flats and carries water on 15 of its 18 holes, a tropical test wrapped around an island holiday.
Photo: Denarau Golf and Racquet Club via Google.
The verdict
Denarau is the round most golfers play on a Fiji holiday, and for good reason. It sits on Denarau Island just outside Nadi, woven among the big beachfront resorts and only a short transfer from the international airport, so for a couples or buddies trip built around sun, sea and a few rounds it could hardly be more convenient. The course opened in 1993 as the work of Japanese architect Eiichi Motohashi of Pannya Planning, who shaped it out of low mangrove flats into a full par 72.
The defining feature is water. Channels, lagoons and ponds left from the original wetland come into play on 15 of the 18 holes, framing the course in tropical blue and putting a premium on a controlled, accurate game. It is a resort course first, generous in spirit and beautiful in setting, but the water and the warm coastal breeze give it enough teeth to keep a low handicapper engaged. As the anchor round of a Fiji golf and beach trip, it delivers exactly what visitors come for.
Denarau at a glance
- Opened
- 1993
- Designer
- Eiichi Motohashi
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,538 m
- Access
- Resort and visitors
Designer, year, par and length verified June 2026 from the club and leading databases. Denarau was designed by Eiichi Motohashi of Pannya Planning and opened in 1993, a par 72 of about 6,538 metres carved from mangrove flats with water on 15 of 18 holes. Green fees and resort guest rates vary by season, so always confirm current access and any fees directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Water is the architect at Denarau. The original mangrove channels were kept and shaped into hazards, so lagoons and ponds press against fairways and greens across the round, and a string of par 3s ask you to carry water to the putting surface. The smart play is to respect the trouble, favor the dry side and let the wide tropical fairways do their work, because a careless line leaves the ball wet rather than in the rough.
The greens are generous and the bunkering, shaped in a marine style, gathers the cautious bailout, so distance control on the approach matters more than raw power. The coastal breeze is a gentle but constant presence, nudging the ball toward the water on exposed holes and rewarding the player who flights it well. From the forward tees it is a relaxed and beautiful holiday round; from the back, with the wind up, it asks real questions.
Above all it is a course of place. Palms, lagoons and the warm Pacific light give every hole a postcard quality, and the resorts, beach and spa are all a few minutes away. For a traveling golfer it is the perfect blend of an enjoyable test and an island escape.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course open to visiting golfers and guests of the Denarau Island resorts |
| Green fee | Visitor and resort guest green fees apply; club hire available (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Reserve a tee time in advance through the club or your resort concierge |
| On the day | Carts and caddies available; full clubhouse and pro shop; smart golf dress |
| Getting there | Denarau Island, a short drive from Nadi and its international airport on Viti Levu |
| Best months | May to October for the drier, cooler Fiji season |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from Denarau Golf and Racquet Club where published; rates change, so always confirm current access and any fees directly before planning a visit.
Where to stay nearby
Denarau Island is one big resort precinct, so the natural choice is to stay on the island itself, where a run of well known beachfront resorts and a marina village of restaurants and bars sit minutes from the first tee. It is built for the holidaymaker who wants golf, beach and family time in one easy place.
From a Denarau base the golf pairs with the wider Nadi area and the offshore islands. Combine it with the resort championship layout at the Pearl Championship Course on the Coral Coast for a fuller Fiji golf escape.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts on Denarau Island.
Build a Fiji golf trip
We build Denarau into a Fiji golf and beach holiday, pairing the course with the right resort, the spa and the island days, and arranging the tee times, dining and transfers around your group. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Denarau questions
Who designed Denarau Golf and Racquet Club?
Denarau was designed by Eiichi Motohashi of Pannya Planning in Japan and opened in 1993, carved from mangrove flats into a par 72 resort championship course with water on most of its holes.
What is the par and length of Denarau?
Denarau plays to a par of 72 and measures about 6,538 metres from the back tees, with several tee options and water in play on 15 of its 18 holes.
Can visitors play Denarau Golf Club?
Yes. Denarau is a resort course open to visiting golfers and guests of the Denarau Island resorts. Book a tee time in advance, and always confirm current access and any fees directly before booking.
Where is Denarau Golf Club?
Denarau sits on Denarau Island, a short drive from Nadi and its international airport on the western side of Viti Levu, beside Fiji's main cluster of resorts.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, year, par and length verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.