Handara Golf & Resort Bali
Five time Open champion Peter Thomson and his partners routed Handara inside an extinct volcanic crater in the Bedugul highlands, a par 72 of about 7,024 yards opened in 1974. Cool, misty and ringed by jungle ridges, it is one of the most atmospheric mountain courses in Asia and a complete change of pace from the beach resorts of southern Bali.
Photo: Handara Golf & Resort Bali via Google.
The verdict
Handara Golf & Resort Bali sits inside an extinct volcanic crater high in the Bedugul highlands of central Bali, a setting so distinctive it has appeared on lists of the most beautiful courses in the world. Designed by Peter Thomson, the five time Open champion, with Michael Wolveridge and Ronald Fream, it opened in 1974 and plays as a par 72 of about 7,024 yards, the fairways laid out on the crater floor with forested ridges rising on every side.
The altitude changes everything. The air is cool, mist drifts across the holes in the morning, and the turf has a soft, mountain character a world away from the warm coastal resorts to the south. It is a place to slow down and soak up the surroundings as much as to chase a score, and the famous mossy stone gateway at the entrance has become one of the most photographed images in Bali. For a golf trip to the island, a day in the highlands is the perfect counterpoint to the beaches.
Handara Golf & Resort Bali at a glance
- Opened
- 1974
- Designer
- Thomson, Wolveridge, Fream
- Type
- Mountain, crater
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,024 yds
- Green fee
- Resort, public
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the resort and leading course databases: Handara is a Peter Thomson, Michael Wolveridge and Ronald Fream design opened in 1974, a par 72 of about 7,024 yards inside a volcanic crater. Green fees are seasonal and quoted by the resort and third parties (indicative, 2026); always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Handara rewards a thoughtful round more than a powerful one. At altitude the ball carries a touch further, but the cool, often damp turf keeps roll in check, so the course plays close to its full yardage and asks for crisp, controlled striking. The fairways sit on the crater floor with the jungle ridges as a constant backdrop, and the routing makes the most of the natural amphitheater.
The greens are the defense, subtly contoured and best approached from the correct angle, while the surrounding forest swallows anything wild and frames the corridors in deep green. Morning mist can soften the light and the conditions, adding to the sense of playing somewhere genuinely apart from the rest of the island.
The lasting memory is the setting as much as any single hole: the stone gateway at the entrance, the ridgelines closing in, and the cool highland air. Handara is a course to savor, a complete contrast to the heat and bustle of southern Bali and a highlight of any golf itinerary on the island.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort and visitor play; open to the public and resort guests, tee times bookable in advance |
| Green fee | Seasonal green fees quoted by the resort and third party sites (indicative, 2026), with packages that can include lodging |
| Booking | Book through the resort or a Bali golf specialist; allow plenty of travel time from the south of the island |
| On the day | Buggies and caddies are available; bring a light layer for the cool highland mornings and a waterproof in the wet season |
| Getting there | Pancasari in the Bedugul highlands, roughly two to three hours by road from the southern beach resorts and the airport |
| Best months | April to October in the drier season for the clearest highland weather; mist and rain are common year round at altitude |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from the resort and golf travel sources; rates and travel times change, so always confirm directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The resort offers on site accommodation in the crater itself, which is the natural choice if you want an early tee time and a night in the cool highlands away from the crowds. The lakeside towns around Bedugul provide further options for travelers who want to explore the temples and gardens of the interior.
Most golfers, though, base themselves on the coast around Nusa Dua, Seminyak or Jimbaran and treat Handara as a memorable day trip into the mountains. Pairing the highland course with the beachside layouts of the south gives a Bali golf trip real variety of landscape and mood.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Handara Golf & Resort Bali.
Build a Bali golf trip
We book the Handara tee times, pair the highlands with the best of the southern beach courses and sort the lodging and transfers around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Handara Golf & Resort Bali questions
Who designed Handara Golf & Resort Bali and when did it open?
Handara was designed by Peter Thomson, Michael Wolveridge and Ronald Fream and opened in 1974, set inside an extinct volcanic crater in the Bedugul highlands.
What is the par and length of Handara?
Handara is a par 72 of about 7,024 yards from the championship tees, played on cool highland turf inside a volcanic crater.
What makes Handara so distinctive?
It sits inside an extinct volcanic crater ringed by jungle ridges in the cool, misty Bedugul highlands, a setting often rated among the most beautiful in golf and a complete contrast to the beach resorts of southern Bali.
Can visitors play Handara?
Yes. Handara is a resort and public course open to visiting golfers, with tee times bookable in advance and packages that can include lodging. Confirm green fees and availability directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.