Ria Bintan Golf Club
Gary Player carved the Ocean Course at Ria Bintan from rainforest and shoreline on Bintan Island, opening in 1998 just an hour by ferry from Singapore. A par 72 framed by the South China Sea, it is routinely ranked among the best courses in Asia.
Photo: Ria Bintan Golf Club via Google via Google.
The verdict
Ria Bintan is the standout golf experience on Bintan Island, and one of the most scenic in this whole corner of Southeast Asia. Gary Player and his team spent three years carving the Ocean Course out of rainforest and shoreline, opening it in 1998, with a nine hole Forest Course added soon after. The land runs from jungle on one side to beach on the other, and Player used it to build a par 72 that climaxes along the South China Sea.
It is the natural reason a Singapore based golfer crosses the water, reached in about an hour by ferry from the city. The course has been named the best in Asia and Indonesia repeatedly, and its closing seaside holes are among the most photographed in the region. Pair it with Bintan Lagoon and a Singapore round such as Sentosa's Serapong for a memorable short trip.
Ria Bintan Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1998
- Designer
- Gary Player
- Type
- Seaside and rainforest
- Par
- 72 (Ocean Course)
- Yardage
- Ocean about 6,470 m
- Green fee
- Public resort, indicative
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Ria Bintan Golf Club and leading course databases. The Gary Player Ocean Course opened in 1998, a par 72 of about 6,470 meters, with a nine hole Forest Course added by December 2000. Ria Bintan is a public resort course; green fees vary by season, weekday and weekend, and ferry packages are common, so figures are indicative for 2026 and you should always confirm current rates and ferry times directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Ocean Course saves its drama for the stretch by the sea. The par 5 seventh, often voted the best par 5 in Asia, reveals the South China Sea halfway down the fairway, and from there the short dogleg eighth carries you closer to the water before the celebrated par 3 ninth, a medium iron played over the beach to a green set among the rocks and tide. It is the kind of hole travelers cross borders to play.
The rest of the routing weaves through dense rainforest, with elevation changes, doglegs and well placed bunkering that demand thought as much as power. Gary Player's design philosophy of strategic, walkable golf shows throughout, asking the player to position the ball rather than simply overpower the course.
Conditioning is kept to resort standard, and the sea breeze that builds through the day adds a real variable to club selection on the exposed holes. A caddie is a genuine help on first acquaintance, both for the lines through the forest and the wind off the water on the closing holes.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public resort course; visitors welcome, advance booking recommended |
| Green fee | Seasonal weekday and weekend rates, often sold as a ferry and golf package (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book ahead with the resort or a golf specialist; coordinate tee times with the Singapore ferry schedule |
| On the day | Caddies provided; carts available; smart golf attire and soft spikes expected |
| Getting there | Lagoi, Bintan Island; about an hour by ferry from Singapore's Tanah Merah terminal, then a short transfer |
| Best months | March to October for the driest, calmest conditions; monsoon rain is more likely late in the year |
Access and fee arrangements verified June 2026; resort rates, packages and ferry times change by season, so always confirm directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Bintan's Lagoi resort area surrounds the course with beach resorts, from family friendly all inclusives to quieter retreats, most within a short transfer of the first tee. Staying on the island turns Ria Bintan into a relaxed two or three day golf and beach escape rather than a day trip.
Many golfers combine the island with Singapore, basing in the city and crossing for the day, or splitting nights between the two. Pair Ria Bintan with Bintan Lagoon and a Singapore course, and our team can coordinate the ferries, lodging and tee times.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Ria Bintan Golf Club.
Plan a Bintan and Singapore golf trip
We arrange the Ria Bintan tee times, coordinate the Singapore ferry, pair it with the best of the island and the city, and book the lodging and transfers around it. Tell us when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Ria Bintan Golf Club questions
Who designed Ria Bintan Golf Club and when did it open?
The Ocean Course at Ria Bintan was designed by Gary Player and opened in 1998, with a nine hole Forest Course added by December 2000, on Bintan Island in Indonesia's Riau Islands.
What is the par and length of the Ocean Course?
The Gary Player Ocean Course is a par 72 measuring about 6,470 meters, running between rainforest and the South China Sea with a celebrated seaside closing stretch.
How do you get to Ria Bintan from Singapore?
Bintan is about an hour by ferry from Singapore's Tanah Merah terminal to Bandar Bentan Telani, followed by a short road transfer to the course at Lagoi. Tee times are usually coordinated with the ferry schedule.
Can visitors play Ria Bintan?
Yes. Ria Bintan is a public resort course. Green fees vary by season and day, are often sold as a ferry and golf package, and booking ahead is recommended.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases; indicative green fees verified June 2026 and change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.