Day 1 & 2:
Upon touching down in Colombo, immediately transfer
onto a SriLankan Air Taxi flight to Victoria Golf and Country
Resort. This is a breathtaking flight that lands on the Victoria
reservoir. It is therefore possible to be on the 1st tee within
1 hour of landing in Sri Lanka. Have a second attempt at the
course on the second day. There will also be time to enjoy the
facilities at this fantastic club, be it the floodlit tennis
court, outdoor swimming pool or walks.
Accommodation profile: Tamarind
Lodge is an exquisite boutique hotel. Designed by a Sri Lankan
and an American architect, it is a clever fusion of Asian and
colonial design. From the antique Sri Lankan statuettes to the
bath fittings from Paris, immense attention has been paid to
the design and décor. There is even a secret doorway
on the second floor from which to dive into the stunning large
swimming pool. The property is divided into two wings that look
out over the pool, immaculate lawn and terrace area. The 6 airy,
stylish rooms have classical furniture, balconies overlooking
the Kandyan hills and sleek bathrooms. The master bedroom has
a private sun terrace and a secluded outside shower with breathtaking
views. Communal areas are equally elegant. The open air dining
area would be an idyllic setting for a dinner party during your
stay. An attentive Sri Lankan husband and wife staff the house,
acting as chef and butler.
Day 3 & 4:
Awake early to catch the train to Nanu Oya, the station
that serve Nuwara Eliya. It is one of the world’s most
spectacular train journeys. However owing to the mountainous
terrain it is slow and will take around 4 hours. However, if
you are desperate to put the nightmares of the Victoria course
behind you and tackle Nuwara Eliya, there is the option of flying.
Either way you should have time for a round at the beautiful
Nuwara Eliya course in the afternoon. Nuwara Eliya is a popular
hill station resort and enjoys a cooler climate. The scenery
is spectacular and dominated by vast tea plantations.
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For an atmospheric and unique evening
you may like to step back in time and visit the Hill Club. Here
you can enjoy a 5 course dinner, white gloves, silver service,
gin and tonics and cigars all add to the colonial experience.
The Hill Club does not suit all tastes and Nuwara Eliya has
a host of other options when it comes to an evening meal. An
early start on your second day in Nuwara Eliya will give you
plenty of time for another round of golf.
Accommodation profile: The Hill Club has one
of the finest settings in Nuwara Eliya. This timber-and-stone
mansion house was founded in 1876 by a homesick British coffee
planter, as a "home" away from home. Nowhere in Sri
Lanka reeks so deliberately of the colonial age. A sense of
colonial grandeur pervades every aspect of the Hill Club, from
its green, manicured lawns to its men-only bar, log fires and
its insistence that gentlemen wear jacket and tie for dinner
(these can be borrowed from the hotel). The rooms are ensuite,
most with large bath, and have wireless Internet access (although
do not expect Western broadband speeds), refrigerator, telephone,
fireplace, television, minibar and ceiling fans. The hotel offers
fax and photocopy service, laundry, currency exchange, snooker
room, tennis, health club. The golf course is nearby. There
is a comfortable library with sumptuous leather armchairs, ticking
clocks and weighty old tomes. A formal dinner is served in the
evening and its emphasis on old English staples such as steak
pie and cabbage, or trifle and ice cream remains marvelously
true to the Hill Club’s history.
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Day 4 & 5:
In the afternoon of day 4 you will fly back to Colombo and check
into your hotel. You will have time to enjoy the hotel pool,
sample Colombo’s shopping or, if you haven’t had
enough golf, play the short yet very awkward Waters Edge course.
In the evening, have dinner at one of Colombo’s many great
restaurants. Get a good night sleep however, as in the morning
you will play the challenging Royal Colombo course. Take plenty
of balls as the numerous water hazards come into play on most
holes. Have a relaxed lunch on the veranda at the club before
departing for the airport in the afternoon. |
