Royal Colombo Golf Club

This is the first golf club to be established in 1879 in Sri Lanka. King George V bestowed upon the royal charter. With direct ties to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrew’s in Scotland, it is one of the oldest golf clubs in the world. The golf club standing in the Colombo city either side of the Kalani valley rail track, has a well-equipped club house.

It is a 18-hole, 6560 yard par 71 golf course. Here you can witness a rare site at a golf course, where a slow train crossing the golf course. If you are a golfer it is a must to experience this golf course with such a unique history.

01 - 421 Yards | Par 4

Named, “Mara One”, this hole is one of the toughest holes on the course it crosses the 18th fairway on the way down to a wide pond that can challenge many to a green that is unique for the magnificent rain tree (mara) on the left of it.

02 - 380 Yards | Par 4

Called “Rail Side”, here in teeing up one is confronted by out of bounds on either side on the right it’s the railway line and the left is the army quarters, with a well placed fairway bunker and a pond before the green.

03 - 430 Yards | Par 4

Called “Willows Way”, your tee shot is vital to avoid the willow trees on the left that afford some protection from the OB (monkey throws the ball out) and the 2 fairway bunkers trap a sliced drive the long slim green is guarded by a tree on the right.

04 - 191 Yards | Par 3

Nicknamed, “Little Devil”, similar to the name getting your distance right is key to hitting this par 3 and guarded by bunkers lined by trees it challenges even the more accomplished golfers as its stroke index reflects

05 - 399 Yards | Par 4

Named, “Amen Corner”, the stroke index one, a fallen tree thrives and takes up the left side of this dogs leg where the landing area of most drives rest, again willows with the monkeys try to keep the left side protected from balls going OB and the water across the front and laterally along the right of the fairway makes this a true test of driving accuracy only the brave attack the fairway to go over all the trouble and have an open green guarded by bunkers one may be forgiven for wanting to go to the cemetery over the back of the green.

06 - 280 Yards | Par 4

Since you will have to cross the rail track, its also known as “Rail Crossing”, and this par 4 is reachable to some with their drive but the railway line crossing could easily divert the path of the ball. A pond forces many ladies to lay up. A free drop is permitted if your ball comes to rest on the rail lines and then one has a precise shot to make on to a small landing area, going over means a hard bunker shot or even OB behind that.

07 - 468 Yards | Par 5

Named “Farmers Drive” is a deceptive par 5 that is reachable in 2 for the longer players, with a pond on the right that could catch a wayward drive and also a pond across makes one think more than once about going for the green.

08 - 404 Yards | Par 4

“Guvnor’s Approach” is where you drive across the 7th green towards our lovely club house having to contend with a pond that traps many mistimed drives, the green is quite undulating and your putting skills will need to be on show for those watching from the club house.

09 - 170 Yards | Par 3

“Pit Stop”, the shorty on the course after a snack ensure you hit the green or the bunkers will gobble you up

10 - 332 Yards | Par 4

“The Road”, is where road crossing hole blind green that some have been known to drive but anything right can go OB to the green keepers area. You are better off playing a full shot in to get the brakes on this green that notoriously will not hold and may carry your ball into the water beyond.

11 - 369 Yards | Par 4

“Maternity” is challenging. This dog leg left requires a drive hit to the right side of the fairway after carrying the marshy water, or you will be stymied by the tree on the left of the fairway judging distance into this green is important.

12 - 318 Yards | Par 4

“Island Green” is a short par 4 whose green is protected by water all around it a short drive through a narrow funnel like opening to a wide fairway leaves one with a target like shot into the green.

13 - 191 Yards | Par 3

Know as “Signature”, this is the marsh land hole where your tee must carry preferably on to the green or the green is surrounded with bunkers and hillocks to challenge the best of chippers.

14 - 480 Yards | Par 5

The name “Eagles Dare” will itself give a golfer an idea of this hole. A seemingly narrow hole with the protective netting to avoid visitation to homes on its left border has a wide landing area but the dog leg left green protected by water favours the brave low handicap to go for green with the second shot. The rolling fairway hardly ever gives one a flat lie. Overshooting the green ensures a watery grave.

15 - 527 Yards | Par 5

“Long Haul”, is where again described by the name itself. This is our Longfellow water along the left with a forested canopy to penalise anyone hooking the ball left and the line of tree narrows to trap the second shot of most golfers, but from a 120 yards in it is open and rewards long accuracy.

16 - 165 Yards | Par 3

Names as “Sand Trap” This elevated tee to the heavily bunkered green provides enough deception on the length as the green is long and narrow.

17 - 433 Yards | Par 4

“Hard Yards”, is a classical long par 4 tall trees gives one respite from the OB on the left but drive hit to the right could easily end up in the fairway bunker leaving one with a long second shot that may have to clear the trees on the right or to watch out for the water on the left.

18 - 345 Yards | Par 4

“Criss Cross” is how its names since this hole is criss crossing the 1st hole can tempt a long driver to hit the green but the trouble for missing can leave you wishing you placed your drive on the middle of the fairway before the fairway bunker to hit a mid iron in to the elevated green. The tees is surrounded by mangroves and water.