New Dawn at New Kuta

“I think they’ll enjoy New Kuta immensely, but not because they’ll eat the course for breakfast,” he said. “If the winner posts anything better than a 12-under for 72 holes, I’ll be shocked.” (Banks was prophetic in his judgement: Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee prevailed with a 12-under total of 276 to win the title by two shots).
One reason, perhaps: the prevailing winds, which in the afternoon come screaming off Jimbaran Bay and wreak havoc on ball flight. Nowhere is the effect felt more than down the stretch. From number 14, a par-4 that plays directly into the fan, 438 yards to cliff’s edge, New Kuta becomes a bear. It’s followed by a relatively short par-3 (153 yards), which is made daunting by a cross-breeze that bats any weakly struck tee shot into the huge, deep trap guarding the front right side of the green.
Manage to sidestep carnage there, and there’s still plenty of work to do. Number 16 is a long par-5 with OB left — which is exactly the direction the wind wants to push shots from its elevated tee box — and the potential for a blind approach, should the second shot not find the right half of the fairway. The home hole is a double dogleg par-5 with bunkers positioned to gobble up even good drives and a couple of tall Cook pines standing as obstacle to any third shot that is longer than 100 yards.
“The last (hole) is what I call sneaky tough,” said Banks. “Just because it runs away from the coast, and is therefore shielded more from the wind, doesn’t mean it can’t ruin a round. From the clubhouse terrace, I’ve watched guys absolutely cake it coming in.”
None of the above is to say the front nine is forgettable. In fact, taken on its own, it rivals a collection of the best inland holes at Kapalua’s Bay Course in Hawaii. Because in addition to the previously mentioned seventh, there’s the par-3 sixth, a 191-yard beast with essentially an island green — it’s literally surrounded by a sea of sand.
Even the straightforward par-4 third is memorable. Looking off the back of the tee box, the lush vastness of the 650-hectare property is revealed, back-dropped to the west by sparkling blue waters surfers have been drawn to for decades.
“New Kuta’s tableau has a real appeal,” said Golfplan partner David Dale, who along with teammates Ronald Fream and Kevin Ramsey made several site visits leading up to the course’s grand opening last summer. “There are holes that run right along the sea, but the holes that sit higher on the property have water views that are longer and, in their own way, are more breathtaking. We are very happy with the final product.”