DENARAU GOLF & RACQUET CLUB ***
Prior to Natadola's arrival, Denarau was Fiji's best-known golf facility – and while its standing as the islands' best has been usurped, it retains its popularity thanks to its 18 well-thought out holes.
Meandering through a lush, tropical landscape, Denarau is significantly kinder on the recreational golfer, although with water coming into play on 15 holes, this championship-length course has enough trouble to penalize the wayward.
One key advantage that this Eiichi Motohashi-designed track has over Natadola is that it's an easy walk. The elevation changes at the latter makes the use of a golf cart necessary, but the pancake-flat terrain of Denarau means you can enjoy a round here without motorized assistance, even during the height of summer.
While there is no signature hole as such, the par-3s are a fine set of holes, each requiring a different club, while the potentially reachable par-5 18th, which traverses water twice before reaching the green, is a standout.
Maintenance, too, is improving. Managed by those experts at Troon Golf, the club has embarked on a conditioning programme that will ensure top-notch playing surfaces year-round.
