The Bali holiday is firmly fixed in the Australian imagination, and it’s easy to understand why. Even for a place that has been such a popular destination for so long, Bali’s serene vibe has remained intact. It’s a peace that golfers seek, or wish they could play with, when they head to the course. Bali has long attracted travellers with clubs, boasting the likes of Handara and Nirwana, and recently it threw out its latest lure, New Kuta Golf Club.

Perched on the south-western edge of Bukit Peninsula, itself the southward-jutting piece of the island, New Kuta is framed against the panorama of the Indian Ocean. Designed by California architect Ronald Fream’s firm, Golfplan, the layout was named best new international course for 2008 by Links Magazine in the United States.

Rolling out atop its limestone cliff location, with native vegetation in the crossways, New Kuta has a spare, natural look for a tropical course, similar to many modern designs found in Hawaii.

Host to the Euro Tour co-sanctioned 2009 Indonesian Open, New Kuta fills the definition of championship layout. It’s 6,832 metres off the tips, but with five teeing grounds. In a particularly nice touch, each set of tees has a name – the middle whites are known as Dragon, while the back blacks are known as Monkey, which seems to be hinting at something if you’re daring to play off there.

The course is located in a resort hotspot on the peninsula. Ayana Resort and Spa, above Jimbaran Bay, is one of island’s decorated resorts, a perennial in travel magazine awards. With its spectacular coastal setting, Ayana also draws on the hospitality of Balinese culture in offering a luxurious experience.

The resort’s facilities are indeed impressive, but one thing lifts it into a rare class – it has an 18-hole putting course that is scaled to one-tenth a normal course, 600 metres, starting out from the fitness centre and winding around the spa. Incidentally, this track was also designed by Ron Fream.

Ayana is offering a golf package with a game at New Kuta. For a three-night stay, the deal includes breakfast, transfers and green fees, as well as access to the putting course. The price is $275 per night in a hotel room, or $633 per night in one of Ayana’s 78 villas. The offer is valid to December 24.

For more information, contact (+62) 361 702222 or www.ayanaresort.com