Aerial shot of Deva Golf Course and the Sheraton Deva in the background on the shores of the lagoon.

You often hear terms like “Where the South Pacific meets the Cote d’Azur” and “Welcome to The Paris end of The South Pacific” and such like, but it’s not until you actually experience a holiday in New Caledonia that you realise that these terms really are an accurate way to describe this place, well, Noumea City in particular, and Noumea is the arrival point and the primary destination for most travellers. Noumea is only around two and a half hours flight time from Auckland and because it’s so close to New Zealand and Australia it is really easy to underestimate the wonderful difference and “Frenchness” of it all. Over recent times and with the improved range of golf courses available, New Caledonia has quietly become one of the “in” South Pacific golf holiday destinations for New Zealanders. It is of interest to note that New Caledonia is not really located in the hot tropics with the weather pleasant year round and as you venture further north from Noumea up the “Grande Terre” (the main island) or to the northern Loyalty Islands, the weather becomes more and more tropical. The Isle of Pines and the Loyalty Islands are a very pleasant add-on option to a visit to Noumea. Now the golf …
Déva Golf Course opened in December 2014 within the tourist resort of the 5 star Sheraton Deva Spa & Golf Resort. The location is a tourist community nestled on the shores of the lagoon on the west coast of New Caledonia approximately 1½ hours drive north of Tontouta International Airport, or 2½ hour drive north of Noumea. The Deva domain spreads its incredible beauty across nearly 8,000 hectares—vast preserved natural areas, ecological sites of crucial importance, a biodiversity treasure that is home to 10% of New Caledonia’s dry forest, and a 13-kilometer coastline, which features a reef and a lagoon listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Déva Golf Course architect is the American architecture office of the famous Pete Dye, Dye Designs Group, who marks here his first piece of work in Oceania. Dye succeeded to enhancing the site, while respecting its ecosystem and its topography. According to the locals, the Déva Golf Course is “as good as any of the top courses they have played on in Australia and New Zealand” with its par 72 and 6663 metres. The fairways are rather wide and pleasant, lightly twisty, weaving majestically between niaoulis, endemic trees which are a distant cousin of eucalyptus. Watch out though as the semi-roughs can be rather restricted and an unbalanced ball can rapidly go into the undergrowth or bush intense roughs, with recovery challenging.

Garden Golf Dumbea New Caledonia is the oldest golf course in New Caledonia, located in Dumbea city near to Noumea city. Dumbéa is a natural parkland, surrounding by endemic trees like ironwood, niaoulis (kind of little eucalyptus), jambolanen, kaoris, coconut and palm trees, hibiscus and others. The course follows the natural pattern of Dumbea River with long holes, narrow and undulated greens. All players of differing levels will enjoy the course, while managing the natural hazards such as huge old and magnificent trees and refreshing river alongside the course, all the while enjoying the warm and sunny climate of the South Pacific. Highlights include tee 11, a little par 3 with heightened tee box overhanging 9 return holes presents panoramic views on top of Koghi and Dzumac mounts. Hole 17 is one of the longest and toughest par 5 of the Pacific at 560 meters, with a dog-leg right, a small lake and stream to navigate. Local players, hospitality staff, and Academy NGF pros, will welcome Kiwi golfing holidaymakers with warmth in a friendly atmosphere.

Two other golf courses in New Caledonia worth considering are the Tina Golf Course which lies at the foot of the majestic Tjibaou Cultural Centre, not far from Noumea and offers a 5600 metre par 72 course offering extraordinary landscapes, from the mountains to the lagoon and through to mangroves. The golf practice area offers twelve covered positions including twenty on grass, a practice bunker, and two putting greens. Paillotes de la Ouenghi Golf Course offers a relaxing golfing experience and is located 70 km north of Noumea and 10 minutes from the international airport Tontouta. The Ouenghi complex is a haven of peace where you can enjoy the 18 hole 6151 metre course.

New Caledonia Holiday specialists Our Pacific, have packaged unique suggested itineraries for Kiwi golfers with their base package including return economy class airfares from Auckland including all prepayable taxes, accommodation and bonus offers as indicated. Holiday packages can be tailor-made to suit you with extra nights available, accommodation upgrade options, flights ex Wellington and Christchurch, etc., so don’t hesitate to give the team at Our Pacific a call on 0800 500 598 or email info@ourpacific.co.nz

Vive la Difference of a golfing holiday in New Caledonia