Planning a golf getaway near Singapore? This Ria Bintan Golf Review explains why the course keeps earning praise from golfers, from its Gary Player design and sweeping ocean views to the overall playing experience. Known for its scenic setting and demanding layout, it has become a go-to choice for golfers who want a round worth remembering. Here is what real golfers are saying and exactly what to expect before you book.
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Ria Bintan Golf Club at a Glance
Ria Bintan Golf Club sits on the northern coast of Bintan Island in Lagoi, facing the South China Sea. Gary Player designed the layout around what was already there: sea frontage, native Riau jungle, and real elevation change, so no two holes feel alike.
Play centres on the Ocean Course, an 18-hole par 72 stretching 6,470 metres from the black tees with a course rating of 74.9 and a slope of 131. Greens are Bermuda Tifdwarf. The closing stretch is the one people talk about. Hole 7 is recognised as one of Asia’s finest par fives, Hole 8 has the sea framing the green on three sides, and Hole 9 asks you to tee off from a rocky outcrop.
The club also has a 9-hole Forest Course, a par 36 routed past tree-lined avenues and lake views. It has been closed since March 2022 for course improvement works, so plan around the Ocean Course.
What Real Golfer Reviews Say
Google reviews are the fastest way to sanity check a course before you commit, so here is what visiting golfers mention most often.
What Golfers Consistently Praise
Three themes repeat across reviews: course condition, caddies, and value.
Graham T rated the course in great shape and warned that tight driving holes and run-offs behind the greens make distance control essential. He called holes 8 and 9 beautiful signature holes and praised his caddy Askia by name.
PL Yap focused on conditioning, describing well-maintained fairways with no divot marks because the caddies repair them, and greens he considered pristine.
Dingran Wang highlighted value. His group booked a Swing and Relax package at roughly USD 160 that paired a round with a 60-minute massage, and he recommended checking current promotions before booking.
The pattern is consistent: a well-groomed course, caddies who know the layout, and packages that cost less than most Singapore golfers assume.
Everything You Can Experience at Ria Bintan Golf Club
Ria Bintan is a complete golf destination, not just a course you drive to and leave. Here is what is on site:
- Ocean Course: an award-winning Gary Player design with South China Sea views on the signature holes
- 20-bay driving range: mat and turf practice tees with measured distances to landing greens, open daily 8am to 5pm
- Ria Bintan Golf Lodge: 27 contemporary rooms across Par, Birdie, Eagle and Albatross categories, sleeping up to three adults
- Food and beverage: a restaurant open from 6:30am, plus the H One Nine Lounge and karaoke running to 11pm
- Pro Shop: golf apparel, accessories and club memorabilia, open daily 7am to 7pm
- Golf and spa packages: combined play and massage deals, the ones reviewers keep recommending
- Membership: unlimited green fees and driving range, buggy and personal caddy, land transfers, and discounts on retail, dining and spa
- Corporate retreats and tournaments: full event support for company trips and group competitions
Getting to Ria Bintan from Singapore
Getting there takes less time than you think. High-speed catamarans run from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal in around 60 to 70 minutes, with multiple sailings daily, so a morning departure still gets you an afternoon round.
Bandar Bentan Telani sits inside the Lagoi resort area, so only immigration clearance and a short land transfer stand between the terminal and your tee time. Bring a passport with at least six months validity, and note that Bintan runs one hour behind Singapore time. Members and lodge guests can arrange transfers directly with the club.
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Ready to Book Your Round at Ria Bintan?
Reviewers keep landing on the same conclusion: a Gary Player course in genuinely good condition, caddies worth every rupiah, ocean views on the holes that matter, and packages that stretch your budget further than a round back home. With a lodge, spa and restaurant on site, one ferry ride becomes a full golf escape.
Tee times fill quickly on weekends and during peak season, so secure yours early. Contact Ria Bintan Golf Club on WhatsApp at +62 822-9944-9001, call +62 770-692-842, or email booking@riabintan.com to check current packages and book your round