Sri Lanka might not be the first destination that comes to mind for a golf holiday, but it absolutely deserves a spot on your radar. While the Algarve or Spain are natural go-to choices, why not venture a little further afield? In Sri Lanka, you can pair your rounds of golf with a safari adventure, five-star spa treatments, and an idyllic setting perfect for some real downtime. Golf Today was invited to Sri Lanka to discover what this island, rich in wildlife and culture, had to offer.
Where to stay in Sri Lanka
Shangri-La Colombo
Our accommodation for the trip was split between two locations in Sri Lanka, with our first overnight stop in Colombo, the nation’s bustling capital. Brimming with colourful tuk-tuks and grand Buddhist shrines, Colombo offered a lively and fitting start to the adventure.
We stayed at Shangri-La Colombo, situated near the Colombo Port. It proved the perfect pit stop before our journey south to Hambantota. With three excellent restaurants—including the standout Asian-fusion spot, Shang Palace—and three stylish bars, the hotel caters to all culinary moods. And, as every good holiday should offer, there were ample opportunities to relax—whether lounging by the pool or in the capable hands of the therapists at Chi, The Spa. If your itinerary includes a night or two in Colombo before moving on, it’s an ideal place to kick off your holiday.
Shangri-La Hambantota
The real star of the show was Shangri-La Hambantota. After a scenic three-hour drive through lush greenery and rice fields, we arrived in Hambantota to a warm and heartfelt welcome. The staff greeted us with open arms—just as happy to see us as we were to be there.
After shaking hands with nearly everyone who’d gathered to welcome us, I was handed a refreshing cold towel. It might seem like a small gesture, but in that moment, it was exactly what I needed—and something I came to appreciate again and again during my stay.
With the towel draped around the back of my neck, I was invited to take part in a small but thoughtful welcome ritual. I lit a candle perched on a golden stand topped with Sri Lanka’s national bird, the junglefowl, while two men in traditional attire played Sri Lankan music. It was a wonderful way to immerse myself in the culture and leave the hustle of daily life behind.
The views and layout of the hotel were second to none. Walking through the open-air reception to see the Indian Ocean—lined with swaying palm trees and crystal-blue swimming pools just 50 yards from the beach—was a sight to lighten anyone’s day. The atmosphere immediately loosened the shoulders, quietened the mind, and sparked a quiet kind of excitement to just, well, relax.
That feeling only deepened when I arrived at my digs: a spacious, light and airy room overlooking the ocean. It was so close to the beach that I could hear the grains of sand being pulled back into the sea with every crashing wave. In fact, it was so serene, I took 20 minutes to simply sit on the balcony and let the sound of the breeze through the palm fronds and the collapse of whitecaps perfectly complement the view in front of me.
Alongside its stunning aesthetics, Shangri-La Hambantota also offers a range of fantastic dining options, catering to both picky eaters and those with more refined tastes. The Ulpatha Club House & Bar, situated next to the 18th green, serves up clubhouse-style food—perfect for a post-round snack or a casual lunch or dinner. Bojunhala has a buffet that covers everything from local dishes to omelettes and pizza, making it a great choice if you’re travelling with little ones.
And then there’s Sera—an exceptional South East Asian restaurant where you’ll find melt-in-your-mouth beef, shrimp the size of your hand, and a variety of fresh fish dishes. It’s clear that not only has a lot of thought gone into the menu, but you can also taste the care and attention in every detail of the preparation, cooking, and presentation.
The crème de la crème of relaxation, is a solid spa session. In my case, it doesn’t come around too often, so the opportunity to have a one-hour, full-body massage was a treat. I opted for a deep tissue massage that flowed into an easy-going one at the end, and boy was it good. Granted, I might have fallen asleep at one point, only to be woken up when I was asked to turn over, but I was put into a state of unwinding tranquillity. The set-up of the room, the fragrances, and altogether restful ambience created an unclouded disposition, a total reset. And for those looking for exactly that, the Chi Ayurveda Spa is a must when staying.
Golf at Shangri-La Hambantota
As this is a golf publication, it goes without saying that my main focus during the visit was the course—and, in my opinion, that’s the best addition any resort can offer. Resort courses can be hit or miss, usually offering an inviting, playable layout with decent conditioning. However, what many of these courses often lack is character. That’s not the case with Hambantota’s course.
Designed by Rodney Wright, a designer known for creating standout courses across dramatic landscapes in places like Mauritius, Hawaii, Bali, Japan, and China, Hambantota’s course is a true testament to his ability to craft thoughtful layouts in remarkable locations.
Wright’s philosophy is perfectly reflected in the course: “Creating the modern golf course goes well beyond the fundamentals of having a love of the game, its strategies, and its traditions. The key to great golf course design begins with a thorough understanding of the client’s needs, as well as the ability to interpret those needs into a design that not only respects the site’s natural character but also captures its sense of place.”
After playing the course, I can definitely vouch for his philosophy—especially when it comes to the quirks of designing a resort course. The 18-hole, par-70 course offers a memorable round of golf, weaving through three distinct landscapes, each with its own character.
The opening holes take you through the coconut plantation, where lush fairways are framed by swaying palms and dotted with challenging bunkers. Then, as you come into the turn, you enter the Sapphire Mine section, where generous greens are surrounded by plenty of water to keep you honest. Finally, for the last stretch, you reach the Dune Area, where elevation changes bring you parallel to the Indian Ocean. The 17th, in particular, proves a tricky driving hole—wind blows in from the left, unshielded, while thick lost ball territory hugs the right.
Measuring 6,107 yards and laid with Paspalum grass, the course is built to thrive in Sri Lanka’s tropical climate, maintaining solid playing conditions year-round. It’s also worth noting the resort’s commitment to sustainability. The course was developed on an abandoned sapphire mine, with efforts made to restore local vegetation, reintroduce birdlife, and use salt-tolerant turf—all with a genuine respect for the natural surroundings, where monkeys and water monitor lizards roam freely.
We played the course twice, which I was grateful for—because after getting to know the layout’s little niches and idiosyncrasies, I was able to play with a bit more educated confidence. That said, you’ll want to tee off early, stay well hydrated, and lather on the sun cream—it gets pretty hot out there.
All in all, it was a real pleasure to play, and definitely a course I’d be happy to return to. Hambantota also offers the ultimate golf getaway, with a two- or three-night stay, including breakfast, golf, and caddies, starting from £300. Although it isn’t a championship course, when you pair it with the five-star hospitality and amenities on offer, it’s a no-brainer if you’re looking to combine a holiday with some thoroughly enjoyable golf.
Safari at Yala National Park
Adding to the resort’s long list of perks, Shangri-La Hambantota is just a short drive from Yala National Park. Tucked away in the southeast corner of Sri Lanka, it’s a real treat for anyone with even a passing interest in wildlife. Spanning over 130,000 hectares, it’s a mix of forest, scrubland, open plains, and lagoons—home to everything from elephants and crocodiles to over 200 species of birds.
But it’s probably best known for its leopards, with Yala said to have one of the highest concentrations in the world—though unfortunately, we weren’t lucky enough to see any on our tour. That being said, whether you’re into the big-ticket sightings or just happy watching water buffalo wade through the shallows, it’s the kind of place that makes you feel a world away from everything else—sure beats being in the office, eh?
Verdict
To summarise, Sri Lanka might be an outside choice, but it’s a truly remarkable place for a holiday-cum-golf trip. While it’s somewhere I’ve long wanted to visit, I wouldn’t have originally paired it with golf—but I’m more than happy to swallow my words. However, I’d be more inclined to recommend it as a holiday that happens to include golf, rather than somewhere you travel to just for golf.
There are other courses worth exploring—in Central Province and Colombo, like Victoria Golf & Country Resort, Nuwara Eliya, and Royal Colombo—which could easily turn a trip into more of a golf tour, especially with Hambantota in the mix. But for me, it works best as a holiday destination, either with your partner or family, where you can treat yourself to a round (or three) in a truly memorable setting.
Not enough can be said about the attention to detail and the warmth of the staff, who greeted me with a smile at every turn. And, with the picturesque backdrops, pristine setup, and world-class amenities geared for full-on relaxation, the location couldn’t be better. So, if you’re after a left-field holiday that also scratches the golfing itch, Shangri-La Hambantota has you well and truly covered.
