Nirwana Bali to close and undertake complete redesign

17 Apr 2017

According to a report on the Travel Weekly Asia website, the popular Nirwana Bali Golf Resort is closing its doors on July 31, 2017 and undertaking a full and complete redesign to later open as a property managed by current US President Donald Trump’s company. Although news articles about the Trump Bali expansion plans focus mostly on converting the resort into a 6-star facility and adding luxury villas to the property offering, there are disturbing plans for the golf course as well.

Designed by Bob Harrison while working for Greg Norman’s Golf Course Design company, the Nirwana Bali course has long been regarded as one of Asia’s best but will be redesigned by Phil Mickelson and his design partners. If previous efforts in China at the Aqua Championship Course and in the USA at Whisper Rock are any indication, it’s unlikely that Mickelson’s team will make the course any better, only different. It will be interesting to see whether the routing itself changes, and crucially if the design team are able to protect direct ocean interactions at holes like the 7th, 13th and 14th.

From Ian Jarrett’s news report,

^{One of Bali's best-known hotels, Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort, is closing its doors on July 31 to make way for a lavish Trump resort.}

^{Pan Pacific Hotels Group has managed Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort since April 2010. No reservations are being accepted beyond this date.}

^{Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort covers 103 hectares on the cliff top at Tabanan, with views of the Indian Ocean and Tanah Lot. It includes an 18-hole golf course designed by Greg Norman.}

^{Jakarta-based owning company, PT MNC Land Tbk, made the decision to redevelop the site after reaching an agreement with The Trump Hotel Collection.}

^{On its website, MNC says, "MNC Land is developing the second Trump community in Asia after MNC Lido City in West Java.}

^{"Set on Bali's magnificent south-west coast, this property will feature a glamorous, ultra-luxury Trump 6-star resort and a destination beach club boasting 360 degrees of sheer cliff glamour.}

^{"The award-winning Nirwana Golf Club will be redeveloped into a world-class golf course surrounded by an exclusive collection of super luxury villas and mansions as well as high-end resort condominiums.}

^{"Combining cutting-edge, innovative design by award-winning firms Oppenheim Architecture and EDSA with the island's cultural and natural beauty, the Trump community in Bali promises to set a new benchmark for excellence and offer an enchanting and unrivaled getaway."}