It may be hard to believe, but there actually are a few golf courses situated on a few islands in the Maldives. The ones that are currently open are on the small side, but they are definitely better than nothing for someone who likes to mix in at least a bit of golf during their sunny holiday.

Two pitch & putt courses (6 holes and 9 holes) have been operating for a while now, and a longer course with 9 holes that average 123 yards has just recently opened within the last few years. This is the first course where it might be wise to bring more than a wedge and a putter, but the good news is that each of the 3 golf resorts have proper-sized driving ranges so you can actually bang around with your woods if you are in the mood.

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A new full-sized golf course planned for 2013

The plan sounds a bit too ambitious to be true, but sometimes these things actually happen. A Dutch company has designed and is supposed to be building a 27-hole “floating” golf course on 3 islands only a short boat ride away from the Male International Airport. Golfers will go between islands in underwater tunnels, and the project is said to be budgeted at around US$500 million.

 

The schedule says that it won’t be complete until 2015, but will be ready for play by the end of 2013. There are 200 villas planned as well, so it appears to be a full-on golf resort if they actually build it. We’ll update things as we hear news.

 

January, 2017 update: This golf course was never completed.


3 Maldives water-villa resorts with golf courses

Kuredu Island Resort – Maldives

  • Water villas: 50
  • Total rooms/suites: 300

 

Primarily an all-inclusive resort, the 50 water villas here in addition to the 250 island rooms and suites, make this resort one of the larger ones currently in the Maldives. The villas and rooms here come in a variety of sizes and configurations. This is an ideal resort for families and groups who might be coming in with different budgets among the group.

 

The golf course at this location is only 6 holes and a pitch & putt course as well, making it probably more of a novelty than a place to get some serious golfing in. With that said, the resort does have modest prices and a lot of other things that play in its favor, so if you want to get a bit of golfing in while staying in the Maldives this is a solid choice.

 

  • Low season online specials from US$936 per night
  • High season online specials from US$1,060 per night
>More information about the Kuredu Island Resort – Maldives >Check rates

Meeru Island Resort – Maldives

  • Water villas: 106
  • Total rooms/suites: 286

 

With 106 water villas along with 180 island rooms and suites, the Meeru Island Resort is one of the larger private-island hotels in the Maldives. With that said, you’ll find at this location, guests that receive many extra features that aren’t found elsewhere. Even the smaller water villas come with a private Jacuzzi on the deck, so there is no sacrificing in room amenities in order to get all the extras out on the island.

 

The Meeru Island Resort has many sporting activities, including a golf driving range, a putting green, and a 9-hole pitch & putt golf course. This is one of the advantages of staying on one of the largest islands in the Maldives.

 

  • Low season online specials from US$518 per night
  • High season online specials from US$1,062 per night
>More information about the Meeru Island Resort – Maldives >Check rates

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa Maldives

  • Water villas: 60
  • Total rooms/suites: 142

 

If you are a budget traveler, then this is not a resort for you. Interestingly, it’s the first and only Maldives private-island resort located south of the equator. Because of this, it is harder to reach for many, but it happens to be only an 8-minute speedboat ride away from an airport where private planes can land. This is a popular resort for the super-rich, and also for super-rich golfers.

 

The golf course opened in March, 2012, and is the largest in the Maldives with 9 holes that average 123 yards each. You’ll also find a club house and a pro shop right on-site, which adds to the convenience factor.

 

Each of the 60 water villas at this overwater resort are very large and outfitted with lots of luxury amenities that impress at every turn. The service is extremely attentive, and the 5 restaurants and bars are all of very high standards. In spite of the price and remoteness, they have good facilities for children and families, so this is a good choice for romance or for a family group if you can afford it.

*This resort is currently closed.

 

  • Low season online specials from US$961 per night
  • High season online specials from US$1,398 per night
>More information about the Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa Maldives >Check rates

Golf photos for the above resorts


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  1. Hello Roger,
    We are a family of four with kids aged 8 and 5.
    We are planning our trip in the last week of August.
    How’s the climate during this period and how many days it is advisable stay?
    I would like to know about some good kid friendly and all inclusive resorts with good deals.
    TIA

    1. Madhu,

      The weather in the Maldives is almost the same all year round, although there are actual variations from island to island because these resorts stretch several thousand kilometers from north to south. My advice is to choose a resort that you might like and then check the reviews from that same month last year and the year before to see what previous guests said about the weather. In most cases guests don’t mention the weather because it’s warm every day and the rain storms tend to last only 20 minutes or less. From late May through early July the rain can last for hours in certain parts of the Maldives, but in August the storms will be over quickly and sometimes they happen overnight.

      Here are our favorite Maldives resorts for families with great activities for kids (and adults).

      Our favorite all-inclusive resorts for great rates is Meeru Island, and it’s pretty good for families, though not the best.

      Aside from that one it’s hard to know which is the best deal because most resorts tend to offer great deals when they are a bit slow, and keep prices high when they are booked up more. It’s best to just go into Agoda.com and put in your travel dates to see which resorts are offering the best all-inclusive deals for that period. Have a great trip. -Roger