indonesia Lombok's Next Attraction

Tourism officials in Indonesia aim to turn a 3,000-acre swath of southern Lombok Island into a resort destination that will include at least one 18-hole golf course.

The Mandalika resort is being co-developed by the Indonesian government and the Bali Tourism Development Corporation, in an effort to lure travelers who might have otherwise vacationed on the island of Bali, Lombok’s western neighbor. The resort will take shape near Praya, a short drive from the new Bandara international airport, and within a decade of its opening it’s expected to attract a million people a year.

Mandalika will spread over nearly five miles of beaches facing the Indian Ocean. It’s been master-planned to include luxury villas, “environmentally friendly” accommodations for both short- and long-term stays, resort-style hotels, theme and amusement parks, entertainment venues, conference facilities, shopping areas, and a “world-class” marina that will serve as a base for the surfers and divers who’ve turned Lombok into Asia’s Surf City.

The first phase of construction at Mandalika is expected to include some houses, a theme park, a maritime museum, a Formula One race track, and a “green” golf course designed to have a minimal impact on the surrounding landscape.

Among the firms being considered for the commission is Nicklaus Design of North Palm Beach, Florida. “It’s a prospect that we are hopeful for,” says Ray Ball, the head of the firm’s design crew. “We hope to get something signed.”

The BTDC, which will manage Mandalika, plans to preserve 7,000 adjacent acres as a conservation area. It’ll seek private-sector developers to build the resort’s amenities and attractions.

The original version of this post first appeared in the April 2012 issue of the World Edition of the Golf Course Report.