For those looking to wind down or let off some steam, Peak Club managed by Peak Performance Sdn Bhd offers a wide range of activities under one roof. Its facilities include a football field, a swimming pool and a multi-purpose hall for tennis, badminton, basketball, netball and squash. Their dance studio is used for ballet, hip hop, yoga and zumba. Peak Club also offers fitness programmes including muay thai, yoga, calisthenics, spinning and total body resistance training. Choose from a variety of classes available at the club such as indoor cycling, archery, badminton, ballet, ballroom dancing, fencing, karate, tabata, taekwondo and trampoline fitness.
Located in Kuala Belait is the Brunei Shell Recreation Club, equipped with tennis courts, swimming pool and gym. The club is known for horse riding, tailored to beginners as well as intermediate and advanced riders. Pony rides are also available for children.
Thrill seekers who crave for strategic and tactical teamwork are encouraged to try out the Paintball Arena at Jerudong, the country’s one and only professionally run paintball facility managed by the Royal Brunei Technical Services. There are short breaks in between the rounds to reload the paintballs and discuss tactics among the teammates.
Recreational activity packages are also available, and these can be ideal to explore the country while keeping active. Ride an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to explore the jungle beside the Tungku beach and enjoy the stunning scenery on the headland. You can also tour the agricultural park at Kampong Katimahar, which boasts excellent off-road tracks and a wide variety of flora and fauna. You may come across a water buffalo along the way, a charming reminder of the traditional village life away from the city centre.
For an unforgettable biking experience, there are tour and training packages suited for riders of varying levels and interest to explore the local trails and lush jungles of Borneo. The Berakas Forest Reserve is the country’s mountain biking focal point for riders of all levels, home to a plethora of trail networks.
For divers, Brunei hosts 4,500 hectares of untouched coral reef. Deep beneath the waters are sunken oil rigs and shipwrecks, some of which are from World War II. Some wrecks are only accessible for technical divers due to their depths.
Diving is highly recommended during Brunei’s dry season, between March and October when the sea is calm and divers are likely to encounter deeper underwater visibility. Brunei’s water averages 25-28 degrees Celsius, a warm tropical temperature ideal for diving. These conditions coupled with exotic marine life in vast quantities are perfect for underwater photography or simply just to explore what nature in Brunei has to offer. Two of the most prominent diving operators in the Sultanate are Oceanic Quest and Poni Divers.
With multiple championship-grade golf courses and the country’s warm sunny weather, Brunei is an emerging must-visit golfing destination particularly in Southeast Asia. Explore the local golfing scene with some of the highlights below.
Situated within this luxurious hotel’s compound is a world-class 18-hole golf course, designed by legendary American golfer Jack Nicklaus. Renowned as one of Asia’s finest and well-loved for its immaculate landscape, the golf course is littered with strategically placed bunkers and hazards. The signature hole is 549-yard par five 15th that stretches along the beach dotted with sprawling bunkers. The course also treats players with a gorgeous view of the South China Sea. The golf course has hosted royalty and heads of states from around the world, in addition to prestigious golf tournaments including the Asian Tour, Aberdeen Senior Masters, Brunei Open and the Royal Trophy.
Location: The Empire Brunei, Jerudong Tel: 241 8222
Designed by renowned American golf course architect Ron Fream, this golf course is one of the best in the world. Fream described it as the “Augusta National of Asia” due to its reputation of being one of the best manicured golf courses in Asia. Nestled within a jungle landscape, it is distinctive for its narrow, tree-flanked fairways, leading to relatively small greens. This gives players’ short game skills a real challenge.
Location: Jerudong Park, Jerudong Tel: 261 1582
The Pantai Mentiri Golf Club is a 6,105-metre, par-72 course suitable for seasoned golfers and professionals. The golf course is peppered with water hazards throughout its compound, offering a challenge for golfers who wish to prove themselves to be among the best. Golfers with a handicap of 10 and above will struggle to achieve a net par score. In 1999, the golf course played host to the golf event during the 20th Southeast Asian Games, as well as a slew of other amateur and professional tournaments throughout the years.
Location: Jalan Kota Batu, Bandar Seri Begawan Tel: 279 1021
Brunei’s first 18-hole public golf course is located near the Brunei International Airport and was designed by world-renowned golf architect Max Wexler. The golf course features a flat terrain with huge man-made lakes spread throughout the course serving as irrigation. The golf course is considered challenging due to the preservation of its original vegetation while the lakes play their part as unforgiving obstacles.
Location: Brunei International Airport, Berakas Tel: 234 3724
Managed by the Panaga Club, this golf course is located along Jalan Utara, with Brunei Shell Petroleum’s headquarters not far off. Its close proximity to the sea in combination with its low-lying lands means the course’s ponds and ditches are susceptible to be filled with seawater when a high tide occurs. In 1978, the golf course hosted the widely successful Brunei Open. It also conducts the annual Panaga Open, a local golfing event.
Location: Panaga Club, Seria Tel: 337 2265, 337 5754, 337 2234
Copyright 1993 Borneo Bulletin Yearbook All rights reserved.
