 In late June 2009 the striking Le Penina Golf Course was the stunning venue for the first major tournament ever held in Samoa. (Upper Right) The Faleata Golf Course in suburban Apia is open to all visitors. This value for money course like most of the others in Samoa offers expert instruction for those wishing to learn the great game. (Far Right) The Royal Samoa Country Club’s 9th has a great view of Mt Vaea. (Right) The cosy course at the delightful Sinalei Country Club on the southern coast of Samoa plays through a grove of palm trees. |
 
With the opening of three quality courses in addition to a historic veteran, tiny Samoa is now a South Pacific golf destination in its own right. You can now truly play in paradise by day and listen to the gentle sounds of the ocean in the evening.
Players first teed off at the tree-shaded tract at the 7136 yard Le Penina Golf Course in December 2006. Located only minutes from the Faleolo International Airport in one direction and the swank Aggie Grey’s Beach Resort in the other, the Le Penina was the venue for the Samoa Masters in late June 2009. It was an event that proved that Samoa can cater for discerning golfers from around the world.
Prior to the Masters, the SIFA - Samoa Classic was played at the 6841 yard Faleata Golf Course which is located at the edge of Apia, the quaint capital of Samoa. Designed by a golfer from neighbouring American Samoa, the Faleata course is less than a decade old.
In contrast the Royal Samoa Country Club was founded by British residents who lived in the waterfront town in the early days of the last century.The front nine holes of the Royal were originally part of an old coconut plantation. Narrow fairways were woven through stands of towering palms to provide an extra element of difficulty.
Without doubt the most taxing, probably the most memorable and without question the most interesting of the front nine is the short 6th hole where the picturesque green is hidden in a deep foliage-flushed gully.
An illustrated feature on golfing in Samoa can be written on assignment from 1000 to 2000 words, depending upon editorial requirements.
A separate feature or a sidebar can also be written about the unique attractions of Samoa including Robert Louis Stevenson’s former home which overlooks the quaint port city of Apia.
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