
Rimba Irian Course
Klub Golf Rimba Irian
About this course
Rimba Irian sits in the remote highlands of Papua, Indonesia, near the mining town of Kuala Kencana. Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and opened in the late 1990s, the course was developed in connection with the Grasberg mining complex, one of the world's largest copper and gold operations. The layout occupies a dramatic site at elevation in the mountainous interior of Indonesia's easternmost province, far removed from the country's more populous islands and traditional golf centers. The Coore-Crenshaw design works with the natural contours and vegetation of the Papuan landscape, incorporating the firm's characteristic routing principles and strategic design elements adapted to the tropical setting. The course serves primarily the expatriate and Indonesian personnel associated with the mining operations, functioning as a recreational amenity in an isolated location where few conventional leisure options exist. The club operates within the broader infrastructure of the mining community. Given its remote location and specialized membership base, Rimba Irian remains relatively unknown in international golf circles despite its notable architectural pedigree. The course represents an unusual example of high-level golf design commissioned for a corporate mining community, and one of very few championship-caliber layouts in eastern Indonesia. Access is generally restricted to company employees, their guests, and affiliated visitors, reflecting the course's origins and ongoing role within the mining operation's residential and recreational facilities.
Quick facts
- Location
- Kuala Kencana, Papua, ID
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1995
- Designer(s)
- Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 5,779 metres
- Difficulty
- 73.9/137
Getting there
The journey to Klub Golf Rimba Irian begins with a flight into Timika's Mozes Kilangin Airport, the gateway to Papua's remote Mimika Regency and one of Indonesia's most isolated commercial hubs. From the terminal, a carefully arranged transfer winds northeast through dense tropical lowland, tracing the edge of one of the world's great remaining rainforests toward the purpose-built mining town of Kuala Kencana. The final approach reveals an improbable sight - manicured fairways carved from the jungle canopy, a verdant oasis born of copper and gold, where the hum of industry gives way to the quiet rhythm of the game. This is golf at the edge of the map, accessible only to those with reason to venture into Papua's highland frontier.

FAQ
Common questions about Rimba Irian
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Rimba Irian was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.
Yes. Rimba Irian is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Rimba Irian is 71.
Rimba Irian plays 5,779 metres from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Rimba Irian is 137.
Rimba Irian is a 18-hole course.
