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Jerudong park polo club
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One does not normally equate
polo with Asia, nor with a tropical climate, but
this is the nature of Brunei – it holds many
delightful surprises! His Majesty The Sultan of
Brunei is an enthusiastic and accomplished
player, known for his precise skill on the
field. The demands of State, allow him little
time to play, but it is not uncommon for
visiting clubs, foreign dignitaries or other
members of the Royal Family (his Royal Highness
Prince Jefri – the Sultan’s youngest brother- is
an avid player), to join him on one of the three
magnificent fields found in this park. All are
maintained to the highest standard; featuring
the best, drainage technology to cope with
natural tropical deluges and flood lights to
allow night play!
An extensive network of stables, accommodate a
superb collection of horses, which would be the
envy of any horse enthusiast! Up to a thousand
horses can be catered for, ensuring a fresh
supply of horses, required for a challenging
game of polo can always be met. Each field has
its own Grandstand, from which VIP’s, |
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distinguished visitors and members of
the Royal Family, can observe the game in air
conditioned comfort, luxurious surroundings filled with
beautiful artwork and personal memorabilia. Grandstand
2, referred to as the "players" grandstand contains the
distinguished Asprey Cup (1993) and the Dorchester Cup,
as well as an interesting, diverse collection of
international club shields. A tour through these
Grandstands is a must, to truly experience the lifestyle
from the unique perspective of Bruneian Royalty and the
closest the discerning tourist could come to this type
of experience. Imagine seeing the inner sanctum of a
place usually reserved for royalty!
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The elegant clubhouse reflects its exclusive
clientele through its luxurious décor,
collection of equestrian art, personal photos
and range of personalized facilities. The
restaurant serves an array of culinary delights
through an a la carte menu presenting
international cuisine or through sumptuous
themed buffets. It is the perfect opportunity
for the connoisseur to sample Bruneian fare -
assured of outstanding quality and presentation,
by a team of internationally experienced chefs.
The regal ambience, excellent food and service
is famed and requested regularly, by Foreign
Embassies and local corporations holding private
functions!
The magnificent Banquet Hall is the "gem" of the
clubhouse and not to be missed! This little seen
Hall can be likened to the grand ballrooms found
in Stately European homes. Its breath taking
beauty delights with a pastel blue, lemon and
white colour scheme; contrasted by solid Italian
black marble pillars standing like two
colonnades of silent sentries - each bearing a
large black and gold sceptre lamp – facing each
other along either side of the Hall. The scene
is punctuated by bursts of gold and splashes of
red. The focal point of the room is the
exquisite Austrian crystal chandelier that
appears to sparkle with reflected natural light
and at night, glistens like a galaxy of floating
diamonds suspended in mid air! Despite the
"European" grandeur and ambience, on closer
inspection, the intricate detail, delightfully
incorporates a unique fusion of local cultural
motifs, royal insignia and the equestrian theme!
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The exclusive Royal Grandstand 1, the executive level
conference room and the magnificent private Royal
reception room (back stage), can all be accessed from
the Banquet Hall and only through a private tour! Each
site offers a unique rich foray into private worlds, not
accessible to the general public and should not be
missed.
Other features of the Polo Club include: a private four
lane AMF computerized bowling alley, a covered pool –
featuring a sunken bar and a magnificent pavilion
providing shelter from the tropical sun; a fully
computerized gym where your workout can be tracked and
given a personal analysis; two full size private squash
courts (where Jahangir Khan has played!); a full sized
Riley billiard table set in a parlour that would rival
any championship venue; a "Chip n Putt", 9 hole golf
course; and a private beach! |
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Royal Brunei Golf and Country Club
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The first sign that the Royal
Brunei Golf and Country Club, is exceptional, is
the absence of a commercial entrance – mandatory
in other clubs.
A requirement never considered necessary, as the
exclusive patrons made up of members of the
Royal Family, visiting State Dignitaries, highly
placed Government Ministers and "invited guest",
needed no introduction! To play on this course,
is to partake in an experience very few have had
the privilege to do and to join the list of
World Class professional players; Greg Norman,
Seve Ballesteros, Bernard Langer, Ian Woosnan,
Colin Montgomerie, Bernard Gallacher, Tony
Jacklin, Nick Price and Nick Faldo; who have all
enjoyed the luxury of playing on this private
course.
Its designer, the American, landscape architect,
Ronald Fream, refers to it as the "Augusta
National of Asia"! It is considered to be one of
the best courses in Asia and possibly the most
exclusive in the world. It is an exciting and
challenging course, consistently maintained to
the high standards demanded by the USA PGA. The
par 72, 18-hole championship, 6,175 metre (6,750
- yard), buggy only course, is considered to be
a "thinker’s" course – as its fairways are tight
and the slope of the green varies from subtle to
strong. With a Stimp meter reading of 9
(adjustable to 11 for tournaments), as the
normal green |
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speed, it is one of the quickest
courses in Asia. Despite the heavy tropical deluges,
year round play can be enjoyed due to the installation
of an efficient drainage system. Technical highlights of
the course are provided by the 9th, 10th, 15th and 18th
holes. Tight narrow fairways skirted by jungle woven
into the course, cavernous ravines and bunkers and over
water shots challenge and reward! Two luxuriously
appointed air-conditioned rest houses provide a welcome
respite from the humidity, a break from play and
refreshments. Floodlights allow night play! Imagine
playing under the tropical moon!
The experience of playing here involves more than just
skill, as it indulges the senses with cool sea breezes,
magnificent changes of light as the day evolves and an
abundance of wildlife provide wonderful sights and
sounds; it is not uncommon to spot a troupe of monkeys
taking a leisurely sojourn across the fairway, or to see
a majestic Brahminy kite soar searching for prey, or to
hear the distinct call of the almost extinct hornbill.
Images of the exotic Far East abound, as the roar of the
tiger or the call of an elephant can be heard from the
nearby distant zoo – a special treat! The club prides
itself on being sensitive to the local environment and
actively encourages conservation, providing a sanctuary
for native flora and fauna.
The clubhouse overlooks a magnificent vista of rolling
greens, dense lush jungle in the background and is
spiked with pink and white carefully pruned
bougainvilleas in the foreground. The focal point is the
fountain cradling the club’s logo and burnished gold
initials, from which sparkling water cascades into a
lake and shimmers at dusk. As night falls backlights
create a magical atmosphere. The scene can be admired
from the open terrace or in air-conditioned comfort from
the restaurant and plush lounge in which The President’s
Cup (the club cup) takes pride of place amongst a
collection of trophies and personal memorabilia,
including a collection of antique clubs! The luxurious
Royal viewing area is part of the clubhouse. The locker
room located on the lower level, has the delightful
surprise of having several individually autographed
lockers, by famous players such as Greg Norman and Nick
Faldo!
Access to the course is strictly controlled and has only
recently been granted to the discerning inbound tourist,
through prior arrangement. Why not avail yourself of
this privilege and opportunity to play on this
magnificent exclusive course that truly befits its
inclusion in this "Royal" playground!
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jerudong park playground
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The magnificent "Crystal
Arch" stands as a majestic sentry, at the
entrance of the Playground Gardens and the road
leading to Istana Nurul Izzah. It has become one
of the country’s most recognizable icons.
Weighing 7 tons, it reaches for the sky in the
shape of a brilliant cut diamond supported by
four shanks decorated with millions of small
gold mosaic tiles cascading waterfalls bubble
underneath. It is the largest known diamond
replica in the world! Witness its metamorphosis
as the light varies; protruding as a dramatic
structure during the day, shimmering in the soft
light of dusk and brilliant as coloured lasers
spear through its centre to refract shots of
neon at night!
Beautifully manicured gardens envelope a state
of the art amusement centre satisfying the most
ardent adult thrill seeker, the fun lover,
children of all ages and is a delightful
refreshing place for laughs, relaxation, or to
take an evening stroll in a picturesque setting.
No cost has been spared to bring the excitement
of the high tech amusement industry to Brunei in
this 57-hectare wonderland that took four years
to complete! It is a popular spot for locals and
tourist alike and a special treat to possibly
catch a glimpse of members of the Royal Family,
having fun! |
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Tour the park in miniature buggies that resemble
luxury cars or use it as transport to access
rides in style! Enter the Sky Tower as it gently
rotates and rises 78 metres to reveal a
magnificent 360 degree panoramic view, or take a
virtual reality trip in one of the custom built
simulators that have specially designed
programmes for Jerudong Park! Why not really
challenge the senses with more demanding rides
such as the "Pusing Lagi"! Literally translated
from Malay as "another turn", it is normal to
experience the skip of a heartbeat when this
mighty custom built suspended roller coaster,
that travels at a maximum speed of 80kph, along
810 metres of track, delivering five inversions
around tight corkscrew curls at a 5 G force
rate! Definitely not for the faint heart, but
very popular! Why not experience what Micheal
Jackson felt, when he came here in 1996 to
perform at the Amphitheatre?
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Perhaps a 48 metre dead drop at 4 G forces, on
the Giant Drop or a wet exhilarating ride on the
Log Flume Ride in the world to have a reverse
drop, is more tempting! What about feeling the
sensation of being fastened into a two-tiered
platform that flips in two different directions
suspending the rider upside down – on the Top
Spin? Other features are a Roller Blade Skating
Rink, a Supa-Kart (Go Kart) Track (incorporates
elevated bends and the karts reach 75kph), a
Video Arcade and Shooting Gallery, to name a
few. With over 39 rides to choose from, there is
something for everyone!
Young children are well catered for in their own
specially designed park that incorporates play
equipment, custom built "baby" Dodgems and a
spectacular replica of French Carousel – best
described as a revolving work of art!
It is no surprise to hear that the park can be
seen at night from landing aircraft, when one
realises that approximately 1.2 million bulbs
light the park! Flashing neon often competes
with brilliant branch like lightning from
tropical thunderstorms across the horizon in the
night sky!
Despite 2,000 people visiting that park daily,
due to its size and the country’s low
population, where else in the world can you
experience a park of this standard, without
jostling for space, waiting for long queues, or
even have a ride operate just for you at your
command? |
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