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I was fortunate to visit The Victoria Golf & Country Resort a few months back, and it was everything you would read and see in a picturesque storybook resplendent with all things quaint. Donald Steele adroitly designed this gargantuan property in 1997; it stretches over 500 acres of absolute greenery and is ranked among the “100 Most Beautiful Golf Courses in the World”. As someone who is past his third decade on this earth, this incredible place is nostalgic to say the least. You are cosseted in faultless architecture and voguish interiors, while a well-trained staff is present to offer you incredible levels of hospitality. Golf may indeed be regarded as an elitist game, but this resort offers you access to try your hand in it whether you are an old-fashioned gent or a new-world millennial. Evolution is the name of the game, and the Victoria Golf & Country Resort is open to both leisure seekers and holidaymakers – at a price that is very reasonable.
Let’s forget – dare I say it! – golf, and consider rest and relaxation indoors instead. After all, for the denizens of Colombo, what is primarily residing in their minds is leisure, which is of absolute importance after grinding away at their corporate jobs. We all end up in Negombo, Unawatuna or Nuwara Eliya, but nestled in Digana is this resort, which in my honest opinion is a country to itself. For someone who is more of a bookworm and is very happy to settle in a big comfy bed and indulge in some real luxury – The Victoria Golf & Country Resort ticks all the right boxes. This is not to say that there are no excursions present that offer an adventure that can be customized to your liking. But now – let’s look at food – which is a desire harbored by everyone.
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Consider yourself an epicurean? Then I suggest you make your way towards the Araliya Restaurant, which offers you a delectable range of cuisines from Western to Eastern to Asian. Based on the level of occupancy, you would be able to indulge in an incredible buffet spread that will tickle your taste buds. Moreover, it needs to be stated that al fresco dining is an option, and what could be more romantic or ideal than enjoying some fine wine and a curated 3-course meal under the night sky. I had the privilege of enjoying the buffet, and the spread was comprehensive while the offerings were divine to say the least.
Sunrise and sunset is an inimitable affair, and both readily greet you at this resort. One of the most memorable moments for me was to wake up to the birds chirping and opening the chalet doors with a coffee in hand to watch the slow and steady sunrise. It was glorious and no artist or photographer can re-create such an incredible spectacle (with or without Photoshop). Since waking up from a dream is an inevitable experience, consider what must be done afterwards. There is always a sunny breakfast and the hospitable sunny smiles of the staff awaiting you at the restaurant, as you consider either a dip in the cerulean pool, a round of golf, or a horse-riding lesson or even a game of tennis. The possibilities are endless, and even an excursion – a nature trek around Victoria or even a variety of cultural tours to Kandy – is a very real option.
Yet, what is central to The Victoria Golf & Country Resort is – in my opinion at least – comfort and rest. With a number of discerning chalets, a few cottages and one villa, this is a property that promises a bed of true comforts. The rooms per se are a rich contradiction with simplicity and sumptuousness mixed in exquisitely to afford its guests with a star-class atmosphere that could remind one of a home away from home. I did mention how quaint this entire property may seem, but rest (pun intended) assured that all the chalets etc. offer contemporary facilities from Wi-Fi networks to hot water to air conditioning. It goes without saying that the cottages and the deluxe rooms come well-facilitated with a pantry option, which is perfect for a family.
All in all, I recommend The Victoria Golf & Country Resort very highly. For a person who always ended up in Negombo to pursue his leisure interests, this is a newfound paradise that promises so much more than the pictures on these pages.
Website: golfsrilanka.com
Telephone: 717376376
Email: reservations@victoriagolf.lk
Written by Rohitha Perera | Photography by Sampath Munaweera