NIHI Sumba has opened The Riding & Racquet Club, a new beachfront destination combining its Sandalwood Stables with the resort’s first international-standard tennis court. A clubhouse, weekly open-fire dinner and exclusive boutique complete the setting on Nihiwatu Beach.
Launched in June 2026 and positioned alongside NIHI Sumba’s newest villas, the club gives guests a single place to move between riding, tennis and long lunches overlooking the Indian Ocean. Its design keeps the horses visible from the social spaces, making the stables part of the atmosphere throughout the day.
The project was created by NIHI founders James McBride and Chris Burch with creative director Caroline Usher and UBD Global. It adapts the character of a private sporting club to the natural materials and equestrian traditions of Sumba.
“Polo has always been an important part of my life,” McBride said, calling the club “the version of it only NIHI could produce.”
The clubhouse overlooks the Sandalwood Stables
Set between the beach and the stables, the clubhouse is the social centre of The Riding & Racquet Club. Its open-plan lounge and bar lead onto a broad terrace facing the Indian Ocean, with the horses and paddocks immediately beyond it.
The clubhouse has been designed to change naturally with the pace of the day. Guests can stop for coffee before an early ride or return for lunch after a tennis match. Later, the terrace becomes a comfortable spot for cocktails as the light falls across Nihiwatu Beach.
Usher’s interiors combine dark teak with high, vaulted thatched ceilings and handcrafted Sumbanese finishes. Authentic Sumba spears, antique wooden tennis racquets, traditional polo mallets and carved timber pieces bring local craft into a setting influenced by historic sporting lodges.
Reclaimed wood, leather and woven textures soften the vintage sporting references. Warm lighting gives the lounge a more intimate character in the evening, while the open design maintains a close connection to the shoreline and stables.
Sandalwood horses remain central to the experience
Located beside the clubhouse, NIHI’s Sandalwood Stables are home to the native horses closely associated with life across Sumba’s hills and coastal plains. Riding along the sweeping sands of Nihiwatu Beach has long been one of the resort’s signature experiences.
The club’s layout places the stables at its centre, integrating them into the wider experience. Guests can watch the morning routine from the terrace before riding out along the shore, then return for a drink with views across the paddocks.
This visual connection continues even for guests who are dining or playing tennis. Horses moving between the stables and paddocks remain part of the setting, giving the polished clubhouse a clear sense of place.
The arrangement also creates opportunities to spend time around the stables and learn more about the Sandalwood horses. For travellers drawn to NIHI Sumba’s equestrian programme, the club makes riding feel more integrated into the wider stay.
NIHI Sumba adds its first international-standard tennis court
The new international-standard court sits moments from Nihiwatu Beach and expands NIHI Sumba’s programme of active experiences. It is open throughout the day for private coaching or informal play, including family games.
Professional coaching is available through Liga Tennis, giving experienced players and beginners access to instruction during their stay. The court’s beachfront position also allows a match to flow easily into lunch at the clubhouse or an afternoon beside the stables.
The sporting focus remains relaxed and informal. Guests can book structured coaching, but the court is equally suited to a casual rally before returning to the beach.
Monday evenings bring open-fire dining beside the horses
Bakar di Kandang Kuda, meaning “grill at the horse stables”, is the club’s weekly open-fire dinner. Held every Monday evening, it brings guests together outdoors for dishes shaped by the ingredients and flavours of Sumba.
Food is cooked over an open flame as evening settles over the shoreline. The horses, nearby beach, firelight and sound of the waves give the dinner a setting rooted in the club’s location.
The shared format makes the dinner one of the club’s most social experiences. It also extends the use of the stables and clubhouse beyond daytime riding or tennis, giving the area a distinct identity after dark.
The boutique focuses on exclusive pieces and local craft
Inside the club, a dedicated boutique carries limited-edition NIHI clothing, equestrian and racquet pieces, artisan-made accessories and signature collaborations. The collection has been developed specifically for The Riding & Racquet Club, with some designs available nowhere else at the resort.
Many pieces were created with local artisans and use natural materials, extending the Sumbanese craftsmanship seen throughout the clubhouse. The boutique is intended as part of the club experience, with its collection reflecting both the sporting setting and NIHI’s broader design style.
An adults-only beachfront pool will open in 2027
The next addition will be an adults-only pool overlooking Nihiwatu Beach and the Sandalwood horses. Scheduled to open in January 2027, it will sit steps from the clubhouse and provide a quieter place to relax beside the Indian Ocean.
The pool will give adults an alternative to the resort’s active programme, whether cooling down after tennis or spending an unhurried afternoon overlooking the coast. Its position will preserve the club’s close visual connection between the beach and paddocks.
Rates and travel to NIHI Sumba
NIHI Sumba is a B Corp Certified luxury resort on Sumba, an Indonesian island reached by a flight of about one hour from Bali. The property is owned by Chris Burch and led by co-founding partner and CEO James McBride.
Rates start from £1,550 per villa per night on a full-board basis, excluding alcohol. The Riding & Racquet Club is now open, while guests travelling from January 2027 are expected to have access to the new adults-only pool.
