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General Information about Malaysia:
Malaysia is a tropical paradise endowed with breathtaking natural beauty, exotic cultures and friendly people. Made up of
peninsular West Malaysia and the two states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo, together called East Malaysia.
It is a destination that offers so much to see, do and experience.
Malaysia is easily accessible from the major cities in the region and the rest of the world. The new state-of-the-art KL
International Airport (KLIA) at Sepang serves over 40 international airlines and several domestic airlines, while Port Klang,
situated about 41 km from Kuala Lumpur, the country's capital, is the main port of call for cruise liners. Malaysia is also
accessible by road and rail from Thailand in the north and Singapore in the south. As a visitor to Malaysia, you will have
the opportunity to experience and appreciate its rich historic and cultural heritage, exotic culinary delights, shopping
splendours, nature-based adventures, and fun-filled activities. The warm and hospitable nature of its people will make your
stay in Malaysia both pleasant and enjoyable.
Malaysia was formed in 1963 through a federation of the former British colonies of Malaya and Singapore, including the East
Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak. The first several years of the country's history were marred by Indonesian efforts to
control Malaysia, Philippine's claim to Sabah and Singapore's secession from the federation in 1965.
Malaysia has a combined population of over 20 million people. Because of its central location, between the Indian Ocean and
the South China Sea, Malaysia has traditionally been a meeting point for traders and travellers from both the East and West.
As a result, Malaysia has a multicultural and multiracial population consisting of Malays, Chinese, Indians and numerous
indigenous peoples. Although Malay is the official language, English is widely spoken, especially in business, and the English
language is a compulsory subject in all schools. With such a varying ethnic composition, it is no surprise that a great
diversity of religions is prevalent throughout Malaysia. Although the official religion is Islam, freedom of worship is
practised. As a result, it is common to see temples, mosques and churches within the same area.
Golf in Malaysia:
Malaysia is a unique golfing destination, the diversity of its courses is unrivalled in the world. Numbering more than 190
throughout the country, they can be found high in the mountains, along the seashore, on tropical islands, amidst towering
rain forests and in the heart of the city. As well as offering spectacular scenery, many of these courses are equipped
with the best facilities and amenities to be found anywhere, to make your golfing a complete and unforgettable experience.
A number of courses have been designed by famous names including Arnold Palmer, Robert Trent Jones, Gary Player and Greg
Norman just to name a few and they have brought out the best features of the environment whilst incorporating their own
special signature skills.
This accounts for the tremendous variety of courses throughout the country, each with its own special features. And
with Malaysia's excellent road system and transportation, including frequent flights between all major cities, it
is easy to get to the best of the country's courses for a typically Malaysian golfing experience.
The visiting golfer will find a variety of grasses to play on. The older courses will feature Cowgrass or broad-leaf
indigenous grass on the fairways and rough, with Serangoon or Bermuda Tifway covering the greens. Most of the newer courses
will have the popular warm weather favourite Bermuda Tifway on the fairways and rough and Bermuda Tifdwarf on the greens.
Some courses prefer the resilient Zoysia Martrellia species, while the Sea Shore Paspalum variety is the grass used for
seaside courses. The golf courses in Malaysia generally do not have fast greens.
Tourism Malaysia organises the highly successful World Amateur Inter-Team Golf Championship. This annual tournament
brings together amateur golfers from all over the world to play in some of the best courses in Malaysia as well as
to savour the sights and sounds of this fascinating country.
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Golf Courses in Malaysia:
Kuala Lumpur - Selangor:
Awana Genting Golf Resort of Genting Highlands -
Golfing 'up in the clouds'? That's what any honourable KLite (Kuala Lumpurian?) would refer you if the famous
casino and entertainment center up in Genting Highlands is not attractive enough. Well-tucked in the peninsula's
main mountain range at over 1,000 meters above sea level and a mere hour's easy drive from downtown KL, this Ronald
Fream-designed Championship course is truly an exhilarating one and definitely different from the rest.
There's no rough on this course; only primary forest fringing the course with occassional sighting of orangutans!
Each hole has a character of its own. The Par-4 425-meter Hole#10 is memorable. At the distance of a normal tee
shot, the deceptively straight fairway is flanked tightly by a deep ravine on one side and OB (Orangutan Bound)
area on the other leaving little space for landing. An accurate hitter may be rewarded here; otherwise a conservative
three-on approach would not be too bad an executive decision to take. The Par-3 Hole#4 is not for the faint-hearted either,
particularly when up in thinner air; it is distractive enough with the scenic view from the tee-box, what more with the
small lake fronting the green threatening weak hitters and the ravine at the back ever ready to punish over-shots.
A good finish here is not complete without the finishing Par-4 354-meter Hole#18 where, just like Hole#10, a
normal tee-off shot will have to land somewhere deliberately made narrow by the tall trees on the
left and a very threatening ravine on the right.
[ Tip: When undecisive, take a drag of cool,
fresh mountain air - it's FREE! Least it would do is to take you back from Cloud 9 so you can think carefully for
your next best step forward (Some contemplation isn't it, on your off day?); otherwise some numbers on the roulette
table might just spring inspiration for the right club selection. ]
Bangi Golf Resort of Selangor -
Bangi Golf Resort lies in one of the most rapidly developing townships along the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC),
Bandar Baru Bangi. This 660 acres resort is 30 minutes by car from Kuala Lumpur and approximately 10 from the
1998 Commonwealth Games Village or Putrajaya - the centre of political power in the country. Designed by Ronald
Fream, this course sprawls magnificiently over an undulating lush greenery of gentle hills and rolling valleys.
The course proper is scenic and well maintained throughtout the year.
Bukit Jalil Golf & Country Club of Kuala Lumpur City -
The Bukit Jalil Golf Course is located within easy reach of Kuala Lumpur via the Kesas Highway. Situated on 165
acres of testing, undulating terrain, this Max Wexler-designed 18-hole layout blends harmoniously with nature and
is a golfer's true delight. Albeit, this course is tough, but not frustrating to play as it is well balanced in
challenge and pleasure in playing it. Nearby there's also a 60-bay, 2-tier driving range for practice. The
clubhouse offers excellent recreational and rest facilities.
Bukit Kemuning Golf & Country Club of Kuala Lumpur City -
Located just off the Kesas Highway, some 30 minutes from downtown Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Kemuning Golf & Country Club
is perhaps one of the most unassuming and easy-going golf courses around the capital city. Built over 60 hactares
of what was once oil palm estate, this course plays to gently rolling hills punctuated by OB areas of original
vegetation, numerous sand bunkers and lakes, big and small, while many oil palm trees from the old still stand
loyal witnesses to the transformation of the land from the days of palm oil production to its present day's pleasant
playgound for golfers of all levels.
Designed by
Dato' Ng Thian
Hock, this Par-72 6,988-yard 18-hole course boasts several interesting holes that must have caught quite a few of
the unsuspecting for its rather laid back appearance. Two large bunkers flank the entrance to the tricky green of
the uphill Par-3 154-yard Hole#6 which otherwise looks totally tame to most. The Par-5 526-yard Dogleg-right Hole#9
turns at about 100 yards from the well-bunkered green thus keeping it out of sight from most of the second shots.
A fairly confident and measured tee-shot is required for the Par-5 487-yard Hole#12 so the ball will land just
before the water which runs on the right side from mid-way to the front of the well sand-trapped green. Overhead
wind and the location of the pin often determine the outcome on the Par-3 140-yard Hole#13 island green. The Par-4
353-yard Hole#14 is perhaps the most memorable with its almost abrupt right-turn dogleg at
the 150-yard point from the pin. Accuracy is well rewarded here. This course staged the Saske Cup Desaru Masters
in May 2007.
Bukit Unggul Country Club of Selangor -
In a valley high above Bangi, the Bukit Unggul Country Club offers some of the most spectacular golfing experiences
in the Klang Valley. Carved out of the natural terrain of valleys and hills, it has a strong reputation for
preserving the natural surroundings. Bukit Unggul's most picturesque hole is Hole#10 - The Waterfall Hole.
This par-5 dogleg-left hole tees off 476m from the blue tee in front of a beautiful waterfall and plays into a blind
drop. The approach shot offers the spectacular sight of a slightly elevated green surrounded by a ring of trees.
The signature hole is the par-5 375m Hole#11 which offers a breathtaking play through a jungle valley with a series
of decks and ridges leading to the green. A bunker eagerly awaits hooked-approach shots on the left. The green is
also rather undulating. Playing par is an excellent score on this hole. This course is rated 'challenging'; beginners
are advised to bring along sufficient replacement balls. The scenery and setting of the course make up for
disappointing play. There is also a 9-hole night golfing here in Bukit Unggul.
Glenmarie Golf & Country Club of Kuala Lumpur City -
Located within the Pan Pacific Glenmarie Resort this golf club offers a lovely pair of Max Wexler-designed 18-hole's
named The Garden and The Valley with the former longer at 7,017 yards and floodlit for night golfing. Buggies are
mandatory. The two lakes on the course provide challenges with numerous water hazards for the unsuspecting.
Kota Permai Golf & Country Club of Kuala Lumpur City -
This Ross Watson-designed course is both challenging and stimulating in its superb layout and offers excellent
facilities. It is the venue for the prestigious European Tours-sanctioned Volvo Masters of Malaysia Golf Open
Championship for the last several occasions. It took top honour again in February 2008 when it was voted
the golfers' choice in the Golf Malaysia magazine readers poll on golf courses nationwide for the 2007/8 season
(Read more about other awards won by other golf courses/clubs? Go there!).
Take note of its interesting mix of grasses - the greens are typically
Tifdwarf while the fairways are turffed with "Matrella", a strain of Zoysia.
Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam - KGPA of Kuala Lumpur City -
Nestled in the green belt of natural beauty and rolling terrain of Damansara and Bukit Kiara, Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan
Awam (KGPA) provides the perfect challenge to players of all abilities. Established in 1989, KGPA is a
27-hole course. The championship 'Hill & Lake' course is a classic Par-72 golf course measuring 8,887 meters with
lush fairways and manicured verdant greens. The third 'Forest' Nine measuring 2,446 meters, caters for intermediate
and seniors golfers. This course is in fact equally challenging and many regretted underestimating it.
Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club - KLGCC of Kuala Lumpur City -
Located amidst the beautiful hilltop setting of the lush undulating greenery of Bukit Kiara, the Kuala Lumpur Golf
& Country Club is well served by major roads and is easily accessible from Kuala Lumpur City centre, Petaling Jaya,
Shah Alam, Klang and the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang.
The club, popularly known as KLGCC, has two 18-hole golf courses. The more difficult of the two, The West Course, is
of championship quality and puts a premium on long accurate drives and precision in the short game. The varying
elevations of its holes add to the challenges. The East Course also features holes with different elevations but
they are less severe and generally more forgiving to higher handicappers.
Mines Golf & Country Club of Kuala Lumpur City -
This RTJ2-designed "masterpiece of land restoration" course is built around what was once the world's largest open cast tin
mine then belonging to one of the icons of old-Kuala Lumpur, the Hong Fatt Tin Mine of Sungai Besi, just off the
KL-Seremban Highway. The golf club/course is the centerpiece of a resort complex stretching across 1,000 acres of
otherwise degraded land which in the concurring words of the owner and course designer requiring
"a lot of
re-engineering to repair the soil and stabilize the land with the idea to achieving environmental remediation."
- some earth-moving jobs just for your golf balls to land on!
Perhaps owing to the vastness of the land, this 7,280-yard championship course boasts wide and accommodating
fairways with generous and well contoured greens. While it eases on teeing off, the grassy roll-offs, hollows and
tight chipping areas encourage short game artistry. It was here that the World Cup of Golf was staged in 1999 when
Tiger Woods and Mark O'Meara triumphed for the United States. On the club level, it opens its door to a selected
few and membership is by invitation only. We shall therefore respect the privacy and will only dilvulge in-depth
details of the course on a person-to-person basis.
Palm Garden Resort Golf Club of Kuala Lumpur -
Situated at the national administrative region of Putrajaya and easily accessible using the main north-south
express way, Palm Garden Golf Club is built over 320 acres of cascading hills and valleys of what was formerly oil
palm and rubber estates. Together with the rest of the establishment in the region servicing the political capital
of the country as well as the adjacent national prime IT project of the Multimedia Super Corridor, it is part of
the complex of Palm Garden Resort which has amongst many others world-class hotels and luxurious living.
Designed by architect Rick Robbins, it consists of three 9s, namely the Putra Course (3,187-yard), the Palm Course
(3,215-yard) and the IOI Course (3,026-yard). Of the more memorable holes, the Par-4 400-meter Index-I Hole#9
appears most outstanding. Two strategically located water hazards along the fairway test good judgement and the sand
traps in front of the green demand good club selection for a good ending to the first nine. Not to be left out too
is the Par-3 173-meter 'Confidence Trickster' Hole#15 where the edge of the lake runs alongside the fairway to the
front of the green. A small area to the left of the fairway before the green provides a less aggresive alternative
for those anxious about not seeing the ball again otherwise.
Royal Selangor Golf Club of Kuala Lumpur City -
Established in 1893, the Royal Selangor Golf Club is undoubtedly the most well-known golf club in the country. Popularly
known as RSGC, the club has played a large role in influencing the golf landscape of Malaysia; and some say the political
one too! It ranks in status and historical depth, if not in a richly colonial fervour, in Southeast Asia alongside
the
Rawamangun or The Jakarta Golf Club
of Indonesia,
The Dalat Palace Gof Club of Vietnam and
The Manila Golf Cub of Philippine.
Today, its members
consist mostly the 'who's who's of the country. The club has also been the venue for many international tournaments.
The club has a 45-hole golf course which comprises two 18-hole courses and a short 9-hole course. Located along
Jalan Tun Razak in the heart of the city, the RSGC is also well landscaped with rich natural surroundings permeated
by the call of birds and chatter of monkeys.
Saujana Golf & Country Club of Kuala Lumpur City -
Generally recognised in the international golf fraternity, The Saujana is one of Malaysia's finest golf courses. It
consists of two Ronald Fream-designed 18-hole courses. The Palm Course, aptly dubbed "The Cobra" for its testing
and challenging layout, is 6,600 yards off the blue tees and 7,000 yards from the black. It has the most talked
about greens in Malaysia as they are not only difficult to put on, they are simply mean.
On the other hand, the Bunga Raya Course or "The Crocodile" has a wide expanse of water and undulating greenery
giving a false sense of freedom created by the clever use of the abundance of space. The absence of the usual ravines
and thick woods in this course makes it look deceptively easy to manage. The Saujana has staged numerous high
profile championship tournaments, not least for four times the Malaysian Open.
Kelab Golf Sentul Raya of Kuala Lumpur City -
This is one of the oldest golf clubs in Malaysia, dating as far back as 1928. Chris Pitman and Douglas
Lee re-designed its 9-hole course in 1997 when the entire golf club underwent an extensive renovation. Sentul
Raya is located north of the city of Kuala Lumpur and is open to the public. It has a very tight and challenging
layout with plenty of water hazards and bunkers demanding the best of accurate shots. Watch out, if you find the KL
City skyline in retreating lights so seductive to the eyes!
Sri Selangor Golf Club of Kuala Lumpur City -
Perhaps the only public course as such in the country, Kelab Golf Seri Selangor openned in 1998 and marked a new
leaf for golf history in Malaysia. Despite its lower profile as a
public course when lined up against most other membership-clubs, some say this 6,374m Par-72 championship
course stands on par with its higher-flying cousins in and around the capital city Kuala Lumpur, if not
better on numerous areas. Come find out why!
Australian Ross Watson designed this course. Feature includes the original tall jungle trees lining the fairways
leaving narrow passages for accurate play while streams of water cross paths and meander providing a scenic backdrop
usually associated with the more expensive clubs.
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Golf Club of Selangor -
Kelab Golf Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah or KGSAAS is a premier resort cum residential development which includes luxurious
bungalows, modern apartments and
chalets, specialty restaurants and last but not least the entire 27-hole
USGA-class championship golf course: the
first and the only one in the world with 27 holes lit for night play. The sheer luxury and scope of the resort bear
strong testimony to the rapid progress of the game of golf in the country and to the commitment of the developer in
providing a top class golfing resort with facilities catering to the whole family and groups of golf enthusiasts.
At first sight KGSAAS course does not look difficult. Its fairways are generously wide. There is hardly any
significant rough and relatively very few bunkers. The willowy acacias and numerous forest trees separate the
holes while the flowering shrubs provide a colourful background to a pleasant sight. You can say this is where the
deception of KGSAAS as an easy course begins
(GOLFnTours.com shall not be responsible for any contested win
arising from prior knowledge like this!).
Designed by Thompson Wolveridge and Associates, the course consists of three 9-hole courses. All three nines
- the 3,230m Sultan, the 3,214m Alam Shah and the 3,141m President - feature broad, rolling fairways,
strategically-placed pot bunkers and medium-to-large elevated, tricky greens that will give all golfers a run for
their money.
Tropicana Golf & Country Club of Kuala Lumpur City -
Tropicana Golf and Country Club is a complete resort for golfing and recreational activities. This R. T. Jones-designed
6,224m Par-71 course has superb facilities for business as well as golfing pleasure. Night golfing is also
available here.
Kedah:
Kulim Golf & Country Resort of Kedah -
This golf resort is part of the huge Kulim Hi-Tech Park officially launched in 1996 to promote high
value-added industrialisation as well as research and development. Not surprisingly the clientele of the club
includes an array of foreigners and out-of-towners whose factories and offices dot the rest of the park area.
Ask the officials, you would be gladly informed 'The World Has Come to Kulim'!
Surrounded by oil palm plantations, it covers a sprawling 435 acres for its 27-hole international championship
course. Built in 1998, it was designed by the JMP Golf Design Group. The course
consists of three 9-hole courses, namely the North course (6,400m), the West Course (6,470m) and the East Course
(6,385m). Confusing? Not really when you finally got to the treacherous and steeply back-sloping green of Hole#9 of the
North Course where you could enjoy a panoramic view of the area. But otherwise, this course is truly one for all
levels.
[ Note: Where the course is used to be where the editor went camping, hiking, jungle-
biking and swimming in the streams yonks ago. Today, he could still be spotted around occassionally; albeit
involving himself in some more 'gentlemanly' sport. If you must watch your ball rolling remorsely back to the
fairway from the steep green of Hole#9, watch for him on the annexed practice green a slight level up. You are
most welcome to join him on Hole#19. ]
The Golf Club - Datai Bay of Langkawi, Kedah -
The Datai, as it is popularly known, is located at the north-west part of Langkawi Island. It is a resort with a golf
course. The views from some points on the course are stunning; some over-looking the islands
of the Andaman Sea and some having the majestic Gunung Mat Cincang, the highest peak of Pulau Langkawi, as the backdrop.
Many varieties of trees and plants can be found here. They include tropical hardwood like Meranti and the ever-blossoming
bougainvillea. Palm trees, ferns, parasitic vines and broad-leafed plants in every imaginable shade of green and
other colours as well grow freely along the fairways and around the greens. Some golfers find it hard to tell where the
course ends and the forest begins.
Set at the foothills of Gunung Mat Cincang, this 5,994 meter Par-72 course has been voted 'The Most Scenic Golf
Course in Malaysia' and nominated as one of the best golf resorts in Asia. The fairways are covered with Bermuda
while the greens, Tifdwarf.
Perak:
Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Resort of Ipoh, Perak -
Clearwater Sanctuary is one of the most beautiful golf courses in South East Asia. The main features are stretches
of greens lined with verdant raintrees undulate around several huge lakes. It is where golf takes a natural course...
or is it a course of nature?
The Raintree Nine (of a total of 27 holes) features an abundance of majestic raintrees, a hazard in itself, while
water hazards are in store at the Lake Nine. The Wetlands Nine is a Par-3 only course well liked by those seeking
a thrilling, short and Hole#19-decisive game.
Damai Laut Golf & Country Club of Lumut, Perak -
Damai Laut Golf & Country Club nestles at the confluence of the Dinding and Sempit Rivers just off the quaint town
of Lumut. Overlooking Pangkor Island from the mainland, it enjoys a reputation as a perfect combination of
exciting golfing pleasures and fine resort living. Apart from golf, there is also a whole host of other
activities like health spa, water sport, jungle trekking, fishing and camping trip, river cruising and other
organized activities for groups and family outings.
Meru Valley Golf & Country Club of Ipoh, Perak -
Meru Valley Golf & Country Club is nestled amongst the rolling foothills of the Kledang Saiong Forest
Reserve. It is conveniently located approximately 10 minutes from Ipoh City and is easily accessible from the
North-South Highway.
The 27-hole (Valley Nine 3,200m, Waterfall Nine 3,232m and River Nine 3,062m) Championship Course offers spectacular
scenery as the fairways wander deep into two valleys and back to
the domed shaped clubhouse which has panoramic views of the three finishing holes.
Royal Perak Golf Club of Ipoh, Perak -
Royal Perak Golf Club (RPGC) was formerly known as the Ipoh Golf Club. This 18-hole Par-72 6,214m course was built
before the end of the 20th Century and is among the oldest golf clubs in the country. In 1974 the Malaysian Open
Golf Championship was held here and it was the first time the championship was held outside Kuala Lumpur. In 1990
the club once again played host to the championship. RPGC is an axclusive club however non-members are permitted to
play on weekdays with the approval of the management. Handicap enforced here.
Penang:
Bukit Jambul Golf & Country Club of Penang -
Apparently Robert Trent Jones Jr. 'chiselled' out from 130 acres of hilly jungle terrain and crags and
designed this course in 1984, and those were some years when the area was considered the 'out-back' of the Penang
Island proper. Today it sits off the coast amidst high rise apartment, luxurious housing and top class hotels. The
course is short but rather famed for its tightness and toughness. From some vantage points along the course, it
provides some captivating and panoramic views of the island.
Bukit Jawi Golf Resort of Seberang Perai, Penang -
A 36-hole golfers' paradise spreads over a spectacular 315 acres of swaying palms, sand dunes and coolly contoured
lakes; tests your skills for both hilly terrain as well as open play with lots of water hazards. The Hill Course
is an 18-hole par-72 championship course playing to 6,385 meters in length. The long and undulating fairways
together with strategically placed hazards present a challenge to stroke accuracy and good course management. The
Lake Course is also an 18-hole par-72 course but 6,163 meters in length. The holes are shorter and fairways more open to
view but there are more water hazards and sand bunkers protecting the greens. This course emphasizes on shot
accuracy and good short game. The signature hole is the Par-3 165m island-green Hole#15.
Sabah:
Borneo Golf & Country Club of Beaufort, Sabah -
If old world charm and the dream of a nostalgic ride on an old railway car are part of your game, this is it...ah
well, almost! Driving to the Borneo Golf & Country Club on the road running alongside the old railway track to
Beaufort will inevitably remind of steam engines, perhaps of old Vulcan, chugging along; whistles blowing while
passengers perched on wooden seats eating lunch out of tiffin boxes.
Spreading over 200 acres, this Jack Niclaus-designed Par-72 6,500m course features the nearby lagoon, water hazards,
wasteland and bunkers. Together they provide a strong character to the course that some suspect it may be too
similar to that of the designer himself and hence fondly call it the 'Goldern Bear' Course. The signature Hole is the
Par-3 172m Index-8 Hole#14 which entails a daunting tee shot across a cove of overhead crosswinds of up to 60 mph
from the South China Sea.
Dalit Bay Golf Club & Spa of Tuaran, Sabah -
Dalit Bay Golf and Country Club, situated amongst idyllic kampungs (villages) in Tuaran District of Sabah, is often
described as a perfect sanctuary with its own nature and wildlife reserve as well as private beaches.
This Ted
Parslow-designed Par-72 6,310m course consists of two 9-hole courses, The Mengkabong Nine and The Tambalang Nine. The
striking feature is that the design retains much of the original natural landscape: the mangrove swamp. It is
bordered by the Tambalang and Mengkabong Rivers with the former emptying into the South China Sea. In fact,
its Signature Hole the Par-3 Hole#11 stretches 158m across the river mouth and requires you to land your ball on a
gently sloping green bunkered on both sides. On your lucky day you just might find a spectator or two up the trees
where only orangutans frequent. The fairways are covered with Greenlees Park and the greens, Tifdwarf. For a scenic
backdrop, Mount Kinabalu can be seen in the distance.
Karambunai Resort Golf Club of Sabah -
Some say it's Heaven...and Heaven it must be for those who experience the beauty of nature along with the
rejuvenating atmosphere at the Nexus Resort Karambunai and the Karambunai Resorts Golf Club on the
(...you guessed it!) Karambunai
Peninsula. The golf club is some 30 km from Kota Kinabalu and the course is reputedly beautifully crafted by Ronald
Fream. More to that, this Par-72 6,000m course slopes from a distant low hill towards the sandy beach requiring
a display of both strength and strategy. There are several dog-leg holes and the Par-4 390m Hole#13 will test your
long and short game.
Mount Kinabalu Golf Club of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah -
About an hour's drive out of KK you will get to one of Malaysia's most beautiful and interesting places, the
Kinabalu Park where Mount Kinabalu stands. At 4,095m it is the highest mountain in South East Asia and draws
visitors like a magnet. Gazetted as a World Heritage Site, a Malaysia's first, the Kinabalu Park covers a staggering
754 sq km, an area larger than the island of Singapore! Owing to the wide temperature range it has an amazingly
diverse flora collection. Sabah's largest ethnic community, the Kadazandusun live in this area and consider
themselves the guardian of the sacred mountain.
Here at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu at Kundasang, 1,500 metres above sea level, is Mount Kinabalu Golf Club,
the highest golf course in Sabah. It was designed by Robert Muir Graves and characterised by scenic farmlands,
deep ravines and valleys and cool temperature. Playing 6,319m from the back tees, golfers will find this 18-hole
course physically as well as mentally challenging. High winds, steep slopes and rolling mists will test you
to the limit. Thick fog often gives a false sense of playing up among the clouds!
A huge rock sits in the middle of the fairway of the Par-4 370m Hole#10. You can attempt to carry over or bail out
to a slope on the right side as the left, thick with natural vegetation hazards, is OB. The Signature Hole however is the
Par-3 142m Hole#14 featuring a gushing Mesilau East River at the bottom of a deep ravine. You will need an accurate shot from the
elevated tee to cross the river and land on a miniscule green perched on the edge of a cliff.
Shan Shui Golf & Country Club of Tawau, Sabah -
Tawau is situated on the east coast of Sabah and about 45 minutes plane ride from the state capital, Kota Kinabalu.
A quiet and unassuming town,
it is noted for its agricultural products like cocoa and palm oil more than anything else. The Tawau Hills Park is
also home to Borneo's largest wildcat, the clouded leopard. But now more people are becoming aware of its latest
hidden treasure, the Shan-Shui Golf and Country Club, just outside town.
This 18-hole Par-72 6,600m course was designed by world-renowned golf architects Nelson and Harworth. It covers over
365 acres and the fairways weave through rubber, cocoa and coconut plantations featuring streams and lakes and ravines and hills.
The picturesque fairways and greens belie the toughness of the course for which it has been described as 'definitely
not for the faint-hearted'. Every hole has been given a name. The Signature Hole is the Par-5 531-meter Hole#5 aptly
named the Sulu Split and Hole#15 which was voted one of the Best 500 Holes & Top 250 Par-4 in the world by US Golf
Magazine, is called The Creek. On the lighter side, sightings of 'local spectators' like crocodiles, hornbills,
kingfishers and even eagles of the feathered kind are not uncommon.
Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club of Sabah -
It's been described as a piece of absolute luxury rising from the waters. The Sutera Harbour Resort & Spa Complex
is a combination of two hotel wings - the deluxe Pacific Wing and the premium Magellan Wing, Sutera Convention &
Exhibition Hall, the Sutera Harbour Marina, Golf & Country Club and luxurious residences all built on re-claimed
land and fronting the South China Sea giving the entire complex a front-seat view of spectacular settings of the
evening sun. Hailed as a masterpiece that combines nature with ingenious architecture, this Graham Marsh-designed
course is made up of three 9-hole courses, namely the Lake (3,140m), Heritage (3,176m) and Garden (3,176m) Nines.
The course features rolling terrain, waterways and strategically placed bunkers. The fairways are covered with
Bermuda 419 and the greens, Bermuda Tidwarf. The Signature Hole is the Par-4 Hole#24 of the Garden Nine with the
ocean coming perilously close to the undulating green. Night golf is also available here.
Tawau Hot Spring Golf Club of Sabah -
[ Editor's note: We came across in the vineyard this interesting but little known golf club with scant
information and one which we have yet visited. Nontheless we have decided to include it base on details supplied
by fellow golfers who were lucky to have graced the course. If you have more information, kindly send us for
update. ]
Tawau Hot Spring Golf Club is, of course in Tawau. This 5,900-meter course is actually not too far from the much
higher-profiled Shan Shui Golf Club. We do not know who designed it but in February 2008 its Hole#3 was voted The
Most Scenic Hole in the Golf Malaysia magazine readers poll on golf courses nationwide for the
2007/2008 season. Well, so much said. Let's hear more from what our friends have to say about the course and the
holes.
"..as we were teeing off, a couple of hornbills
flew past us.." [The mere sighting of these rare birds would have got your money's worth!]
"..the Par-4 326-meter Hole#3 (the Award Hole) is a must play..the fairway ends almost immediately after the
elevated tee-box to be followed by a deep ravine overgrown with natural forest vegetation before it
reappears somewhere further front but on a much lower level (pic)...OB's are as natural a part of the thick
and dense tropical jungle setting."
"..the Par-4 279-meter Hole#10 is similar in the elevated tee-box and the fairway runs down low. An accurate
placement tee-shot is however necessary to position for a good second shot across a pond and landing onto an
elevated green.."
"..the longest hole is the Par-5 584-meter Hole#8.."
"..and, there's really a natural hot spring somewhere and it's not far from the course..you'll be taken there as
soon as you've finished your last putt! Guaranteed!"
Trengganu:
Awana Kijal Golf Resort of Kuala Trengganu -
Primarily a course designed for relaxation, Awana Kijal is located at the sea side of Kuala Trengganu, the state
capital of Trengganu whose Sultan is the current head of state, the Agong, of Malaysia. Not unexpectedly, being the
premier course in the state it enjoys tremendous royal patronage, not least from the Agong, himself a golf
enthusiast. That the course was built mainly to complement the tourism industry of the east coast of West
Malaysia should not be taken for granted just because of that. Where would you find a sand bunker 15-ft deep;
the deepest in Malaysia, perhaps amongst many other countries as well? Where else would you find a long bunker that
doubles as a water hazard when the tide's in? And, where else would you have to battle the monsoon rain and wind
if you so happen to have picked the correct season to play here?
This 18-hole Par-72 Championship course is made up of two 9-hole courses, namely the Palma and Rimba 9s. The most
memorable hole has to be Par-3 150-yard Hole#14 where the long sand bunker that doubles as a water hazard when
the tide's in is. It is also the most scenic amongst the many others with the pounding waves of the South China Sea
constantly wham-greet visitors. (For those interested in water sports, this is also the venue for the annual
The Monsoon Cup World Match Yacht Racing Tour.) The
longest Par-4 on the course is the 437-yard Hole#5. This is where the deep 15-ft
sand bunker is. It sits on the front left edge of the green. Strangely no one seems to have mentioned sighting a
gigantic bath tub on the same spot considering the east coast of the peninsula annually enjoys a few months of
storm and endless rain brought across the South China Sea from the north-easterly.
Malacca:
A'Famosa Golf Resort of Malacca -
This 27-hole, beautifully-sculpted golf course with natural undulations and man-made lakes, presents a wonderful
golfing experience for a spectrum of enthusiasts. Each hole is unique, accentuated by the original hilly
contours. The fairways are covered with Bermuda Tifway and the greens with Bermuda Tidfwarf. The course is
particularly ideal for a relaxing and leisurely weekend play. The Crocs Nine features live crocodiles at one of the
holes. Retrieving balls from the water is generally not encouraged.
Negeri Sembilan:
Nilai Springs Golf & Country Club of Negri Sembilan -
Nestled in the tranquil countryside about an hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur is this magnificent 27-hole golf course.
It consists of three Nines: Mango, Island and Pines. The more memorable holes are Hole#9 of Mango Nine, Hole#17 of
Island Nine and Hole#22 of Pines Nine. The fairways feature Bermuda while the greens are Tifdwarf.
Staffield Golf & Country Resort of Negri Sembilan -
Freely regarded by golfing aficionados as one of the best courses in Malaysia, Staffield's Marsh Watson-designed
27-hole course is made up of three 9-hole courses namely the Southern (3,108m; par 36), the Western (3,108m; par
36) and the Northern (3,197m; par 36) Nines. Offering a quality golfing experience in a
class of their own, the three seem similar in appearance but actually have a distinct character each on it's own.
Built on a former 335-acre rubber estate, this championship course has 82 bunkers and seven lakes to challenge even
the very seasoned golfers. Bermuda Tifway grass covers the fairways, Bermuda Tifdwarf does for
the greens.
Tuanku Jaafar Golf & Country Resort of Seremban, Negri Sembilan -
A mere 45 minutes from the city of Seremban, Tuanku Jaafar Golf & Country Resort has evolved into one of the foremost golf
resorts in Negeri Sembilan in recent years. Ranked as one of the longest golf courses in the country, the 1st
Nine (Black 3,234m), the 2nd Nine (Black 3,300m) and the 3rd Nine (Black 3,006m) together make up this Roger
Davis-designed 27-hole
course specially built to provide challenges to golfers of all levels. Although there are more than 90 sand pits around the
course, water hazards are few and far in between. But it is the latter that will prove the more unforgiving to
errant shots. The most interesting and the longest hole on the course is the Par-5 500m Hole#10 which requires a
long carry over the lake to make the first strategic landing. Tifway is used for the fairways while Tifdwarf
is for the greens.
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This page provides ready golf packages for the various hot golf destinations in Malaysia.
Content in this page is similar to but at least as much as those contained under the blinking
'Golf Packages' located at the top-left corner of this page as well as on most other pages. The reason for this apparent
repetition is to facilitate ease of page-indexing by search engines. Visitors are welcome to browse and check for availability
and details of packages on offer. New packages are constantly re-packaged to suit the various travel seasons in the region.
In as much as GOLFnTours.com could elaborate on the individual packages, prices as stated are best taken as the nearest
indication of what they should cost. All order enquiries on packages similar to those listed in this page shall be subject
to final confirmation.
Tour starts from Kuala Lumpur - visit the tallest twin-towers in the world, the KLCC or otherwise known as the Petronas Twin-Towers -
and south to Malacca - a cultural melting pot of Chinese, Dutch, Portuguese, Malay, Indian, Arabs and many others - and then spend
3 nights in the Taman Negara National Park - soak up the natural beauty of tropical rain forest and enjoy tracking up mountain trails
and doing river boat trips - and then up the Cameron Highlands on the way north - visit strawberry, orchid and vegetable farms, eco-tourism trails,
tea farming etc. - and finish in Penag Island, but not before a two-week stay of sun, sea and surf at the beach resort in Batu
Ferringhi.
