Johor is situated within the southeast of peninsular Malaysia and has greater than 25 golf programs to select from, every offering a novel expertise for the seasoned golfer. With glorious transport hyperlinks to Singapore, the remainder of Malaysia, and additional afield, it has develop into the chosen {golfing} vacation spot for a lot of who love the variability, high quality and worth for cash that’s on provide from the areas programs. We’ve highlighted what are thought-about by many to be the 2 main golf golf equipment in Johor, which each provide two championship golf programs to select from. To make sure that your subsequent luxurious golf trip is the ‘complete package’ our article additionally options our chosen luxurious lodges the place you’ll be able to calm down and rejuvenate after every of your rounds.
The Els Club Desaru Coast
Located on a pristine enclave overlooking the South China Sea, The Els Club Desaru Coast is vacation spot {golfing} at its best, providing a premier {golfing} and way of life expertise for anybody selecting to play at this award successful facility. Just ninety minutes ferry trip from Singapore, or from the Woodlands Malaysia / Singapore checkpoint, the situation makes it a favorite for Singapore based mostly {golfing} fans who want to escape town and revel in every part that The Els Club has to supply. We beloved the nice and cozy welcome on the bag drop, the personalised lockers within the in depth locker rooms, and the expertly executed native favourites comparable to roti canai within the membership home. We had been suitably impressed earlier than we had even set foot on the primary tee.
Play eighteen holes on the Ocean Course
Designed by legendary golfer and 4 instances main champion, Ernie Els AKA ‘The Big Easy’, taking part in eighteen holes on the Ocean Course is stuffed with character constructing selections and challenges. Your first alternative is to pick from two of the three 9 gap programs to comprise your chosen 18 (specifically Coast, Ridge and Lakes), while your ongoing selections and challenges will come from each membership and shot choice as you attempt to navigate your technique to success. We performed our entrance 9 on the Ridge, and our second 9 on the Coast, having fun with moments of success and frustration in equal measures. The beneficiant fairways and enormous greens had been inviting from the tees and fairways, however the strategically positioned bunkers and omni current water hazards had been at all times ready to punish any wayward photographs. Managing 5 pars throughout my spherical was the spotlight, while regularly discovering the bunkers was irritating and provided ‘room for improvement’.
Stay at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort
As company of The Westin Desaru Coast Resort we will verify that this luxurious seashore entrance resort is kind of merely the right alternative to your subsequent {golfing} trip in Johor. Located simply 5 minutes from the beautiful greens, fairways and bunkers of The Els Club there was actually no wasted time each earlier than and after our rounds. This meant that we might maximise our time having fun with every part that this luxurious Marriott International resort needed to provide in between our two rounds of golf. Early morning coffees on our balcony overlooking the South China Sea? Check. Creative culinary delights at each Prego and Seasonal Tastes? Check. Relaxing swims and rejuvenating submit spherical remedies at Heavenly Spa? Check. I’m certain you get the image, our keep at The Westin Desaru delivered every part that we might have needed (and extra) on our Johor {golfing} trip. We definitely felt relaxed, refreshed and prepared for our subsequent spherical of golf.
Everything you might want to plan your journey in 2024
Play eighteen holes on the Valley Course
Well, if we thought the bunkers on the Ocean Course introduced a problem, discovering that the Valley Course is house to 187 bunkers was definitely regarding! Three time main champion, Vijay Singh designed this gorgeous course which is superbly curated with breathtaking views. The greens had been smaller, demanding exact method photographs which had been rewarded with receptive greens that enabled lots of our photographs to carry their positions properly, even with longer irons. And while the greens had been undulating, they had been true so for those who picked the precise line and proper pace you had been additional rewarded. We had been definitely aided by the in cart GPS which helped with membership choice, however taking part in any course for the primary time is at all times a problem. We each beloved the Valley Course and might’t wait to return to make extra {golfing} recollections in Johor.
Marriott Malaysia and Singapore Charity Golf Day
June 2024 noticed the inaugural Marriott International Malaysia and Singapore Charity Golf Day hosted by The Westin Desaru Coast and The Els Club. Golfers from Malaysia, Singapore and additional afield loved a golf match, gala dinner and charity public sale which raised a lot wanted funds to assist the superb work of UNICEF within the area. The United Nations Children’s Fund work tirelessly to guard the rights of each youngster with well being care, immunisations, protected water, sanitation, vitamin and schooling. This model new initiative was a powerful success and we will’t wait to see what’s in retailer subsequent yr.
Forest City Golf Resort
When one of many best golf golf equipment in Malaysia is situated so near the Singapore border, it’s no shock that Forest City Golf Resort has develop into a favorite with {golfing} fans who name Singapore house since opening to the general public in September 2018. The two championship programs are superbly manicured and maintained, with what appears to be not a blade of grass misplaced, from the second we arrived we knew that we had been in for a deal with, the one query was whether or not our {golfing} means would reside as much as the expectations created by our first fee environment. What we did know is that we had been going to make the very most of getting the possibility to play on these two excellent 18 gap programs.
Play eighteen holes on the Legacy Course
The completely pristine 7386 yard Legacy Course at Forest City was designed by none aside from the ‘Golden Bear’ Mr Jack Niclaus. With his 117 skilled tour wins together with 18 main championships spanning 1 / 4 of a century, we actually felt that we had been strolling within the footsteps of a {golfing} legend. Our expertise was difficult, pleasing and irritating all wrapped into one. The problem got here from the course administration wanted when taking part in at such a novel course. The enjoyment got here from taking part in a spherical at this superbly manicured and maintained championship course. The frustration got here from regularly discovering our approach into the seemingly countless sand that may be a defining characteristic of the course. But we beloved each minute of our spherical and might’t wait to return.
Stay at Forest City Golf Hotel
With far reaching views over the verdant inexperienced fairways of Forest City, it’s no shock that Forest City Golf Hotel is the apparent alternative for anybody wishing to mix a weekend of championship golf with luxurious lodging. Offering 298 spacious rooms and suites to select from, many with golf course views, there’s something for everybody. The two expansive freeform swimming pools supplied us with the right place to calm down after our rounds, while for individuals who nonetheless have vitality to burn, the nicely appointed gymnasium is the place to move. Check out the aggressive ‘Stay and Play’ gives that mix your lodge stick with inexperienced charges to make sure that not solely is your Johor {golfing} trip memorable, however offers glorious worth for cash too.
Play eighteen holes on the Classic Course
After a nicely deserved relaxation, our closing spherical was on the marginally shorter, however equally as difficult Classic Course at Forest City, 7186 yards of manicured fairways, greens and bunkers that creates a novel course that was a pleasure to play. The second of three programs slated for improvement at Forest City, opened to the general public in August 2019 and is the work of golf course architect, Mr Liang Guokun. We loved the marginally much less difficult and barely shorter Classic Course very a lot, however as with every spherical of golf there have been challenges that wanted to be overcome and we tackled them head on. To have two such unbelievable eighteen gap golf programs on the identical membership is luxurious {golfing} at it’s best, making it no shock that on each of our visits the tee instances had been totally booked with excited golfers from close to and much.
The strategic location of Johor, mixed with first fee golf programs and luxurious lodges will proceed to make sure that golf based mostly tourism continues to thrive within the area. The high quality of the programs and lodges on provide is unquestionable, which when mixed with the superb worth for cash, makes Johor a wonderful choice to your subsequent luxurious {golfing} trip.
Paul Eyers
Paul Eyers is co-founder of Vegan Food Quest who write about luxurious lodges and resorts in Southeast Asia with a give attention to sustainable journey, eco journey and vegan journey. Currently based mostly in Malaysia, Paul additionally writes about sporting occasions and a number of the best golf programs all through the area.
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