Malaysia is home to many world class golf courses, designed by some of the world’s leading architects. Additionally, Malaysia is still affordable and offers excellent value for money. Japan and China also offer wonderful golf courses, but compared to Malaysia green fees there have risen sharply over recent years.
Australian architect Ross Watson designed this terrific golf course, situated in Kota Kemuning, an up-market suburb of the city of Shah Alam, in the late 1990s. The natural topography here was well suited to golf and as a result much of the original oil palm plantation was retained as buffers between holes. Interconnected lakes give the impression of water flowing through the course. There are some heady elevation changes, but no blind shots to raised greens. The bottom of the pins are always visible. There’s also some nice old-fashioned bump and run opportunities to be had on this beautifully manicured course.
When this course, located in Sabah, east Malaysia, first opened in 1997 it was immediately named as one of the best new courses in the whole of Asia. It’s definitely one of the Nelson-Haworth design team’s top courses. They have made the most of the dazzling array of foliage and plants and a winding creek runs through its 7,365 yards. A bit of length off the tee comes in handy, especially on some of the longer par 4s. The par-4 15th, with its river-side tee shot over a creek to a palm-fringed green, is one of the best par 4s in Asia. Keep an eye out for the resident crocodiles! This might be the reason why golf carts are compulsory here.
The two golf courses here, Palm and Bunga Raya, were built out of the rolling hills of a former oil palm plantation. Both have undulating fairways, mounds, bunkers, ridges, lakes and ponds. Both Saujana courses are equally challenging and are maintained to championship conditions year round. The Palm course hosted seven Malaysian Opens between 1997 and 2007, a testament to its quality. Its sloping greens are fast while the dramatic changes in elevation and undulating fairways are challenging even to professionals. It will test every aspect of your game.
Situated just outside Kuala Lumpur, The Mines Resort & Golf Club was built upon what was once the world’s largest open tin mine in 1993. A barren wasteland once rich in precious minerals was transformed by renowned designer Robert Trent Jones Jr into a beautiful golf course. With intelligent variation and thoughtful landscaping, the design avoids some of the over elaborate embellishments that come into play on many Asian golf course designs. A huge lake is a challenging hazard but the front nine takes you away from it and introduces some well positioned bunkering. Tiger Woods won the World Cup of Golf here in 1997, and a plaque commemorates his eagle 3 on the par-5 17th.
Established in 1893, Royal Selangor in Kuala Lumpur is steeped in history and is the mother of all golf clubs in Malaysia. Respected design team Nelson & Haworth completely renovated both Old and New courses in 2007. Their goal was to modernise the playing conditions and strategic elements of both courses, while respecting and building upon their historic nature and their largely flat, tree-lined character. The remodelled courses have a very traditional feel about them, with old-style tiered greens, traditional grass-faced bunkers and numerous risk and reward holes. For a pure golf experience, that combines history with views of the city’s skyscrapers, this club is hard to beat.
TPC Kuala Lumpur
Ranks #1 in Malaysia and #28 in Asia on All Square
Having been awarded the TPC license by the PGA Tour in 2016, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club became TPC Kuala Lumpur. With its location in the heart of the city and the enjoyable 36-hole challenge it delivers to golfers of all abilities, it’s the most popular golf venue in Malaysia. Both courses, East and West, offer a great golfing experience, with one of the best clubhouses you will ever visit. The West course was overhauled in 2006 by Parslow & Winter Golf Design, and the result was a sharper, tougher 7000-yard revamp with water coming into play on 13 holes. It hosted the Malaysian Open six times between 2010 and 2015. A must-play venue if you’re visiting Malaysia.
