Johor is situated within the southeast of peninsular Malaysia and has greater than 25 golf programs to select from, every offering a singular expertise for the seasoned golfer. With wonderful transport hyperlinks to Singapore, the remainder of Malaysia, and additional afield, it has turn into the chosen {golfing} vacation spot for a lot of who love the range, high quality and worth for cash that’s on provide from the areas programs. We’ve highlighted what are thought of 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 possibly can calm down and rejuvenate after every of your rounds.
The Els Membership Desaru Coast
Positioned on a pristine enclave overlooking the South China Sea, The Els Membership 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 profitable facility. Simply ninety minutes ferry journey from Singapore, or from the Woodlands Malaysia / Singapore checkpoint, the situation makes it a favorite for Singapore based mostly {golfing} lovers who want to escape the town and luxuriate in the whole lot that The Els Membership has to supply. We liked the nice and cozy welcome on the bag drop, the personalised lockers within the in depth locker rooms, and the expertly executed native favourites similar 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’, enjoying eighteen holes on the Ocean Course is stuffed with character constructing selections and challenges. Your first selection 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 huge greens had been inviting from the tees and fairways, however the strategically positioned bunkers and omni current water hazards had been all the time ready to punish any wayward pictures. Managing 5 pars throughout my spherical was the spotlight, while frequently discovering the bunkers was irritating and supplied ‘room for improvement’.
Keep at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort
As visitors of The Westin Desaru Coast Resort we are able to verify that this luxurious seashore entrance resort is kind of merely the proper selection in your subsequent {golfing} trip in Johor. Positioned simply 5 minutes from the beautiful greens, fairways and bunkers of The Els Membership there was actually no wasted time each earlier than and after our rounds. This meant that we might maximise our time having fun with the whole lot that this luxurious Marriott Worldwide resort needed to provide in between our two rounds of golf. Early morning coffees on our balcony overlooking the South China Sea? Test. Artistic culinary delights at each Prego and Seasonal Tastes? Test. Enjoyable swims and rejuvenating publish spherical therapies at Heavenly Spa? Test. I’m certain you get the image, our keep at The Westin Desaru delivered the whole lot that we might have needed (and extra) on our Johor {golfing} trip. We actually felt relaxed, refreshed and prepared for our subsequent spherical of golf.
Every little thing it is advisable to plan your journey in 2024
Play eighteen holes on the Valley Course
Effectively, if we thought the bunkers on the Ocean Course introduced a problem, discovering that the Valley Course is dwelling to 187 bunkers was actually regarding! Three time main champion, Vijay Singh designed this beautiful course which is superbly curated with breathtaking views. The greens had been smaller, demanding exact strategy pictures which had been rewarded with receptive greens that enabled a lot of our pictures to carry their positions properly, even with longer irons. And while the greens had been undulating, they had been true so when you picked the proper line and proper pace you had been additional rewarded. We had been actually aided by the in cart GPS which helped with membership choice, however enjoying any course for the primary time is all the time a problem. We each liked the Valley Course and might’t wait to return to make extra {golfing} reminiscences in Johor.
Marriott Malaysia and Singapore Charity Golf Day
June 2024 noticed the inaugural Marriott Worldwide Malaysia and Singapore Charity Golf Day hosted by The Westin Desaru Coast and The Els Membership. Golfers from Malaysia, Singapore and additional afield loved a golf event, gala dinner and charity public sale which raised a lot wanted funds to assist the wonderful work of UNICEF within the area. The United Nations Kids’s Fund work tirelessly to guard the rights of each little one with well being care, immunisations, protected water, sanitation, vitamin and schooling. This model new initiative was a powerful success and we are able to’t wait to see what’s in retailer subsequent 12 months.
Forest Metropolis 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 Metropolis Golf Resort has turn into a favorite with {golfing} lovers who name Singapore dwelling since opening to the general public in September 2018. The 2 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} skill 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 superbly pristine 7386 yard Legacy Course at Forest Metropolis was designed by none apart from the ‘Golden Bear’ Mr Jack Niclaus. Together 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, satisfying and irritating all wrapped into one. The problem got here from the course administration wanted when enjoying at such a singular course. The enjoyment got here from enjoying a spherical at this superbly manicured and maintained championship course. The frustration got here from frequently discovering our manner into the seemingly countless sand that could be a defining function of the course. However we liked each minute of our spherical and might’t wait to return.
Keep at Forest Metropolis Golf Resort
With far reaching views over the verdant inexperienced fairways of Forest Metropolis, it’s no shock that Forest Metropolis Golf Resort is the apparent selection for anybody wishing to mix a weekend of championship golf with luxurious lodging. Providing 298 spacious rooms and suites to select from, many with golf course views, there’s something for everybody. The 2 expansive freeform swimming pools supplied us with the proper place to calm down after our rounds, while for individuals who nonetheless have vitality to burn, the nicely appointed health club is the place to go. Take a look at 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 wonderful worth for cash too.
Play eighteen holes on the Basic Course
After a nicely deserved relaxation, our remaining spherical was on the marginally shorter, however equally as difficult Basic Course at Forest Metropolis, 7186 yards of manicured fairways, greens and bunkers that creates a singular course that was a pleasure to play. The second of three programs slated for growth at Forest Metropolis, 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 Basic 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 unimaginable 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 standard of the programs and lodges on provide is unquestionable, which when mixed with the wonderful worth for cash, makes Johor a wonderful possibility in your subsequent luxurious {golfing} trip.
Paul Eyers
Paul Eyers is co-founder of Vegan Meals Quest who write about luxurious lodges and resorts in Southeast Asia with a give attention to sustainable journey, eco journey and vegan journey. At present based mostly in Malaysia, Paul additionally writes about sporting occasions and among the best golf programs all through the area.
Did you take pleasure in this text?
Obtain comparable content material direct to your inbox.