Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Johor Bahru, the city at the southern tip of continental Asia hosts some of the best golf courses in Malaysia today.
The Legend and The Classic courses in Forest City Golf Resort are courses even Malaysian golfers head to as a top holiday destination. The fairways are always in tip-top conditions, even if the greens don’t set the stimpmeter alight. Nearby, you can challenge yourselves at the tougher Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club with an intimidating slope rating of 139 off the blue tees. Slightly further by the east coast of Johor, facing the South China Sea, lies the beautiful 45-hole Els Club Desaru.
Best of all, golfing in these courses is an affordable expense relative to the region - including accomodation and F&B. With the Senai International Airport minutes away from the destinations, and a stone’s throw from Singapore, what’s there not to like?
Forest City Golf Resort
Forest City Golf Resort has two 18-hole championship courses - The Legend designed by golf course architect Nicklaus Design, and The Classic designed by Liang Guokun, an established golf architect from China. The courses have different layouts and features, with the longer Legend course featuring more sand and water hazards, while The Classic course featuring more elevation changes.
Both courses offer breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The Classic course has more natural and rugged scenery, while The Legend course is more manicured, with stunning views of the surrounding mangrove forest and sea.
Coupled with impeccable fairway conditions, its a golfing destination not to be missed!
Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club
The Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club is an award winning golf club, sited just 20 minutes from Johor Bahru.
It offers a challenging layout with a mix of water hazards, bunkers, and undulating greens. The course is situated on hilly terrain, offering scenic views of the surrounding landscape. The course is also designed with natural features in mind, including rock formations and waterfalls, giving it a unique character.
Book your tee time at Horizon Hills to test the skills of even the most experienced golfers!
Els Desaru (Ocean & Valley)
At the Els Club Desaru Coast, managed by Troon Golf, you will find 2 magnificent and contrasting golf courses to have a memorable experience.
The 27-hole Ocean course, designed by Els, adjoins the shoreline in three nine-hole loops, The Lakes, The Coast and The Ridge. Each layout has their own character and personal touches from Els, but they all take inspiration from the famous links courses spread across the UK, with large rolling greens and firm run off areas designed to place a premium on a sharp short game.
The 18-hole Valley course however, is the product of a world's first collaboration between Ernie Els and his close friend and fellow Major Champion and World Golf Hall of Famer, Vijay Singh. The immediate impact of the undulating landscape and smattering of uniquely placed white sandy bunkers is unforgettable. Precision is most certainly at a premium on the course, as 187 bunkers pepper the course, ready to trap the wayward swings.
In addition, the Desaru Coast leisure complex is complemented with top quality 4 and 5-star resort hotels, making your stay a luxurious affair.