Why Johor ought to be your subsequent luxurious golf trip

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 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 supply 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 supply two championship golf programs to select from. To make sure that your subsequent luxurious golf trip is the ‘full bundle’ our article additionally options our chosen luxurious resorts the place you possibly can chill out 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 trip from Singapore, or from the Woodlands Malaysia / Singapore checkpoint, the placement makes it a favorite for Singapore primarily based {golfing} lovers who want to escape town and revel in every little thing that The Els Membership 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 akin to roti canai within the membership home. We have 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 Massive Straightforward’, enjoying eighteen holes on the Ocean Course is stuffed with character constructing decisions and challenges. Your first selection is to pick out from two of the three 9 gap programs to comprise your chosen 18 (specifically Coast, Ridge and Lakes), while your ongoing decisions and challenges will come from each membership and shot choice as you attempt to navigate your solution 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 have been inviting from the tees and fairways, however the strategically positioned bunkers and omni current water hazards have been all the time ready to punish any wayward pictures. Managing 5 pars throughout my spherical was the spotlight, while regularly discovering the bunkers was irritating and supplied ‘room for enchancment’.

Keep at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort

As company of The Westin Desaru Coast Resort we are able to verify that this luxurious seashore entrance resort is kind of merely the proper selection to 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 may maximise our time having fun with every little thing that this luxurious Marriott Worldwide resort needed to supply 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 remedies at Heavenly Spa? Test. I’m positive you get the image, our keep at The Westin Desaru delivered every little thing that we may have needed (and extra) on our Johor {golfing} trip. We actually felt relaxed, refreshed and prepared for our subsequent spherical of golf.

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 residence to 187 bunkers was actually regarding! Three time main champion, Vijay Singh designed this beautiful course which is fantastically curated with breathtaking views. The greens have been smaller, demanding exact strategy pictures which have been rewarded with receptive greens that enabled lots of our pictures to carry their positions properly, even with longer irons. And while the greens have been undulating, they have been true so for those who picked the precise line and proper velocity you have been additional rewarded. We have 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 beloved the Valley Course and may’t wait to return to make extra {golfing} recollections 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 help the superb work of UNICEF within the area. The United Nations Kids’s Fund work tirelessly to guard the rights of each youngster with well being care, immunisations, protected water, sanitation, vitamin and training. This model new initiative was a powerful success and we are able to’t wait to see what’s in retailer subsequent yr.

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 develop into a favorite with {golfing} lovers who name Singapore residence since opening to the general public in September 2018. The 2 championship programs are fantastically manicured and maintained, with what appears to be not a blade of grass misplaced, from the second we arrived we knew that we have been in for a deal with, the one query was whether or not our {golfing} skill would stay as much as the expectations created by our first price environment. What we did know is that we have 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 peerlessly 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 have been strolling within the footsteps of a {golfing} legend. Our expertise was difficult, fulfilling 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 fantastically manicured and maintained championship course. The frustration got here from regularly discovering our approach into the seemingly limitless sand that could be a defining function of the course. However we beloved each minute of our spherical and may’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 plain 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 offered us with the proper place to chill out after our rounds, while for individuals who nonetheless have power to burn, the nicely appointed gymnasium is the place to move. Try the aggressive ‘Keep and Play’ provides that mix your resort stick with inexperienced charges to make sure that not solely is your Johor {golfing} trip memorable, however gives glorious worth for cash too.

Play eighteen holes on the Traditional Course

After a nicely deserved relaxation, our closing spherical was on the marginally shorter, however equally as difficult Traditional 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 improvement 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 Traditional 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 have been absolutely booked with excited golfers from close to and much.

The strategic location of Johor, mixed with first price golf programs and luxurious resorts will proceed to make sure that golf primarily based tourism continues to thrive within the area. The standard of the programs and resorts on supply 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 Meals Quest who write about luxurious resorts and resorts in Southeast Asia with a deal with sustainable journey, eco journey and vegan journey. Presently primarily based in Malaysia, Paul additionally writes about sporting occasions and among the best golf programs all through the area.