Why Johor needs 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 novel expertise for the seasoned golfer. With glorious transport hyperlinks to Singapore, the remainder of Malaysia, and additional afield, it has grow to be 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-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 ‘full bundle’ our article additionally options our chosen luxurious accommodations the place you’ll be able to chill out and rejuvenate after every of your rounds.

The Els Membership Desaru Coast

Situated 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 life-style expertise for anybody selecting to play at this award profitable facility. Simply ninety minutes ferry experience 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 luxuriate in every thing that The Els Membership has to supply. We cherished the nice and cozy welcome on the bag drop, the personalised lockers within the intensive locker rooms, and the expertly executed native favourites akin 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 occasions main champion, Ernie Els AKA ‘The Huge Simple’, taking part in eighteen holes on the Ocean Course is stuffed with character constructing selections 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 selections and challenges will come from each membership and shot choice as you attempt to navigate your method 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 enchancment’.

Keep at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort

As company of The Westin Desaru Coast Resort we will affirm that this luxurious seashore entrance resort is sort of merely the proper selection in your subsequent {golfing} trip in Johor. Situated 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 every thing 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. Stress-free swims and rejuvenating put up spherical therapies at Heavenly Spa? Test. I’m positive you get the image, our keep at The Westin Desaru delivered every thing 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.

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 definitely regarding! Three time main champion, Vijay Singh designed this beautiful course which is fantastically curated with breathtaking views. The greens had been smaller, demanding exact strategy 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 if you happen to picked the correct 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 cherished 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 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 youngster with well being care, immunisations, secure water, sanitation, vitamin and schooling. This model new initiative was a convincing success and we will’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 grow to be a favorite with {golfing} fans 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 had 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 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 aside from the ‘Golden Bear’ Mr Jack Niclaus. Along 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, pleasant 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 fantastically manicured and maintained championship course. The frustration got here from regularly discovering our manner into the seemingly countless sand that could be a defining characteristic of the course. However we cherished 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 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 supplied us with the proper place to chill out after our rounds, while for individuals who nonetheless have vitality to burn, the effectively appointed fitness center is the place to move. Try the aggressive ‘Keep and Play’ presents 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 effectively deserved relaxation, our remaining 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 novel 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 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 occasions had been absolutely booked with excited golfers from close to and much.

The strategic location of Johor, mixed with first fee golf programs and luxurious accommodations will proceed to make sure that golf based mostly tourism continues to thrive within the area. The standard of the programs and accommodations on provide is unquestionable, which when mixed with the wonderful worth for cash, makes Johor a wonderful choice in your subsequent luxurious {golfing} trip.

Paul Eyers

Paul Eyers is co-founder of Vegan Meals Quest who write about luxurious accommodations and resorts in Southeast Asia with a give attention to sustainable journey, eco journey and vegan journey. At the moment based mostly in Malaysia, Paul additionally writes about sporting occasions and a number of the best golf programs all through the area.