Malaysia

Head for the heart of asia, where golf has to compete with beaches, coral reef and exotic natural gifts for your attention.

The golf on offer in Malaysia is very impressive – but this country has too much to offer to merely play golf during a holiday here. Described as ‘truly Asia’, Malaysia is a bubbling melting pot of races and religions as a result of it being a part of the international spice route many hundreds of years ago. So, here Malays, Indians, Chinese and many other ethnic groups live together in peace and harmony.

Such multiculturalism has made Malaysia a gastronomical paradise as well as a venue for colourful festivals. Its landscape is equally varied; reefs and rainforests, mountains and minarets, skycrapers and golddomed Malay mosques.

Malaysia can offer vast cities such as Kuala Lumpur but also jungles teeming with exotic species and coral reefs where turtles, sharks and tropical fish lurk. Part of the reason for Malaysia’s incredible diversity is the fact it is split into two geographically: on one half is Peninsular Malaysia, bordering Thailand and on the other East Malaysia, the northern half of the island of Borneo, next to Indonesia and Brunei.

For city lights, head for the Peninsular, for nature and rainforests at their best, head across the South China Sea for the states of Sabah and Sarawak. The common theme is the Malaysian people; always, they are laid back and friendly. Before we move onto the golf, it is worth spending a little more time on the non-golf attractions.

It has, for example, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, where the classic paradise of white sand is lapped by crystal clear water. Datai Bay is one such example at the north-west corner of Langkawi island. It also happens to have the most exclusive golf resort on the island; Datai Bay Golf Resort. 

Daily ferries and flights land at Langkawi from the mainland as visitors lap up the beaches, coral reefs, palms and duty-free shopping. Or you could chill out on Penang’s sun-kissed beaches, explore historic colonial George Town and savour its food. The islands of Pulau Perhentian are less commercially developed examples of ‘paradise’.

You may also like to visit the Batu Caves 13km north of Kuala Lumpur, a series of dramatic limestone caverns, dripping with stalactites, revered as a Hindu shrine.

The Forest Research Institute of Malaysia – offering peaceful walking trails, jungle swimming holes and a 200m long rainforest boardwalk – is nearby as the Zoo Negara. You’ll expect to gaze at impressive mosques and won’t be disappointed at Kuala Kangsar, the Ubudiah Mosque, the Tranquerah Mosque (one of Malaysia’s oldest) and Kuching’s Sarawak State Mosque, with its magnifi cent gilt domes, or Labuan’s futuristic An’nur Jamek Mosque.

Kuala Lumpur itself has a richhistory with highlights including Islamic Arts Museum, the National Mosque, the atmospheric streets of Little India and Chinatown, historic architecture around Independence Square and shopping in the city’s space-age malls. Plus of course, you must explore the Petronas Towers.

Sarawak is perfect for a ‘get-away-from-it-all’ experience, while the capital Kuching offers temples, mosques, museums and bustling markets to experience.

You can climb Southeast Asia’s highest peak, Mount Kinabulu, a soaring granite dome which tops 13,432ft and offers epic views over the island. If views are your thing, you can retreat from the humidity of the cities to the mountain resorts of the Central and Cameron Highlands. Templar Park, 14 miles north of KL, is a tract of primary rainforest. Jungle paths, lagoons and waterfalls lie within the park boundaries while you can experience deep rainforst in the Taman Negara National Park. Or play one of Malaysia’s traditional, unusual sports, including gasing, or top spinning (called Main Gasing), which uses tops fashioned from hardwood and delicately balanced with lead, Wau-kite fl ying and Sepak Takraw, a game like volleyball, played with a ball made of rattan strips. We cover scuba diving on the following page as well as the wonderful opportunities to get in touch with nature; Malaysia really does have it all.

The golf? There are almost 200 courses – a lot for a country with a total land area of only 330,000sq km. The diverse landscapes – jungle, beach, city – give rise to great variety as well as wonderful scenery. Many courses are built as part of five-star resorts and luxury clubs, who have employed the very best designers to guarantee top-class golf.

So, the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones and Arnold Palmer have all left their mark on Malaysian golf. Several international tournaments have been held in Malaysia, including the Malaysian Open, a co-sanctioned event between the Asian and European Tours – hence why Messrs McIlroy, Schwartzel et al were in town.

In the Kedah region the stand-out course of the eight is Datai while in neighbouring Penang, Bukit Jambul track by Trent Jones has hosted ladies’ Tour events. To the south, in Perak, there are six courses with two on the coast benefitting from views across the Straits of Malacca – Ron Fream’s Damai Laut and Royal Teluk. In the capital city, Fream designed Kelab between Damansara and Mont Kiara while Max Wexler is responsible for Bukit Jalil, part of a superb sports club. Royal Selangor and Kuala Lumpur complete picture within the vast city itself.

In the wider Selangor region in which KL sits, there are 23 courses led by Fream’s courses at the Saujana Country Club, Bangi Resort and Bukit Unggul as well as Trent Jones’ exclusive Mines Resort. Tropicana Resort, by respected Australian Graham Marsh is very popular, while Nicklaus has left his mark on the Sungai Long Club, a quite beautiful test – known as the ‘Garden of Eden’ – in Bandar Sungai 15 minutes from KL.

Negeri Sembilan has nine courses including Staffield Resort, built on a former rubber plantation and redeveloped by Marsh, as well as Nilai Springs – where the name rather gives away the nature of the test with water hazards to the fore. Tuanku Jaafar was designed by European Tour pro Rodger Davis in lush greenery while Seremban is a delightful course with ponds, palms and pines in the region’s eponymous capital. Neighbouring Melaka has four courses with Famosa Resort, part of a tourist complex, the pick.

In the Peninsular’s most southern region, Johor, there are 15 courses and a lot of quality. Trent Jones routed Pulai Springs at the foothills of Mount Pulai while Peter Scott added the Melana courses at the same complex. And at the aptlynamed Legends Golf & Country Resort, Palmer, Nicklaus and Gary Player have combined to provide a truly memorable golfing experience.

In the large Pahang region Awana Genting Highlands by Fream is situated on the cooler mountain slopes while Ted Parslow, prolific in Asia, designed Cameron Highlands course 5,000 feet above sea level. Known as the gem of the East, Tuanku Mizan is routed among fascinating terrain and rivers and is one of just two courses in Terrengganu – but the other is also impressive, the five-star Awana Kijal Resort. Finally on the Peninsula, the cradle of Malay culture, Kelantan G&CC has a lush coastal setting. In Sarawak, Palmer has created a fine course at Damai with views of legendary Mount Santubong and
Damai Beach as the backdrop.

Alister Mackenzie disciple Neil Crafter has designed Hornbill in incredibly natural vegetation. In neighbouring Sabah, there are 10 courses led by Borneo CC, created by Nicklaus amid views of waters and the mountains. There are stunning views of Mount Kinabalu at Dalit Bay while Marsh has created a lovely course facing the South China Sea at Sutera Harbour and Kudat on Borneo’s northern tip.

WEBSITE: www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my