Pulai Springs Country Club
Nestled at the foothills of Mount Pulai, the Pulai Springs Resort is naturally endowed with breath-taking views and sweeping panoramas of rolling greens and undulating hills. Pulai Springs Resort is home to two championship golf courses and was once ranked as one of the World’s Top 50 Golf Resorts.
1)The Pulai course is an outstanding Trent Jones II design. Played from the tips at 6819 yards, the Robert Trent Jones designed Pulai Course is a test for the best golfers in Malaysia. The quality, presentation and maintenance, never easy in tropical countries, is generally excellent. Beyond the course, large swathes of what was dense jungle have been cleared to make way for Johor Bahru’s urban sprawl. Thankfully the housing developments do not interfere with or detract from the excellence of the wonderful Pulai course.
The Pulai Course is characterized by its ever-present and very stylish bunkering. Like its companion course, the Melana, the holes are laid out on constantly undulating, lightly tree-lined terrain. Although the good-width fairways will appeal to big-hitters, sand looms large for wayward drives and for approach shots that are either short or slightly offline to left or right. Elevated tee-boxes give golfers great looks at the holes ahead. The requirement is usually for a well-placed tee shot, and then a carefully judged approach shot to an elevated green, usually fiercely defended by a multiplicity of deep bunkering.
The front nine provides challenge in the form of a double green on the third hole that is shared with the sixth and a split fairway on the seventh. The downhill par-5 9th has the greatest elevation change, although it can be argued that the best holes come on the back-nine. Greenside water requires a very accurate approach to hit the green in regulation.
With water in play at 5 holes on the back nine, the primary task is to keep the ball dry. The par-3 13th, with its island tee-boxes lined up towards a water-surrounded island green, is one of the most memorable. The heroic short par-4 16th is laden with bunkers all-round the green from 80 yards out making it very difficult to lay-up without finding sand. Also in common with the Melana layout, the Pulai finishes with a long uphill par-4, shaped like a hook with water in the play up the entire left side and played to a heavily bunkered and elevated green.
The Pulai Springs clubhouse is designed as an ancient royal Malay palace. Vaulting roofs, exposed timber structures, ingenious use of traditional motif in the interior design echo traditional graciousness. Intricately carved wooden and stone murals with exquisite Qing antiques blend with rich themes of the Orient. Facilities include separate men’s and ladies changing rooms with lockers, rock showers, Jacuzzi, steam rooms, saunas, foot reflexology center, and golfer’s terrace serving snacks & drinks.
With its 2 championship golf courses Pulai Springs is dedicated to providing the discerning golfer with an unmatched Malaysia golfing experience.
2)The Melana Course is Pulai Spring’s No.2 course. Designed by Peter Dalkeith Scott, this Malaysia golf course presents the ultimate challenge to golfers on a Malaysia golf holiday. The par-72 Melana Course at 6582 yards plays over undulating terrain and was voted the Best Johor Golf Course by the Business Times of Singapore.
The Melana front-nine has some of Pulai Spring’s most natural and attractive jungle and palm oil plantation scenery, while a housing development is more in evidence on the back-nine. The quite compact Melana layout is tight and undulating. The greatest elevation changes are on the front-nine and closing section of the back-nine. The greens are often small and full of challenging slopes; getting down in two is never guaranteed.
The signature par-3 sixth hole which plays across a jungle ravine and requires nerves of steel or the ball will be lost! After the relatively water-free but always tight and demanding front-nine, it is the closing stretch of four holes where good course management and accurate shot-making need to be diligently applied. Aptly known as “The Challenge”, the par-5 15th starts off easily enough but narrows down enormously towards the green. The second shot at the downhill par-5 15th will need to find a sliver of fairway only 10 yards wide, with water hazards waiting to left and right. Coming in is only marginally less difficult is the 18th, a par-4 with a 20-foot waterfall dissecting the lower half of the fairway from the upper half. While many succumb to the water, consolation can be found in the spectacular view of the clubhouse.
The Pulai Springs clubhouse is designed as an ancient royal Malay palace. Vaulting roofs, exposed timber structures, ingenious use of traditional motif in the interior design echo traditional graciousness. Intricately carved wooden and stone murals with exquisite Qing antiques blend with rich themes of the Orient. Facilities include separate men’s and ladies changing rooms with lockers, rock showers, Jacuzzi, steam rooms, saunas, foot reflexology center, and golfer’s terrace serving snacks & drinks.The Melana Course is floodlit for night golf.
Pulai Springs is dedicated to providing the discerning golfer with an unmatched Malaysia golfing experience.
The Legends Golf Resort & Country Club
The Legends Golf & Country Resort located in Johor is an easy 40-minute drive from Singapore via the second causeway. The original concept was to offer championship courses, one designed by Jack Nicklaus, another by Arnold Palmer, the third by Gary Player to all Johor golfers. Only the Nicklaus course and 9-holes of the Arnold Palmer track was completed however.
The par-72, 6,710 meter 18-hole Jack Nicklaus championship course was fully open for play in June 1997 and it was ranked the #1 golf course in Johor in 1998, 1999 and 2001. This championship course was also rated one of the top three golf courses in Asia by Asian Golf Monthly in 2002. The layout is a robust design with many elevation changes and sprawling bunkering, occupying relatively open terrain.
Each hole is full of character, imbued with its challenges and views onto the neighboring palm oil plantation. From the back tees, a number of the plunging drives are quite exciting, the holes bending around lakes, crossing ridges or heading toward distant shelves that fall away toward trouble.
The signature par-5 6th plays from an elevated tee, with two routes to the green on the second shot. The cautious ‘lay-up and pitch-on in three’ is available. The riskier carry over water and ‘on in two’ strategy temps better golfers.
The back-nine provides a much stiffer and very scenic test of golf. Water threatens every tee-shot from the par-4 11th through to the par-4 17th. Several of these holes are amongst the most daunting, yet breathtakingly beautiful that you’ll encounter in Malaysia. Elevated tees look down onto an exotic mix of small lakes and an enchanting array of tropical trees and flowering shrubs. The back nine resident monkeys may well take the opportunity to observe your progress, especially at the long par-5 16th.
The spectacular 9-hole Arnold Palmer designed 3,326-meter course complements the existing Jack Nicklaus Course, and is of the highest international standard. It offers a perfect mix of challenging play for golfers of all levels and lush tropical scenery.
The Legends is a master planned resort offering a complete range of sporting, leisure, entertainment, and resort facilities. The clubhouse is large and well-appointed. However, the on-site resort is probably best left to locals who want to get away for an overnight weekend round.
Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort,
Plantation Course :
The Johor Golf Resort occupies 800 acres of land along the water on Straits of Johor and next to Pasir Gudang new town. It takes 30 minutes to reach from either the Singapore-Johor causeway or Johor Bahru itself.
The Plantation Course opened for play in November 1992. The area was once an oil palm plantation with villages to house workers who also developed fruit orchards and coconut groves. Original cultivated parts of these plantations and orchards form the course landscape. Preserved is a large number of oil palm fringing the fairways. Fruit trees along Holes 4, 6, 7, 14, 15 and 17 include durian, mango, jackfruit, and rambutans. The Plantation Course plays to a length of 6,454 meters.
Facilities at Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort include a 52-bay driving range, practice green, large classical clubhouse, and four restaurants – with the Chinese Restaurant being the best of the bunch. Golf carts are mandatory on all three golf courses. However, caddies are not available, and the service on-the-course is only average. The on-site resort should be given a miss by Johor golf visitors as it caters more to locals and is quite far away from the main golf tourist areas. Overall, golfing at Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort is still good to include as part of any Johor golf holiday.
Straits Course :
The Straits golf course follows closely to the coastline of the Straits of Johor. This 6,185-meter layout was the third addition to the Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort. Many of the holes have the mangrove swamps as their main backdrop. For example, at the 2nd hole, high tides can bring swamp water into play. The 3rd tee box overlooks a small river that meanders through the mangroves before discharging its water into the larger Straits of Johor. The Straits Course is very challenging as golfers have to cope not only with swampland, but also with undulating terrain, rocky outcrops, and strong prevailing sea breezes.
Facilities at Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort include a 52-bay driving range, practice green, sizeable classical clubhouse, and four restaurants – with the Chinese Restaurant being the best of the bunch. Golf carts are mandatory on all three golf courses. However, caddies are not available, and the service on-the-course is only average. The on-site resort should be given a miss by Johor golf visitors as it caters more to locals and is quite far away from the leading golf tourist areas. Overall, golfing at Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort is still good to include as part of any Johor golf holiday.
The Village Course :
The area initially was part of the oil palm estate with kampongs (villages) dotting the region, thus its name. These kampongs are at the fringes of holes 6, 11 & 12 with one community dating back to the 17th century. Thirteen out of the eighteen holes of the Village Course has water bordering their fairways or greens. With a blend of hills, valleys, and lakes, the Village course’s 18-holes play to a length of 6,399 meters.
Facilities at Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort include a 52-bay driving range, practice green, sizeable classical clubhouse, and four restaurants – with the Chinese Restaurant being the best of the bunch. Golf carts are mandatory on all three golf courses. However, caddies are not available, and the service on-the-course is only average. The on-site resort should be given a miss by Johor golf visitors as it caters more to locals and is quite far away from the leading golf tourist areas. Overall, golfing at Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort is still good to include as part of any Johor golf holiday.
Starhill Golf & Country Club
Bintang Course
(lightly tree lined, parkland layout)
The Bintang Course offers an interesting range of difficulties for the golfer. At a length of 6,834 yards from the tips, the par -72 layout which is built largely over riverine and swamp areas poses many challenges. Water serves as the primary obstacle for this course although the fairways are wide and generous. Each hole on this course has been designed to provide a new and exciting challenge to the golfer. The fairways are turfed with Zoysia Matrella, while Tifdwarf carpets the greens. The signature hole the Par 3, 16th has a star-shaped green playing at 194 yards
Bukit Course
(undulating but wide fairways and large greens)
Bukit means “hill” in Malay and as its name suggests, one can expect undulating hills to be the main feature of this course. Unlike its sister course “Bintang” the Bukit is considered the easier of the 2 courses with wider fairways, fewer trees and less water. The slopping terrains of the hills result in many uneven lies and other obstacles such as ponds, fairways and green bunkers are ready to swallow up any mishit shot. Par-72 and measuring 7135 yards (6524 metres) in length, the blue tees are a formidable distance and are a real challenge for those game enough to venture to the tips.
Ponderosa Golf & Country Club
Tucked away in an idyllic suburb of Johor Bahru Ponderosa Golf & Country Club is located just 15 minutes from the city center and 8 kilometers from the Singapore causeway. The Max Wexler designed Ponderosa Golf & Country Club blends natural terrain and tropical foliage to create a natural golf environment. The course derives its name from a well-known American pine, is also the name of the famous cattle ranch in the hugely popular television series Bonanza.
The 18-hole Johor golf course was remodeled by Ronald Fream in 1996 and measures 6467 meters from tips. Though considered short by some golfers, Ponderosa has many sand and water hazards and tricky undulating greens to make it challenging for even the best golfers. Furthermore, long par-3’s, fairways built around hills, and strong wind all add to the challenge at this Johor golf course.
Notable holes include the 7th; Ponderosa’s signature hole. This is a 168-metre par-3 hole whose first shot must carry a large pond which runs along the approach and all the way past the green. Matured trees serve as obstacles for errant tee-shots, left of the green. Precise clubbing is paramount to carry and land the ball on the correct level of this relatively small undulating green that runs from the back to front.
The par-5 ninth hole plays dog-legged left from tee to green and measures 543 meters. This is the longest and most difficult hole on the golf course. Here thickets of matured trees, a creek, fairway mounds and hollows, uniquely high-lipped fairway bunker, narrow green-approach, intimidating greenside bunkers and a large undulating putting surface, all combine to make for a testy finishing number on this opening nine.
Hole 16 is tagged the most interesting par-4 hole on the back nine. This dog-legged left jewel measures 370 meters and has a huge pond with waterfall features to the left that runs from tee to green. The tee shot is best played to the right-center of the narrow fairway, anything left is water. Bigger hitters may attempt to cut across the pond for a shorter approach to the green. The well-contoured green is guarded by sand bunkers on both sides and has a large stream in the background to add to its character..
Facilities at Ponderosa include Chinese restaurant, pro-shop, driving range, tennis courts and an Olympic-size swimming pool. The Mediterranean-styled clubhouse compliments this Malaysia golfing destination. Night golfing is also an option under flood lights for those inclined.
Palm Resort Golf & Country Club
Located near the Senai Airport, Palm Resort Golf & Country Club is a premier golf destination with three distinctively individual 18-hole championship courses designed by Hiromasa Inagawa and a spectrum of facilities for sports and recreation. The award-winning Palm Resort Golf & Country Club was voted No. 1 in Johor by Golf Malaysia Magazine in 2001/2002 and No. 2 Best Golf Resort in Asia in 2002 by Asian Golf Monthly Magazine.
The three 18-hole championship golf courses – the Allamanda, Cempaka and Melati at Palm Resort have been named after the flora from Malaysia. The Palm Resort site covers 800 acres of rolling hills and picturesque lakes. Each course features an abundance of landscaped gardens and natural flora. The fairways are often flanked by water and large bunkering is a factor both from the tee and around the greens.
The Allamanda Course hosted the Johnnie Walker Super Tour 1998 and the Davidoff Nations Cup (World Cup Qualifiers) in 2002 and 2004. Allamanda is a resort course with breathtaking scenery, water features, daunting sand bunkers, and well-maintained Tifdwarf Bermuda greens. The two signature holes are the 2nd and 15th. Fairways and roughs are strongly undulating and water comes into play on 11 of the holes on the Allamanda Course. Beautifully landscaped terrain punctuated with elements of challenge in water hazards, massive bunkers, elevation changes and some daunting doglegs will ensure that every club in your bag is put to good use!
The Cempaka Course is a championship course and requires the utmost concentration. It is the course most often used for local tournaments. The course measures 7,156 yards from the pro tees. Threatening doglegs, narrow fairways, nine water holes and more than 60 sand bunkers make careful club selection important to score well here. Extreme caution is needed on the island fairway feature on the 9th, the coffee plantation between holes 12 and 13, as well as the ravine on the 14th.
The more open Melati plays as a links course, an out-and-back layout with a first tee only start, and is the longest of the three courses at 7,209 yards from the black tees. With 68 bunkers and 6 water holes, it also has many unique features, including what is reputed to be the largest bunker in Malaysia at the par-3 2nd, and the country’s longest hole at the 684-yard par-5 15th. Spectacular views across the Melati course can be had from the most of holes elevated tees.
A full driving range, golf academy, and short game facilities are available to all golfers at Palm Resort. The clubhouse is designed according to Malaysian architecture with ventilated high ceilings, wooden rafters and multi-tiered roof. The clubhouse offers male and female locker rooms that are spacious, a buggy Terminal, a fitness center and a golf boutique.
IOI Palm Villa Golf & Country Resort
IOI Palm Villa Golf & Country Resort located just 20-minutes’ drive from the Singapore/Malaysia border and 30 mins from Johor City. The 27-hole golf course developed by the Industrial Oxygen Incorporated (IOI) Group for challenge and leisure in 1998. An exclusive high-end residential township and shopping mall surrounds the golf course.
Designed by renowned architect Rick Robbins, the resort has 3 nine golf courses (Palm Course, Putra Course & IOI Course) each providing a unique golfing experience., The landscape surrounded by native palm trees gives a magnificent view of Gunung Pulai. IOI Palm Villa is a popular course for locals and Singaporeans making the short trip over the causeway.
IOI Palm Villa has a comprehensive range of club facilities, although the onsite accommodations and main clubhouse are showing their age.
Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club
Horizon Hills is a hidden jewel among Johor golf courses. Developed on 1,200 hectares in the heart of Nusajaya, the 6,271-meter par-72 championship layout designed by renowned architect Ross Watson. The sprawling 18-hole international championship golf course was officially opened in 2008 and shortly thereafter the 2010 Asian Tour’s Iskandar Johor Open was hosted by the club.
Horizon Hills was designed using the ‘risk-reward’ principle while at the same time preserving the natural terrain of the land. Many holes have significant elevation changes from tee to green. Another exceptional characteristic of the golf course are the bunkers with full sand faces. Additionally, waterfalls, lakes, and ponds pose many exciting challenges, for both professional and aspirant golfers.
One of the most notable holes is the 500 meter second hole. For most players, this is a genuine three shot par-5 playing up a valley floor, which is bisected by a menacing creek. This creek poses some serious challenges. Average players will be best served if they treat this hole as a par 6 laying-up short of the two forced creek crossings. Better players will be challenged to carry the creek crossings. This is a genuine risk and reward hole and should be treated with great respect. It offers the chance of par but could quickly produce a double bogey or worse if not appropriately managed.
The moment of truth arrives on the last two holes. The 17th is a 135 meter par-3. The green is huge, but with variable winds wafting up and down the valley, it is sure to be many players’ undoing. Of course, to merely hit the green may not be enough when pin locations are close to the surrounding water as the green is anything but flat. To score a 3 on this hole will be a great relief.
The final hole is a par-5 can be played in 3 shots to the green by laying-up from the tee, followed by a fairway wood to the primary second landing area and then a mid to short iron approach across the corner of the lake which guards the green. Anything offline will require a strategy re-think with water continuous on the right from tee through to the green and several strategically placed fairway bunkers along the way. Long hitters have the option to take on the island fairway from the tee, but this requires a carry of 250 meters.
Once on the island fairway golfers will then be faced with another daunting shot over water to a green surrounded by water on three sides.
Club facilities include 5-star services, such as an Olympic-sized swimming pool, gym, tennis courts, sports activities, restaurants, and a large ballroom. Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club is one golf course to include on any playlist when golfing in Johor.
Forest City Golf Resort , Legacy Course
Forest City Golf Resort, Legacy Course opening in 2018 located 25 minutes from the Johor city center. The course is also reachable in less than 1 hour from Singapore and set among a large complex of four reclaimed islands in the straits between Singapore and Malaysia. The first of three golf courses at Forest City, the Legacy Course, is a Nicklaus design which makes use of Paspalum Platinum through fairways and greens and ensures excellent year-round playing conditions.
The golf course is fully human-made as there was nothing there before. The course has a desert style concept surrounded by mangroves and natural water features. There are many signature waste areas around the 18 hole course, so even offline drives can be played without worrying about out-of-bounds.
The 9th and 18th greens play around a shared hill, and the golf course has beautiful river views from most holes. From a player’s standpoint, the golf course is unique. Although the terrains are challenging, the golf course always keeps the amateur golfer in mind, as well as low handicappers and professional golfers.
Golf carts are allowed on fairways to help disabled golfers, speed up play and enhance the course playability. Female caddies are standard, which is a big plus in Malaysia.
The massive 5-star Forest City Golf Hotel located in the middle of the property serves as the clubhouse. A grass turf driving range is available to golfers before and after their rounds. Facilities and service match the 5-star standard.
Austin Hills Golf Resort
Located only 15 kilometers from the Johor checkpoint and close to the center of Johor City is the Austin Hills Golf Resort. One cannot help but to notice the enormous white imposing building sitting on top of Austin Hill; this is the clubhouse of Austin Hills Golf Resort which provides a 360-degree panoramic view of Austin Hills Golf Course.
Austin Hills was initially set up as two 18-holes golf courses. However, after the floods in December 2006, the Austin and Hills Courses have been reconfigured to provide 27 holes (3 nines) of both challenging golf for the professional golfer and more accessible tracks for amateur Malaysia golf visitors. This Johor golf course covers an area of 200 hectares, each with nine named Austin Course, Resort Course and Hills Course. Golfers can play different combinations of the three to make up their 18 holes.
By designing around the land, Austin Hills has been crafted to look and feel as if it was around for centuries. All the tee boxes are elevated, and there are many holes which require a drive across intimidating ravines to arrive on the fairways proper. To insert a little test to the game, there are many undulating fairways and each hole is sculptured from the natural land of the original hilly terrain. With its tight fairways and smallish greens, proper course management is essential throughout this Malaysia golf course to score well.
The Austin Course features tropical flowering plants, hence giving it a garden image. Tee boxes on holes 2 and 4 offer spectacular views across all three nines. The Resort Course incorporates seven holes from the original Austin Course and two holes from the original Hills Course; this combination makes it the most challenging among the three nines. The Hills Course desert them design includes cactus and large sand bunkers. Holes eight and nine are elevated and make for excellent photo opportunities to remember your round at Austin Hills.
Facilities at Austin Hills Golf Resort include driving range and warm-up areas. Family activities such as swimming, water slides, and kids club are also on offer. An excellent Malaysian restaurant overlooking the golf course is open to the public in the main clubhouse. Buffet or a la carte menus are available to suit all palettes.
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