The Johor Peninsula is located in the southeast of Malaysia and has over 25 golf courses to choose from, each offering a unique experience for seasoned golfers. With excellent transport links to Singapore, the rest of Malaysia and further afield, it has become the golfing destination of choice for many who love the variety, quality and value for money offered by courses across the region. We’ve highlighted what many consider to be the two top golf clubs in Johor, both offering two championship golf courses to choose from. Our article also includes our handpicked luxury hotels where you can relax and rejuvenate after each of your rounds to ensure your next luxury golf vacation is ‘the complete package’.
Else Club Desaru Coast
Situated on a pristine enclave overlooking the South China Sea, Els Club Desaru Coast is a golfing destination at its finest, offering a premier golf and lifestyle experience to anyone who chooses to play at this award-winning facility. Just a ninety-minute ferry ride from Singapore, or the Woodlands Malaysia/Singapore checkpoint, the location makes it a favorite for Singapore-based golf enthusiasts who want to escape the city and enjoy all Els Club has to offer. We love the warm welcome at the bag drop, the personalized lockers in the spacious locker room and the expertly executed local favorites like roti canai in the clubhouse. Before we even set foot on the first tee we were duly impressed.
Play eighteen holes on the Ocean Course
Designed by legendary golfer and four-time major champion, Ernie Ells aka ‘The Big Easy’, playing eighteen holes on the Ocean Course is full of character-building choices and challenges. Your first choice is to choose from two of three 9 hole courses to comprise your chosen 18 (ie Coast, Ridge and Lake), while your ongoing choice and challenge will both come from club and shot selection as you try to navigate your way. Success We played our front nine on the ridge and our second nine on the coast, enjoying moments of success and frustration in equal measure. Generous fairways and large greens were inviting from the tees and fairways, but strategically placed bunkers and ever-present water hazards were always waiting to punish any wayward shots. Managing five pars during my round was the highlight, while constantly finding bunkers was frustrating and suggested ‘room for improvement’.
Stay at the Westin Desaru Coast Resort
As guests of The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, we can confirm that this luxurious beach front resort is an easy choice for your next golfing vacation in Johor. Just 5 minutes from The Els Club’s exquisite greens, fairways and bunkers literally no time was wasted before and after our round. This means that we can maximize our time by enjoying everything this luxury Marriott International resort has to offer between our two rounds of golf. Early morning coffee on our balcony overlooking the South China Sea? check Creative culinary delights in both prego and seasonal flavors? check Rejuvenating after a relaxing swim and round of treatments at the heavenly spa? check As I’m sure you get the picture, our stay at the Westin Desaru provided everything we wanted (and more) on our Johor golfing vacation. We definitely felt relaxed, refreshed and ready for our next round of golf.
Everything you need to plan your trip in 2024
Play eighteen holes on the Valley Course
Well, if we thought the bunkers on the Ocean Course presented a challenge, discovering that the Valley Course has 187 bunkers was certainly alarming! Three time major champion, Vijay Singh designed this stunning course which is beautifully landscaped with breathtaking scenery. The greens were small, demanding precise approach shots that were rewarded with acceptable greens that enabled many of our shots to hold their positions nicely, even with long irons. And while the greens were bumpy, they were true so if you picked the right line and the right pace, you’d be more rewarded. We were definitely helped by the in-cart GPS which helped with club selection, but playing a course for the first time is always a challenge. We both loved the Valley Course and can’t wait to return to Johor to make golfing memories.
Marriott Malaysia and Singapore Charity Golf Day
June 2024 sees the inaugural Marriott International Malaysia and Singapore Charity Golf Day hosted by The Westin Desaru Coast and The Els Club. Golfers from Malaysia, Singapore and further afield enjoyed a golf tournament, gala dinner and charity auction which raised much needed funds to support UNICEF’s excellent work in the region. The United Nations Children’s Fund works tirelessly to protect every child’s rights, including health care, immunization, safe water, sanitation, nutrition and education. This brand new venture was a great success and we can’t wait to see what next year has in store.
Forest City Golf Resort
With one of the best golf clubs in Malaysia located very close to the Singapore border, it’s no surprise that Forest City Golf Resort has become a favorite among golf enthusiasts who have called Singapore home since opening to the public in September 2018. With two championship courses beautifully manicured and maintained, with seemingly not a blade of grass out of place, from the moment we arrived we knew we were in for a treat, the only question was whether our golfing abilities would live up to the expectations created by our first-rate surroundings. . Little did we know we were going to make the most of the opportunity to play these two outstanding 18 hole courses.
Play eighteen holes on the Legacy Course
The absolutely pristine 7386 yard Legacy Course at Forest City was designed by none other than the ‘Golden Bear’ Mr Jack Nicklaus. With his 117 professional tour wins, including 18 major championships spanning a quarter of a century, we truly felt like we were walking in the footsteps of a golfing legend. Our experience was challenging, enjoyable and frustrating all rolled into one. The challenge came from the course management required when playing such a unique course. Enjoyment comes from playing a round on this beautifully manicured and maintained championship course. Frustration came from constantly finding our way through the seemingly endless sand that is a defining feature of the course. But we loved every minute of our round and can’t wait to get back.
Stay at Forest City Golf Hotel
With sweeping views over Forest City’s green fairways, it’s no surprise that Forest City Golf Hotel is an obvious choice for anyone looking to combine a weekend of championship golf with luxury accommodations. With 298 spacious rooms and suites to choose from, many with golf course views, there is something for everyone. Two expansive freeform pools gave us the perfect place to relax after our round, while for those who still have energy to burn, the well-appointed gym is the place to head. Check out the competitive ‘Stay and Play’ offers which combine green fees with your hotel stay to ensure your Johor golfing holiday is not only memorable but also offers excellent value for money.
Play eighteen holes on the classic course
After a well-deserved rest, our final round was the slightly shorter, but equally challenging Classic Course at Forest City, 7186 yards of manicured fairways, greens and bunkers that create a unique course that was a joy to play. The second of three courses slated for development at Forest City, opened to the public in August 2019 and is the work of golf course architect Mr. Liang Guokun. We enjoyed the slightly less challenging and slightly shorter Classic course, but like any round of golf there were challenges to overcome and we met them all. Having two such incredible eighteen hole golf courses at the same club is luxury golfing at its best, it’s no wonder tee times on both our visits were fully booked with excited golfers from near and far.
Johor’s strategic location, combined with first-rate golf courses and luxury hotels will continue to ensure that golf-based tourism in the region will continue to grow. The quality of the courses and hotels on offer is unquestionable, which when combined with excellent value for money, makes Johor an excellent option for your next luxury golfing holiday.
Paul Ayers
Paul Ayers is the co-founder of Vegan Food Quest who writes about luxury hotels and resorts in Southeast Asia with a focus on sustainable travel, eco travel and vegan travel. Currently based in Malaysia, Paul also writes about sporting events and some of the best golf courses across the region.
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