Malaysia gives you three very different golf trips. On Langkawi, The Els Club Teluk Datai runs from ancient rainforest to the Andaman Sea, with monkeys in the trees and published seasonal rates. In the south, the Els Club Desaru Coast has Ernie Els’s seaside Ocean course and Vijay Singh’s Valley course, a weekend hop from Singapore. Around Kuala Lumpur, Saujana’s Palm course has hosted the Malaysian Open seven times. Golf here is usually cart-based. Rates are quoted in ringgit, often with insurance and a shared cart included and a service charge added. Weekend tee times at city clubs go to members first, so plan visitor rounds midweek.
The Cobra and the Crocodile: Kuala Lumpur’s Malaysian Open courses, 17 km from the city.
Destination imagery
Where to base yourself.
Langkawi
The Els Club Teluk Datai, ranked fourth in Malaysia by Golf Digest in 2022, sits beside The Datai and The Andaman resorts in the island’s north-west. Langkawi is a one-course golf destination with beaches, cable cars and mangrove tours, best from December to April. Ted Parslow’s 1992 layout was reworked by Ernie Els in 2010, and its finishing holes, Paradise Found at the 16th and Andaman Shores at the 17th, play along the shoreline. The airport is about 40 minutes away, and flights from Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Singapore are frequent.
Desaru Coast, Johor
Two 18-hole courses at the Els Club, the Ocean and the Valley, among beach resorts 75 km east of Johor Bahru. It is the easiest golf weekend from Singapore by road or ferry, with the best weather from March to September. The Ocean course, a 2015 Els rebuild of a 1985 Robert Trent Jones Jr layout, opens with three holes down to the sea, while Singh’s Valley course is more sheltered. Troon Golf runs the club, carts with GPS are compulsory, and shuttles link the clubhouse to the beach resorts.
Kuala Lumpur
Saujana’s Palm (the Cobra) and Bunga Raya (the Crocodile) are 17 km from the city centre, with more championship courses within an hour. Visitors play best on weekdays and need a handicap certificate. Ron Fream’s 1986 Palm course carries a jungle ravine on the par-five 3rd and a palm-lined drop-off on the 8th; carts and caddies are compulsory. Subang Airport is close by, and the on-site Saujana Hotel makes an early start easy.
When to go.
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Dec
Malaysia has two monsoons that affect each coast differently. Langkawi and the west coast are driest from about December to April. The east coast, including Desaru, takes the north-east monsoon from about November to February, so March to September is better there. Kuala Lumpur is hot and humid all year, with rain possible in any month and early-morning tee times the safest choice.
Getting around.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) is the main gateway, with domestic flights to Langkawi (LGK) and Penang. Desaru is easiest from Singapore, by road over the causeway or Second Link, or by ferry, or via Senai Airport in Johor Bahru (JHB). Car hire is straightforward on the peninsula, and Grab is widely used in cities.
Plan it well.
Read what a published rate includes. The Els Club Teluk Datai includes insurance, a shared GPS cart and range time, then adds a 10% service charge and a MYR 10 conservation surcharge. City clubs such as Saujana restrict visitors at weekends and require proof of handicap, with compulsory carts and caddies. Caddies are optional at the resort courses. Bank-card promotions can take 10% off at some clubs.
Questions golfers ask.
How much does golf cost in Malaysia?
The Els Club Teluk Datai publishes 18-hole rates of MYR 695 to 800 depending on the season, plus a 10% service charge. The Els Club Desaru Coast is listed at about MYR 505 on weekdays and MYR 605 at weekends, and Saujana from about MYR 350.
What is the best golf course in Malaysia for visitors?
The Els Club Teluk Datai on Langkawi for scenery, the Els Club Desaru Coast for a seaside weekend from Singapore, and Saujana’s Palm course in Kuala Lumpur for Malaysian Open history.
When is the best time for golf in Malaysia?
December to April on Langkawi and the west coast, and March to September on the east coast at Desaru. Kuala Lumpur can be played year-round with early tee times.
Do I need a handicap certificate to play golf in Malaysia?
At some clubs, yes. Saujana requires proof of handicap from visitors, and The Els Club Teluk Datai asks for advance booking. Carry your certificate to be safe.
