Malaysia, Our Sister-Country of Golf
By Ron Smith
With major courses designed by such legends as Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Greg Norman, Malaysia presents an unexpectedly pleasant and trend-setting surprise to the international golfer.
Located partially on the Southern half of the Malay
Peninsula, with Thailand its neighbor to the North,
the independent island nation of Singapore at its
Southernmost tip, and with roughly half the remaining Malay Federation across the China Sea on the island of Borneo, Malaysia, with its cluster of islands and its clear, warm water, lies just above the Equator, to the West of Vietnam.
Ron Smith (left) with Zaza Kamaruddin of Malaysia WAITGC
As well-developed, in part, as much of the United
States, Malaysia is far from the image most Americans may have of it as a third-world country A model of racial and religious harmony, and with an excellent air and ground transportation system throughout the country, Malaysia is perhaps the most pleasant, peaceful, and hassle-free country in Southeast Asia. Malaysians are warm, friendly, extremely helpful, and with English spoken widely, the visitor encounters few problems getting questions answered or finding directions.
Malaysia Airlines is the only international air
carrier which offers direct service to the country
from the United States, though many international
airlines that service other parts of Asia offer
connecting flights.
Direct flights to Kuala Lumpur, the nation’s capitol, are scheduled daily from Los Angeles, and three days a week from Newark, NJ. Airfares run from a pricey high (for first-class, round-trip, per person seating) of $8,900.00/USD from Newark, to a very economical and affordable low (for per person, round-trip economy-class seating, and depending on one’s season of travel) of as little as $682.00/USD.
Though the flight takes approximately 20 hours, Malaysia Airlines and its attentive crew help to make the passenger’s trip pleasant and enjoyable with delicious meals and beverages (alcoholic and non-, including some fine wines), and diversions such
as games, on-demand movies and TV shows, and an
on-board global satellite tracking system that allows
monitoring the flight’s speed, altitude, and location.
Note: Fly/Stay packages are available and can offer
significant savings. A recent example was at the
Holiday Inn Glenmarie – see below – offering a flight
from Newark with a 5-day stay, and a per-person price of just $2,895.00/USD [prices quoted by: Malaysia Airlines, (618) 529-8033. www.malaysiaairlines.com Rates can also be quoted by Tank Top Travel, in Orlando, FL (407) 234-0545. www.tanktoptravel.com
While getting there may come at significant expense, the currency exchange rate is very favorable. With the Malaysian “Ringgit” (abbreviated as “RM”) bringing the approximate equivalent, these days, of $3.40/USD, shopping once you get there can offer significant bargains.
Here are three special courses notable of Malaysia’s many exceptional golf courses
Seremban International Golf Club
First up, Seremban International Golf Club
(18-holes, Par 72) located in the State of Negeri
Sembilan , Malaysia just south of Kuala Lumpur . The
pines and evergreen trees give a slight American feel, but if you want a challenge this course will provide such. The year-round climate in Malaysia is warm and very humid (averaging 90%), which slows your shots down, and don’t expect to get any help from the winds either.
The fairways are very narrow with lots of high cowgrass ( I lost 11 balls on this course), and you
really want to stay on them, because in addition to
the sand traps and water hazards, King Cobra snakes have been spotted in that cowgrass! Be prepared, as well, for diverse ethnic and religious customs… midway through my round, an alarming sound came across the loudspeakers. It turned out to be the afternoon call to prayer, in this country with its substantial Muslim population. Seremban is a unique, exciting, and very challenging course.
Ron Smith (right) easily met new friends at the course.
Glenmarie Golf and Country Club
Next, Glenmarie Golf and Country Club (36-holes, Par 72). Just 45 minutes from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Shah Alam, the Capitol of Selangor State, here are two 18 hole courses with hazards so uniquely designed and placed that it was actually fun hitting out of the white sand traps. Stunningly lined with many different species of pink trees and with swans swimming across the lakes, the beautiful fairways were a photographer’s dream.
In a country in which the average rainfall exceeds 100 inches (twice that in the mountainous areas!) and with afternoon thunderstorms that can bring four or more inches of rain in a single storm, Glenmarie’s advanced drainage system was in
evidence as a major plus, our play able to continue
even after one such heavy downpour!
Night golf is also possible, thanks to a well placed lighting system at the course. Glenmarie additionally offers many amenities, such as an Olympic size swimming pool, indoor/outdoor tennis, squash, billiards, a card room, a TV room, and a gym. The course’s 100,000 sq. ft. clubhouse and their golf academy complement this wonderful course.
Glenmarie Golf and Country Club
Further enhanced by the Holiday Inn Glenmarie, with
250 rooms and extensive facilities for conferences and functions, all tolled, The Glenmarie Golf and Country Club is one of Malaysia ‘s foremost leisure
establishments.
If the most daring golfer wants a challenge, try the
27 hole (Par 36) Staffield Country Resort just a 45
minute drive from Kuala Lumpur. 82 bunkers and seven lakes comprise the North, South, and West nines of this course. With Bermuda Tifway grass used for the fairways, and Bermuda Tifdwarf used for the greens, the course’s smoothness will give your ball a lot of roll. Well placed hills give you a panoramic view of the course like no other. The staff at Staffield will make you feel right at home. Amenities include a driving range, putting green, chipping and bunker practice areas, and locker rooms with jacuzzi and sauna.
