Why Johor should be your next luxury golf holiday

Johor is located in the southeast of peninsular Malaysia and has over 25 golf courses to choose from, each offering a unique experience for the seasoned golfer. With excellent transport links to Singapore, all over Malaysia, even further afield, it has become the golfing destination of choice for many who love the variety, quality and value for money offered at the region’s courses. We’ve highlighted what are considered by many to be the two best golf clubs in Johor, both of which offer two championship golf courses to choose from. To ensure that your next luxury golf holiday is the ‘total package’ our article includes our selection of luxury hotels where you can relax and rejuvenate after each round.

Els Club Desaru Coast

Located in the surrounding area overlooking the South China Sea, Els Club Desaru Coast is a world-class golf course, offering premium golf and lifestyle to anyone who chooses to play at this award-winning facility. Just a ninety-minute ferry ride from Singapore, or from the Woodlands Malaysia/Singapore checkpoint, this location makes it a favorite for Singapore-based golf enthusiasts who wish to escape the city and enjoy all that Els Club has to offer. We loved the warm welcome at the bag drop, personalized lockers in the spacious locker rooms, and expertly executed local favorites like roti canai in the clubhouse. We were suitably impressed before we even set foot.

Play eighteen holes on the Ocean Course

Designed for legendary golfer and four-time champion, Ernie Els AKA ‘The Big Easy’, the eighteen hole Ocean Course is full of choice and character building challenges. Your first choice is to choose from two of the three 9 courses out of 18 of your choice (namely Coast, Ridge and Lakes), while your further choices and challenges will come from both club and shot selection as you try to navigate your way to. 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. Open fairways and large greens were inviting from the tees and fairways, but strategically placed fairways and omni-present water hazards were always waiting to punish any wrong shot. Managing five pars during my round was a highlight, while finding bunkers continuously was frustrating and gave me ‘room to improve’.

Stay at the Westin Desaru Coast Resort

As guests of The Westin Desaru Coast Resort we can confirm that this premier beach resort is just the right choice for your next golf holiday in Johor. Located just 5 minutes from the greens, fairways and bunkers of The Els Club there was no time wasted before and after our rounds. This meant we could extend our time to enjoy everything this luxurious Marriott International resort had to offer between our two rounds of golf. Morning coffees on our balcony overlooking the South China Sea? Check it out. Do you enjoy the art of cooking in both the Taste of Prego and the season? Check it out. A luxurious swim and post round treatment at Heavenly Spa? Check out. I’m sure you get the picture, our stay at the Westin Desaru provided us with everything we could have wanted (and more) for our Johor golf holiday. We definitely felt relaxed, refreshed and ready for our next round of golf.

Play eighteen holes on the Valley Course

Well, if we thought the bunkers on the Ocean Course presented a challenge, finding out that the Valley Course is home to 187 bunkers was really concerning! A three-time major champion, Vijay Singh has designed this beautifully appointed course with stunning views. The greens were small, requiring precise shots awarded with a receptive green that enabled many of our shots to hold their spots well, even with long irons. And while the greens were unusual, they were true so if you picked the right line and the right speed you were more rewarded. Of course we’re helped by the cart’s GPS that helped with club selection, but playing any course for the first time is a challenge. We both loved the Valley Course and can’t wait to go back to make more golf memories in Johor.

Marriott Malaysia and Singapore Charity Golf Day

June 2024 saw the inaugural Marriott International Malaysia and Singapore Charity Golf Day hosted by Westin Desaru Coast and The Els Club. Golfers from Malaysia, Singapore and other countries enjoyed a golf tournament, dinner and charity auction which raised a lot of money to support UNICEF’s excellent work in the region. The United Nations Children’s Fund works tirelessly to protect the rights of every child to health care, immunization, safe water, sanitation, nutrition and education. This new initiative has been an incredible success and we can’t wait to see what next year has in store.

Forest City Golf Resort

If one of the best golf clubs in Malaysia is located very close to the Singapore border, it is no surprise that Forest City Golf Resort has become a favorite among golf enthusiasts who call Singapore home since it opened to the public in September 2018. grass that is not in the area, from the moment we arrived we knew we would taste it, the only question is whether our golf skills can live up to the expectations created by our first-class location. What we do know is that we will make the most of having the opportunity to play these two outstanding 18 hole courses.

Play eighteen holes on the Legacy Course

The pristine 7386 yard Legacy Course at Forest City was designed by none other than the ‘Golden Bear’ Mr Jack Niclaus. With his 117 professional tour wins including 18 major championships spanning a quarter of a century, we truly felt we were walking in the footsteps of a golf legend. Our experience was challenging, exciting and frustrating all rolled into one. The challenge came from the course managers who were required to play on that unique course. The fun comes from playing a round on this well-maintained and well-maintained championship course. Frustration came from continually finding our way through the seemingly endless sand that is the defining feature of the course. But we loved every minute of our cycle and can’t wait to come back.

Stay at the Forest City Golf Hotel

With sweeping views of Forest City’s green fairways, it’s no surprise that Forest City Golf Hotel is the obvious choice for anyone looking to combine a golf tournament weekend with luxury accommodation. Offering 298 rooms and suites to choose from, many with golf course views, there is something for everyone. The two spacious freeform pools provided the perfect place to relax after our rounds, while for those still able to heat up, the well-appointed gym is the place to go. Check out the competitive ‘Stay and Play’ offers that include your hotel stay and green fees to ensure that you not only have a memorable Johor golf holiday, but also offer excellent value for money.

Play eighteen holes on the Classic Course

After a well-deserved rest, our final round was a little shorter, but equally as challenging as the Classic Course at Forest City, 7186 yards of manicured greens and bunkers creating a unique course that was a joy to play. The second of three courses planned for development at Forest City, it opened to the public in August 2019 and is the work of golf course designer, Mr Liang Guokun. We really enjoyed the Classic Course which was less difficult and shorter, but like any round of golf there were challenges to be overcome and we faced them head on. Having an amazing two hole golf course in one club makes for a very comfortable golf experience, it’s no surprise that on both of our visits the tee times were fully booked with happy golfers from near and far.

Johor’s strategic location, combined with first-class golf courses and luxury hotels will continue to ensure that golf-based tourism continues to flourish in the region. The quality of the courses and hotels on offer is unquestionable, which when combined with excellent value for money, makes Johor an excellent choice for your next luxury golf holiday.

Paul Eyers

Paul Eyers is the founder of Vegan Food Quest who writes about luxury hotels and resorts in Southeast Asia focusing on sustainable travel, eco travel and vegan travel. Currently based in Malaysia, Paul also writes about sporting events and other top golf courses across the region.