Johor Your Golfing Heaven

In fact, the Sate, which is the ‘Southern Gateway to Malaysia’, is perhaps the most well-endowed State in the country for golf enthusiasts and golfing is probably the very few recreational facilities Johor has to offer for both locals and foreigners from the golfing fraternity. This is in line with the State’s vibrant and proactive image.

What makes golfing in Johor more interesting and enjoyable than that in other parts of the world is the proximity of every golf course. Believe it or not, you may tee-off in a golf course near a foothill in the morning and change to another course inside an oil palm estate in the afternoon, and (provided you still have the stamina!) end the day with nocturnal golfing in one of the urban golf courses.

The luxury of 3 in 1 (whichever you like to call it) may be continued the next day or until your hunger for the game are over. And this luxury is probably exclusive to Johor only. This explains why international golfer are spoilt with choices when they arrive at Johor. And the proximity of each golf course varies. Some are just a stone-throw away from the arrival hall of the Sultan Ismail International Airport while others are located within the neighbourhood of housing estates.

Some golf courses are designed by renowned golfers such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Trent Jones II, Max Wexler, Peter Scott, Pete Dye, Rick Robbins and Horomasa Inagawa.  The Johor Government, in a bid to promote Malaysia as a premier golfing destination, is determined to offer a “total holiday experience” for golfers. Apart from the tropical climate which offers “all-season” golfing, the recent emergence of the Golf Tourism Interest Group within the southern growth triangle is also designed to further promote and publicise this concept.

The GTIG comprises golf clubs from Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, with Batam and Bintan representing Indonesia, and only Johor to represent Malaysia. The group also has strong support from the tourism boards of the three participating countries and Malaysia Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA).

In a move to further strengthen the healthy state of professional golf in Asia, The Asian PGA has opened its first Golf Academy at the Palm Resort Golf and Country in Johor Bahru. The academy in primarily involved in the development of teaching programmes for professionals and amateurs. On the part of Johor Tourism Department, which supervises tourism-related development in the State, at least three golf packages have been endorsed as part of 48 tour packages in Johor.

As this is not the only option, golfers may also liaise with local travel agents to design packages to suit their personal golfing needs in Johor.