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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.
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.
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