The Els Club Teluk Datai, rainforest golf above the Andaman Sea on Langkawi

Ranked · 2 courses · updated 2026

The Best Golf Courses in Langkawi

Langkawi has just two golf courses, and they could hardly be more different: a rainforest championship layout running down to the Andaman Sea, and a mountain parkland course in the island's green heart. Both are worth a round on a beach and golf escape, and here is how we rank them, what to expect, and how to play them.

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By the GolfForKings editorial desk · How we rank · Last reviewed June 2026

Photograph: The Els Club Teluk Datai, Langkawi, via Google

How we chose them

Langkawi is an island of beaches, mangroves and a cable car, not a stacked golf destination, so this is an honest short list rather than a padded one: the two courses that actually exist on the island, ranked, with the practical detail you need to play them well. We weighed setting, design quality and the round you remember, then added when to go and what it costs.

One is a genuine bucket list backdrop, the other a relaxed mountain round at a fraction of the price, and together they make a fine two course visit alongside the beach. Designers and details here were checked at the time of writing, and the verdicts are ours. Golfers who want more than two rounds usually pair Langkawi with the mainland or the wider country: see our best golf courses in Malaysia guide, or tell us your dates and our concierge builds and costs the trip.

The ranking

The Els Club Teluk Datai

Ernie Els redesign, reopened 2014 · Teluk Datai, northwest Langkawi · par 72

One of the most beautiful resort courses in Asia and far and away the best round on Langkawi. Ernie Els rebuilt the old Datai Bay layout, originally a Ted Parslow design, and reopened it in 2014 as a par 72 of roughly 6,750 yards threaded through ancient rainforest down to the Andaman Sea. Monkeys and hornbills are part of the experience, the closing holes run beside the beach, and the setting beneath Gunung Mat Cincang is unforgettable. It pairs with the Datai and the smart resorts on the quiet northwest tip.

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Gunung Raya Golf Resort

Max Wexler · central Langkawi · par 72

The island's only other 18 holes and a completely different round: a par 72 parkland course of around 6,400 yards set in the green interior below Gunung Raya, Langkawi's highest peak. Longer and hillier than it looks on the card, with jungle framing many holes and rubber and oil palm beyond, it is quiet, scenic and a fraction of the price of Teluk Datai. As a second course on a relaxed island trip it does the job nicely, and the mountain backdrop is genuinely lovely.

Plan a Langkawi golf trip

Designers and details verified June 2026 from club and recognized course sources. The order is our editorial view; Teluk Datai is the clear number one for setting and design, Gunung Raya the value second round. Golfers wanting a fuller week add the Kedah mainland, a short ferry away, where Cinta Sayang and Darulaman extend the trip. Always confirm access and fees directly before booking.

Plan a golf trip to Langkawi

Two rounds on the island, the rainforest and the beach, and the option of the Kedah mainland or Kuala Lumpur to round out the golf: tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge builds the trip and costs it to the head, with no obligation.

Golf in Langkawi: questions

What is the best golf course in Langkawi?

The Els Club Teluk Datai is the best course on Langkawi and one of the most beautiful in Malaysia. Redesigned by Ernie Els and reopened in 2014 on the site of the old Datai Bay course, it runs through ancient rainforest down to the Andaman Sea on the island's quiet northwest tip. Gunung Raya Golf Resort, a mountain parkland course in the island's green interior, is the only other 18 holes on Langkawi and a fine, far cheaper second round.

How many golf courses are there on Langkawi?

Two, and they could hardly be more different. The Els Club Teluk Datai is a resort championship course threaded through rainforest beside the sea, while Gunung Raya Golf Resort is a longer, hillier parkland layout in the interior below the island's highest peak. Golfers wanting a third or fourth round usually cross to the Kedah mainland by the short ferry, where Cinta Sayang and Darulaman add variety.

When is the best time to play golf in Langkawi?

The dry season from roughly December to March is the prime window, with the most settled weather and the rainforest at its most playable. April to October is hotter and wetter, with afternoon downpours common in the monsoon months, so early tee times are wise year round. Langkawi golf pairs naturally with the beach and island resorts at any time of year.

How much does golf in Langkawi cost in 2026?

Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 150 ringgit at Gunung Raya to roughly 500 to 900 ringgit in peak season at The Els Club Teluk Datai, with buggy and caddie often extra and resort guest rates available. Figures move with season, demand and exchange rate, so always confirm directly before booking.

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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.