Malaysia pairs world class resort golf with rainforest, coastline and the year round warmth of the tropics. The best courses divide between the Kuala Lumpur belt, the Desaru coast in the south and the island of Langkawi, several of them designed by major champions. Here are the ten courses we would build a Malaysian golf trip around.
Our ranking puts the quality of the design first, then condition, setting and the wider experience. Malaysian golf is mostly modern and resort driven, so the best of it combines championship architecture with dramatic tropical settings, and the courses by major champions and leading designers lead our list. The verdicts are ours; the design credits and tournament histories we cite are a matter of record.
The leading courses cluster in three areas: the Kuala Lumpur and Klang valley belt, easy to reach from the capital and its airport; the Desaru coast in the far south near Singapore; and the island of Langkawi off the northwest coast. Most are part of resorts or country clubs that welcome visitors, which makes a Malaysian golf trip simple to arrange.
Reviewed June 2026 by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and fees verified at publication. How we research and review.
From the Ernie Els designs on the Desaru coast and Langkawi to the old tin mine at the Mines, ranked with our verdicts and the reasons to play each one.
Malaysia's number one, an Ernie Els design built with fellow major champion Vijay Singh and opened in 2017 on the Desaru coast near Singapore. A muscular, beautifully conditioned championship course set between rainforest and the sea, and the centrepiece of a resort that also offers the Ocean course. The standout round in the country.
The Palm course at Saujana, near Kuala Lumpur, is a Ronald Fream design so demanding it earned the nickname the Cobra, a tight, tree lined test that has hosted the Malaysian Open. A connoisseur's parkland and long the benchmark course of the capital region.
Ernie Els reworked the old Datai Bay course into one of the most spectacular rounds in Asia, threading through ancient rainforest down to a beach on the island of Langkawi. As much a nature reserve as a golf course, with monkeys and hornbills for company, it is unforgettable.
The West course at TPC Kuala Lumpur is the city's tournament stage, a long, water laced parkland that has hosted DP World Tour and PGA Tour sanctioned events. Immaculately presented and a genuine championship test right on the edge of the capital.
Built by Robert Trent Jones Junior on what was once the largest open cast tin mine in the world, the Mines turns its dramatic topography and central lake into a memorable round just outside Kuala Lumpur. A former World Cup and tour venue with a setting unlike anywhere else.
A Ronald Fream design from 1991 set against the limestone hills north of Kuala Lumpur, Templer Park has hosted the Malaysian Open three times. A handsome, mature parkland with a strong jungle backdrop and a fine test for the better player.
Laid out by Ross Watson in the south near Singapore, Horizon Hills makes the most of dramatic elevation changes, waterfalls and lakes. A modern, well conditioned championship course that has staged professional events and anchors golf in the Iskandar region.
A polished parkland in the Klang valley that has hosted Asian Tour golf, Kota Permai is known for its conditioning and its bold use of water. One of the most reliable championship rounds in the Kuala Lumpur belt and easy to combine with Saujana.
The Garden course is the stronger of the two eighteens at Glenmarie near Kuala Lumpur, a long and well wooded parkland that has featured in professional golf. A dependable, accessible round close to the airport and a useful addition to a capital itinerary.
Set around former mining lakes near Ipoh, Clearwater Sanctuary is a scenic, water dominated layout that has long featured in Malaysian rankings and hosted professional events. A rewarding detour north of the capital and a fitting close to our Malaysian ten.
Malaysia plays golf year round in tropical warmth, with the heaviest rain arriving on the east coast and the islands during the northeast monsoon from roughly November to February; the Kuala Lumpur belt and Desaru stay playable through most of the year. Early tee times beat both the heat and the afternoon storms.
Green fees are reasonable for the quality on offer, with weekday rates well below weekends and the flagship Els Club at the top end. The figures below are indicative high season rates; package and weekday golf is usually cheaper.
| Course | Type | Indicative green fee |
|---|---|---|
| The Els Club Desaru Coast, Valley | Resort | $150 to $200 |
| Saujana, Palm | Parkland | $80 to $130 |
| TPC Kuala Lumpur, West | Championship | $90 to $140 |
| The Mines Resort & Golf Club | Resort | $70 to $110 |
| Templer Park | Parkland | $70 to $110 |
Compare live tee times through our partner: [TEE_TIME_AFFILIATE_LINK]. Hotels near the courses: [HOTEL_AFFILIATE_LINK].
Malaysia's golf splits neatly into three bases: Kuala Lumpur for Saujana, TPC, the Mines and the rest of the capital belt; the Desaru coast in the south for the two Els Club courses, easily combined with Singapore; and Langkawi for the rainforest spectacle of Teluk Datai. A week can comfortably pair two of the three.
The courses play year round, so timing is mostly about avoiding the monsoon on the east coast and islands and teeing off early to dodge the afternoon heat. Tell us where you want to be based and we will build the itinerary, secure the tee times and pair the golf with the rainforest, the islands or the city.
The Valley course at the Els Club Desaru Coast, an Ernie Els and Vijay Singh design opened in 2017, is widely regarded as the best in Malaysia. The Ronald Fream parkland at Saujana and Els's rainforest course at Teluk Datai on Langkawi lead the group behind it.
They cluster in three areas: the Kuala Lumpur and Klang valley belt, home to Saujana, TPC Kuala Lumpur and the Mines; the Desaru coast in the south near Singapore, home to the two Els Club courses; and the island of Langkawi, home to the Els Club Teluk Datai.
Indicative 2026 high season green fees run from around 70 US dollars at the established country clubs to 150 to 200 dollars at the flagship Els Club Desaru. Weekday rates are lower. Always confirm directly before booking.
Malaysia plays year round in tropical warmth. The main thing to plan around is the northeast monsoon from roughly November to February, which brings heavy rain to the east coast and islands, while the Kuala Lumpur belt and Desaru stay playable through most of the year.
Most of the leading courses are resorts or country clubs that welcome visiting golfers, often with lower weekday rates, which makes Malaysia an easy and good value destination. Booking ahead is wise at the flagship Els Club and the tournament venues.
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