Saujana Palm Course
They call it the Cobra, and they mean it. The Palm Course at Saujana, a Ronald Fream design a few minutes from the old Subang airport outside Kuala Lumpur, is widely rated the toughest course in Malaysia: tight palm lined corridors, fast tricky greens, and a par 3 second that has been called the hardest hole in the country.
Photo: Saujana Golf & Country Club via Google.
The verdict
Saujana Golf and Country Club was founded in 1984 and built two championship courses to a Ronald Fream design, the Palm and the Bunga Raya. The Palm became the famous one, the long time host of the Malaysian Open in the years it grew into a co sanctioned Asian Tour and European Tour event, and it carries the reputation to match. The nickname, the Cobra, is earned: narrow tree lined fairways demand position off the tee, the greens are quick and full of subtle movement, and a loose shot is rarely just a bogey.
For the traveling golfer it is the serious test on a Kuala Lumpur itinerary, the round you book when you want tournament conditions and a card that means something. At about 7,024 yards it is not overlong by modern standards, which is the point: Fream built the difficulty into the angles, the trees and the greens rather than the scorecard. Pair it with the parkland and resort courses around the capital and the Palm is the one your group will still be arguing about over dinner.
Saujana Palm at a glance
- Founded
- 1984
- Designer
- Ronald Fream
- Type
- Parkland, tree lined
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,024 yds
- Green fee
- Indicative, on request
Designer, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. Saujana was founded in 1984 and the Palm Course was designed by Ronald Fream, a par 72 of about 7,024 yards with four par 3s and four par 5s on Bermuda turf. As a members club Saujana publishes visitor green fees on request and rates vary by day and season, so always confirm the current fee and access directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The signature hole is the par 3 second, about 172 yards and long rated the most difficult hole in Malaysia. It is the kind of one shotter that defines a course: a demanding carry to a green that gives nothing back, with trouble short and long and a putting surface that punishes anything above the hole. Survive it early and the round settles; miss it and the Cobra has shown its teeth before you have warmed up.
From there the Palm keeps the pressure on through its tight, palm framed corridors. Driving lines matter more than driving distance, because the trees and the angle into each green reward the player who can shape a tee shot and place it. The greens are the other half of the test, quick and full of movement, so leaving the ball below the hole is the local knowledge that saves a card. The par 5s tempt without giving anything cheaply, and the bunkering is positioned to catch the slightly cautious miss.
What makes the Palm a great championship test rather than just a hard one is its variety: no two holes ask the same question, and the closing stretch back toward the grand clubhouse has decided more than one Malaysian Open. Play it from the right set of tees and it is a thrilling round; reach for the back pegs in the humidity and it is a genuine examination. Either way it is the course that gives a Kuala Lumpur trip its backbone.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members club; visitors and resort guests usually play subject to availability, most easily on weekdays and through a hotel or tour operator booking |
| Green fee | Published on request and varies by day and season; weekday visitor rates are lower than weekends (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Reserve through the club, the on site Saujana hotel, or a Kuala Lumpur golf package; advance booking advised for the Palm |
| On the day | Carts standard; caddies available; collared shirts and soft spikes; bring plenty of water for the heat and humidity |
| Getting there | In Shah Alam, Selangor, beside the former Subang airport, about 30 to 45 minutes from central Kuala Lumpur |
| Best months | Year round tropical golf; the drier months of May to July and December to February are most comfortable, with early tee times beating the afternoon storms |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; policies change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The simplest base is the on site Saujana hotel, which puts both championship courses on the doorstep and makes a Palm and Bunga Raya double the easiest itinerary to arrange. Otherwise central Kuala Lumpur is a short drive and offers the full range of city hotels, with golf transfers easy to organize.
Saujana pairs naturally with the other strong courses around the capital for a Kuala Lumpur tour: a round on the Palm, a day at TPC Kuala Lumpur, and the resort golf at Glenmarie make a varied few days. With more time, the country's marquee resort courses at Desaru Coast and on Langkawi extend the trip.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Saujana and Kuala Lumpur.
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Saujana Palm questions
Who designed the Saujana Palm Course and when did it open?
The Palm Course at Saujana was designed by American architect Ronald Fream. Saujana Golf and Country Club was founded in 1984 and the championship courses opened in the mid 1980s near Kuala Lumpur.
What is the par and length of the Palm Course?
The Palm Course is a par 72 of about 7,024 yards from the championship tees, with four par 3s and four par 5s, turfed with Bermuda grass.
Why is the Palm Course called the Cobra?
The Palm is nicknamed the Cobra for its tight, palm lined fairways and fast, tricky greens. It is widely rated the toughest course in Malaysia and was the long time venue of the Malaysian Open.
Can visitors play Saujana?
Saujana is a members club, but visitors and resort guests can usually play subject to availability, often on weekdays and through a hotel or tour booking. Always confirm access directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; access and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.