The Els Club Desaru Coast Valley Course

The verdict

The Valley Course is the second 18 at The Els Club Desaru Coast, the golf anchor of the Desaru Coast resort strip on the southeastern tip of Johor. Where the Ocean Course runs out toward the South China Sea, the Valley turns inland, climbing and falling through a wooded valley that was once plantation land. It was designed by Vijay Singh in partnership with Ernie Els Design and opened in 2017, and it has since collected back to back Malaysia's Best Golf Course titles at the World Golf Awards in 2020 and 2021.

It is a bigger, bolder test than its setting first suggests. The fairways are wide and the conditioning is resort firm, but the elevation changes ask for shot after shot played up or down the slope, and the closing stretch has teeth. For a traveling golfer it pairs naturally with the Ocean Course for a 36 hole day, and a recent replanting of fairways and greens has the surfaces running truer than ever. Plan a stay on the Desaru strip and play both.

The holes worth the trip

The Valley Course makes its name on movement. From elevated tees the fairways tumble into the valley floor and climb back toward greens benched into the slope, so judging the stance and the run of the ball matters as much as the line. Vijay Singh built width off the tee but defended the greens, and the smart play is often below the hole on these tilted surfaces.

The par 3s are the set to study, several played across or along the valley with the breeze swirling between the tree lines, the yardage on the card rarely the yardage you actually play. The par 5s give up reachable chances to the bold, but water and bunkering crowd the lay up zones, so the reward always comes with a clear risk.

The finish is where the course bares its teeth, a run of long, uphill two shotters into the prevailing breeze that can wreck a good card in the last hour. Played from the right tees it is a fair and thrilling round; played from the tips it is a proper championship slog. Either way it rewards the player who keeps the ball in the short grass and respects the slopes.

Where to stay nearby

The Els Club sits inside the Desaru Coast development, a purpose built resort strip of beachfront hotels, a waterpark and a conference center on the Johor coast. Most golfers base themselves right on the strip and shuttle to the first tee, which makes a 36 hole day across the Valley and Ocean courses easy to build.

Singapore golfers often play Desaru as a long weekend, crossing by the dedicated ferry from Tanah Merah, while travelers flying in use Senai Airport near Johor Bahru. Either way the Valley Course pairs best with at least one night on the coast so you can play both courses fresh and still have time on the beach.

Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Valley Course.