Golf in Malaysia
Tropical golf of real quality and rare value, from the Ernie Els rainforest course on Langkawi to the championship layouts of Kuala Lumpur and the resort golf of Johor and Borneo. The courses that matter, the regions, the seasons and how to plan it.
Photograph: The Els Club Teluk Datai - Rainforest Golf Course, Riho Taring, via Google
Why golf in Malaysia
Malaysia is one of the most rewarding and overlooked golf countries in Asia, a place where world class design comes at a fraction of the cost of Japan or the Gulf and the golf sits inside a holiday that is a pleasure in its own right. The Els Club Teluk Datai on Langkawi, an Ernie Els course threaded through ancient rainforest to the Andaman Sea, is regularly rated among the finest in Asia, while the capital, Kuala Lumpur, is ringed with championship courses, Saujana and Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club among them, that have hosted the game's leading tours.
It is also wonderfully easy. Kuala Lumpur is a major international hub, English is widely spoken, the food is among the best in the world and the courses are immaculately kept and uncrowded for the quality. A Malaysian trip can pair a few days of city golf with a beach and rainforest finish on Langkawi or a resort stay in Johor or Borneo, all at a price that makes it one of the best value premium golf destinations anywhere.
The regions
Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley
The championship heartland, Saujana, Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, The Mines and Glenmarie, a cluster of tour standard courses within an hour of the capital and its hotels.
Langkawi and the islands
The Els Club Teluk Datai, an Ernie Els rainforest course down to the sea, the scenic showpiece of Malaysian golf and the natural pairing of championship golf with a tropical beach finish.
Johor and Borneo
The resort golf of the south, the Els Club Desaru Coast and Horizon Hills near Johor Bahru, plus the seaside courses of Sabah on Borneo for a longer, more exotic trip.
The courses that matter
The Els Club Teluk Datai
The finest course in Malaysia, a par 72 of around 6,750 yards routed through ancient rainforest to the Andaman Sea, alive with monkeys and hornbills. Indicative 2026 green fees around MYR 695 to 800 including a cart, so always confirm directly before booking.
Saujana, Palm Course
The fearsome Palm, nicknamed the Cobra, a tight, demanding Ronald Fream design that has hosted the Malaysian Open many times, long rated the toughest and best course in the Klang Valley.
Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club
The host of the Maybank Championship on the DP World Tour, a lavishly rebuilt thirty six hole club minutes from the city centre, the most polished championship venue in the country.
The Mines Resort and Golf Club
A Robert Trent Jones Junior course carved from what was once the largest open pit tin mine in the world, a par 71 around a lake on the southern edge of the capital, a former World Cup venue.
The Els Club Desaru Coast
A major resort on the south east coast of Johor with an Ernie Els Ocean course and a Vijay Singh Valley course, the leading stay and play destination in the south, close to Singapore.
Horizon Hills
A well regarded championship course near Johor Bahru that has hosted regional tour events, a strong, modern layout that pairs naturally with Desaru for a southern trip.
Glenmarie and Tropicana
A pair of established thirty six hole city clubs west of Kuala Lumpur, well conditioned, accessible and good value, ideal companion rounds on a capital based golf week.
Cameron Highlands Golf Club
A charming old highland course set among tea plantations at altitude, where the cool climate is a relief from the lowland heat, a quirky and scenic detour from the championship golf.
Sutera Harbour
A waterfront resort course on Borneo with views to Mount Kinabalu and the South China Sea, the headline round of Sabah and a memorable finish to an East Malaysia trip.
Clearwater Sanctuary
A mature parkland among lakes and old mining land near Ipoh, a peaceful and well kept course that breaks the journey between Kuala Lumpur and the north of the peninsula.
Designers, opening years and host history verified June 2026. Course profiles are added across the site as the directory grows. Always confirm visitor access and fees directly before booking.
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| December to March | Driest on the west coast and Langkawi, warm and humid | The best window for a peninsula and island trip |
| April to September | Hot, humid, scattered afternoon storms | Year round golf with early tee times, good value |
| October to December | Wetter, especially the east coast and Borneo | Plan around the monsoon by coast and play in the morning |
Malaysia is a tropical, year round destination. Play from first light to beat the heat and the afternoon thunderstorms, which usually clear quickly.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Els Club Teluk Datai | Around MYR 695 to 800 | Including a cart, subject to service charge, varies by season |
| Championship and resort courses | Around MYR 250 to 600 | Saujana, KLGCC, The Mines, Desaru and the rest |
| A week, all in | Around $2,000 to $4,000 per person | Several marquee courses, high quality hotels, transfers, excluding flights |
Indicative third party figures for the 2025 to 2026 seasons, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
Malaysia is easy to reach and easy to tour. Kuala Lumpur International is a major hub with direct flights from across Europe, the Gulf and Asia, and the capital's championship courses are within an hour of the city's hotels. Langkawi is a short domestic flight away and small enough to get around by taxi, while Johor in the south is reached through Singapore or Johor Bahru and Borneo by a longer flight to Kota Kinabalu. A private driver or a hire car links the Klang Valley courses comfortably, and most resorts arrange their own transfers.
Where to stay
Match the base to the leg. In Kuala Lumpur, a city centre hotel pairs the championship golf with some of the best food and shopping in Asia. On Langkawi, the luxury resorts around Datai Bay put the Els Club and the beach a few minutes apart, the perfect golf and rainforest finish. In the south, the Desaru Coast resorts keep the golf and the sea together, and in Sabah the Kota Kinabalu waterfront hotels anchor a Borneo trip. Book ahead in the December to March peak, and let one planner line up the right base for each leg.
Plan your Malaysia golf trip
Tell us the courses you want and roughly when. One concierge costs the whole trip to the head and replies within one working day, with no obligation.
Malaysia golf questions
What is the best golf course in Malaysia?
The Els Club Teluk Datai on Langkawi is widely rated the finest course in Malaysia and one of the best in Asia. Redesigned by Ernie Els and reopened in 2014, it is a par 72 of around 6,750 yards routed through ancient rainforest down to the Andaman Sea. The championship courses around Kuala Lumpur, Saujana and KLGCC among them, are close behind.
When is the best time to play golf in Malaysia?
Malaysia is a year round, tropical golf destination, so the best plan is to play early before the afternoon heat and the chance of a storm. The west coast and Langkawi are driest from roughly December to March, while the east coast and Borneo see more rain late in the year.
How much does a golf trip to Malaysia cost in 2026?
Malaysia is excellent value. Indicative 2026 green fees at the Els Club Teluk Datai run from around MYR 695 to 800 including a cart, while the championship and resort courses are often less. Paired with high quality, affordable hotels, a week typically lands between $2,000 and $4,000 per head excluding flights. Always confirm directly before booking.
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