Malaysia Golf Course Renovations to Watch in 2026
Malaysia's marquee resort golf is in the middle of a rolling upgrade. At Desaru Coast the Ernie Els designed Ocean Course is being refreshed nine by nine, with the rebuilt Ridge back in play and the Lakes nine now in the workshop. Here is what is changing in 2026 and how to plan around it.
The headline: the Ridge nine reborn at Desaru Coast
The biggest Malaysian story of the year is at The Els Club Desaru Coast, the Ernie Els designed resort about an hour from Singapore on the south east coast of Johor. The club's flagship Ocean Course is laid out as three nines, the Ridge, the Coast and the Lakes, and the Ridge nine reopened in April 2026 after a full enhancement. For a short window the club invited golfers to play all three nines, Ridge, Coast and Lakes, within a single month before the next phase of work began.
This matters for the visiting golfer because Desaru Coast is the engine room of a modern Malaysian golf trip. The resort sits alongside beach hotels, a waterpark and an easy ferry or causeway hop from Singapore, which makes it the natural base for a long weekend or a week of golf. A freshly rebuilt Ridge nine, maturing through 2026, sharpens the reason to put Desaru at the centre of the itinerary.
The Lakes nine enters its next phase
With the Ridge back open, attention turned to the Lakes nine, which entered its next phase of major renovation from the start of May 2026. The club's approach has been to keep the Ocean Course playable throughout by rotating the work nine by nine, so visitors still have a full eighteen holes of championship golf available while one loop is being upgraded.
The practical takeaway is simple. If you are routing a 2026 trip through Desaru, confirm at the time of booking exactly which nines are open, because the playable combination shifts as the rebuild rolls through the property. The golf on offer is excellent either way, but the specific holes you play will depend on the calendar.
The wider Malaysian picture
Beyond Desaru, Malaysia's strength is the depth and value of its established resort and parkland courses rather than a wave of brand new builds. The Els Club Teluk Datai on Langkawi remains one of the most scenic rounds in Asia, framed by rainforest and the Andaman Sea, while the Kuala Lumpur cluster around TPC Kuala Lumpur and Saujana gives a city based trip its tournament pedigree. None of these are being rebuilt in 2026, but they continue to present well and anchor a multi centre tour.
What the Desaru work signals is a willingness to keep reinvesting in the country's best resort golf. For a traveller weighing Malaysia against its neighbours, the upgraded Ocean Course is a reason to look again, especially paired with the ease of access from Singapore.
What it means for your trip
For a 2026 Malaysian golf trip the planning logic is clear. Use Desaru Coast as the centrepiece and pair it with either Singapore at the start or end, or a contrasting leg up to Langkawi for the rainforest golf of The Els Club Teluk Datai. Build the schedule around the nines that are confirmed open at Desaru, and treat the freshest reopening as a bonus to lock in at booking.
Green fees at the resort courses are quoted seasonally and shift with peak and shoulder demand, so treat any figure you see as indicative for the 2026 season and always confirm directly before booking. The one rule that always applies to renovation news is to verify the current state of play before you commit, because reopening dates and the available loops can move.
Our take
Malaysia has quietly built one of the best value resort golf scenes in Asia, and the staged rebuild at Desaru Coast is the clearest sign that the country intends to keep it sharp. The nine by nine method is sensible, keeping the Ocean Course open while each loop is improved, and it means a 2026 visitor can still play championship golf throughout the works. Our advice is to anchor a trip on Desaru, confirm the open nines when you book, and lean on the easy Singapore connection to build a trip that is bigger than the golf alone.
Plan your Malaysia golf trip
From the upgraded Ocean Course at Desaru Coast to the rainforest golf of Langkawi, tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs the trip, with no obligation.
Questions
Which course is being renovated at Desaru Coast in 2026?
The Els Club Desaru Coast's Ocean Course, an Ernie Els design laid out as three nines. The Ridge nine reopened in April 2026 and the Lakes nine entered its next phase of major renovation from May 2026. Confirm the open nines directly before booking.
Can you still play eighteen holes during the works?
Yes. The club has rotated the renovation nine by nine so the Ocean Course stays playable as a full eighteen throughout, though the exact combination of open loops shifts through the year.
How do most golfers reach Desaru Coast?
Desaru sits on the south east coast of Johor, roughly an hour from Singapore by road via the causeway or by ferry, which makes it a natural base for a trip combined with Singapore.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Renovation and opening details verified June 2026 from club, architect and golf media sources; projects and dates change, so always confirm directly. Last reviewed June 2026.