| # I estimated the course rating as 75.7 to play
from gold tees, which is 350 yards longer and should be 1.5 point higher
than the blue tees which has the official rating of 74.2.
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This is a hillside course making great use of the natural terrain. Its
layout is superb with many impressive and memorable holes. Many greens
are small and flat, which is rare for a Nicklaus design. Most tee shots
are from elevated tees, so the total yardage of 7330 would be actually
7100 yards if the course were flat. However hazards come into play on
a lot of pivotal shots, so the course is very demanding. You play with
water hazards from the 11th to the 17th hole, which adds to the tensions.
It is a little regrettable that the green conditions were bad and the
greens were slow for such a great course.
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| A slight dogleg to the right with water on the right. The
tee shot is slightly uphill and the second and subsequent shots are slightly
downhill. On the tee shot, fairway bunkers sit on the right with portions
protruding into 1/3 portion of the way into the fairway forcing you to drive
to the left side. The second shot must keep straight or left to avoid the
next sets of bunkers protecting the right edge of the fairway. Be careful
of a bunker guarding the right front of the green as it is deep. |
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A slight dogleg to the right with a downhill tee shot. The right edge
of the fairway drops sharply down a steep slope into a jungle where it
is easy to lose a ball. The green is heavily guarded in the front by 3
deep bunkers.
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A very beautiful signature hole. A slight dogleg to the right with a
green further swung to the right. The tee shot is downhill and the landing
area is narrowed by a large bunker on the left and a series of 5 bunkers
on the right. There is a lake behind the right bunkers, which divides
into the split fairway. If you are confident of your distance and accuracy
on the second shot, you can hit onto the right fairway. To play safe,
you hit the second shot onto the left fairway and the third shot over
the water onto the green. The green is only 12-yards wide but deep and
makes for a difficult target. This is the hole where a good score will
depend on your skill as well as your game plan as you will have a few
decisions to make at the tee and a few more when you get down to your
ball.
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The green is one of the most interesting on the course. The entire right
half of the elevated green represents the ultimate in approach shots because
it is guarded by a deep bunker in the front and a steep slope around the
entire right, so on the second shot, no margin for error is allowed on the
right. |
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A dogleg to the left with a downhill tee shot. A narrow fairway snaking
diagonally right and flowing lazily left from about 15 meters (50 ft.)
below the panoramic tee box. A stream runs along the entire left side
of the fairway waiting for short drives or duck hooks. A carry of 230
yards is needed to clear the water. If you play safe driving to the left
side, the second shot will be long and it will be difficult to hit the
green in regulation. The second shot is straight and the small green is
guarded by water on the left and bunkers on the left and at the back.
This is a hole which requires both distance and accuracy on the tee and
second shots.
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A gentle downhill, dogleg to the left. A carry of 220 yards is needed to
clear a lake. The green is swung further to the left and its front borders
the water. |
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A scenic, downhill par 3. The peninsula-like green is surrounded by water
and bunkers, so the right club selection allowing for the downhill effect
is important. |
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An almost straight hole. A tight fairway with a stream on the left makes
the tee and second shots difficult. The green is elevated. |
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| A dogleg to the left, a long par 4. There are 2 distinct ways
to play this hole as the fairway is separated by a bunker in the middle.
The right fairway, which is shorter, needs a carry of 220 yards and its
narrow landing area is protected by bunkers on both sides, so a precise
shot is needed to avoid these bunkers. The fairway bunker on the right extends
onto the left of the green and its length is as much as 300 yards. The bunker
protecting the right of the green comes into play on both routes off the
tee.
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It takes 50 minutes from Johor Bahru City and 30 minutes from Johor Airport
by car. It also takes a little less than 2 hours from Singapore (Queens
Road) by taxi. Spa, sauna, fitness center and lodge are available.
The distances are in meters. To play from the longest gold tees, you
need to inform a starter that you are a single-digit handicap player.
The other Jack Nicklaus designed courses in Malaysia are Borneo
G&CC and Sungai Long G&CC, and Empire H&CC in the neighboring
country of Brunei.
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3rd Par 5 567 yards (3)