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This is a seaside course laid out near beautiful Damai Beach in a peninsula
protruding into the South China Sea. The front 9 is called as the Mountain
Nine and offers challenging golf in a rugged, natural rainforest setting.
It follows the contours of mountain foothills with the mountain providing
a wonderful backdrop. On the other hand, the back 9 is called as the Ocean
Nine and hugs the South China Sea, fringed by mangrove swamp forest, rocky
outcrops, scenic fairways and beautiful beaches with the coastal ranges
as the backdrop. Each 9 hole is different in character. It also features
that the greens are generally small, so demanding accurate approach shots.
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A short par 3 with an elevated green. There are 2 deep bunkers in front
right & left of the green and a stream running on the right. both hazzards
are waiting to make you pay for your errant shot.
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| A slight dogleg to the right. There is a wide landing area
for the tee shot but the fairway narrows as it reaches the green. Pay attention
to the lake guarding the left side of the fairway on the second shot. This
hole was chosen the third most difficult hole in Malaysia by the Golf Malaysia
readers’ polls of the year of 2004.
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A dogleg to the left. A lake on the left of the fairway on the tee shot
and another lake guarding the front right of the green on the second will
come into play.
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| A dogleg to the right. There is a big lake on the right, so
be careful of left to right balls on each shot.
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A beautiful straight hole with a mangrove swamp and the ocean on the left
and OB on the right. 3 bunkers on right & left of the narrow fairway
come into play on the tee shot, so tee shot should be accurate. The closer
to the green, the landing area become tighter as it is squeezed by the ocean
on the left and trees on the right. |
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| A spectacular par 4 with the ocean on the right from the tee
to the green and OB on the left. The second shot requires to clear a creek.
The closer to the green, more difficult it will be on this hole, too.
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A signature hole. It plays slightly downhill. The south China Sea covers
3 sides of the green. The club selection is important as the prevailing
wind very much will affect your shot. |
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A magnificent dogleg to the right. The entire left side is guarded by
the ocean and the entire right by trees. Moreover, landing areas of each
shot are tight, so precise shots are required. The view of the green,
a mountain behind it and a beach and the ocean is really wonderful. This
hole was chosen the second most scenic hole in Malaysia by the Golf Malaysia
readers’ polls of the year of 2004. Incidentally, my favorite 5th hole
of Shan Shui G&CC was chosen the third.
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It takes 30 minutes from Kuching City and 70 minutes from Kuching Airport
by car. It is a 1 hour 45 minutes flight from KL to Kuching. The direct
flights between Hong Kong and Kuching with one stop over at Kota Kinabalu
were available this time, so it was easy to move. 2 different Holiday
Inn Resorts are available within 5 minute by hotel shuttle car.
The course was chosen the 6th place in top 20 Malaysian Course excluding
by the Golf Malaysia readers’ polls of the year of 2004. The other Palmer
designed courses in Asia are 23 course in Japan including Forest
Miki GC, 2 courses in China to begin with Chun
Shan Hot Springs – Palmer Course, Emeraldo G&CC in Indonesia,
5 courses in Philipine to begin with Orchard
G&CC – Palmer Course, First Formosa CC and Formosa Yangmei CC,
2 courses in Korea to begin with Wuju Resort, and Sanctuary Cove - Pines
Course in Australia.
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3rd Par 3 147 yards (2)