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This course is set in a virgin tropical rainforests and nestled between
the majestic Mt. Machinchang, 750 meters (2500 ft.) high, and the sea.
The most of the original forest is left intact, so the course is built
though and around the jungle. The fairways are narrow and flanked by ancient
trees and most greens are also narrow and small as well. The accuracy
rather than distance is paramount. There are a lot of up & downs and
dogleg holes. Each hole varies to provide good course layout. You can
see the towering Mt. Machinchang from many holes. It is a little hidden
retreat for golfers.
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An almost straight par 4. Tropical rainforest guards the narrow fairway,
and comes into play off the tee. The green is narrow & deep. It is well
protected from both sides by bunkers.
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| A dogleg to the right, par 4. The tee ground offers a magnificent
view of towering mountain behind the green. The front of the green is protected
by 3 bunkers. There is a sharp drop off toward a pond on the right of the
green. |
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A dogleg to the left, very short par 5. The shallow but wide green is
guarded by bunkers on the front & at the rear, requiring an accurate
approach shot. I personally think that this hole should be changed from
an easy par 4 into a challenging par 5 to make it better.
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| A sharp dogleg to the left, par 5. The tee shot is over an
angled creek and the safe route is over a bunker requiring a carry of 200
yards. A big hitter can take the risk of playing left to reach the green
in 2. The second shot is over the creek which crosses the fairway and then
runs along the right side of the green. The green slopes from back to front.
The narrow & deep green is guarded from the front and both sides by
bunkers.
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| A straight & tight hole. The relatively narrow fairway
drops steeply down from just beyond 240 yards off the tee. The green is
narrow & deep. Well protected from the front & the right by bunkers.
A creek and a hollow guard the green from the left. |
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A dogleg to the left, downhill par 4. The second shot is a sharp downhill.
A large bunker guards the front left of the green which slopes slightly
down toward the back where another bunker lies in wait. A steep hollow on
the right of the green is in play, too. |
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A steep downhill, short par 4. This hole set in a jungle is picturesque.
A bunker protecting the back of the green is in play and there are a pond
and a pot bunker in front of the green, so the right club selection is important. |
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| A sharp dogleg to the right, par 4. The right side is fringed
by tropical rainforest, so a diver over 240 yards is needed to have a clear
view to the green. The longer the drive is, the narrower the landing area
becomes due to 2 fairway bunkers on the left. You can see the ocean extending
beyond the green from the second shot area. The front side of the green
is protected by 3 bunkers. |
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A challenging par 3 over the sea. The green is surrounded on three sides
b y the sea and a bunker protecting the front side of the green is also
in play, so an accurate shot is needed. This is normally the 19th hole but
can be exchanged for the real 17th par 3 177 yards. The dynamic layout with
the ocean coming into play should be included as the real 17th hole.
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It is a 35-minute drive from the Langkaui Airport and a 50-minute drive
from Kuah. The course is very close to The Datai Hotel and The Andaman
Datai Bay. The distance is in meters, so I have converted it in yards.
I could freely play from the back tees. Wantan Noodle Soup and Chees Burger
were delicious.
There are currently 3 courses in Langkawi, Gung
Raya GR, The GC Datai Bay and Langkawi GC. I didn’t play Langkaui
GC this time as the course doesn’t have a good reputation.
The course was chosen 10th top golf course in Malaysia by the readers’
poll of Golf Malaysia in 2002. The other Ted Parslow designed courses
in Asia are Dalit Bay GC, Sebana
GR in Malaysia and Amai GC in China.
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1st Par 4 398 yards (2)