The Mines Golf Club

Course Data
Location Salengor, Malaysia
Yardage 6771 yards　Par 71
Course Rating 72.7
Playing Date 19 July 2003 & 3 Feb 2015
Desingner Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Opened 1993
Caddy Yes
Golf Cart Yes (Can be driven on fairways)　
Rating
Overall Rating
4.60
Course Layout
4
Difficulty Level
4
Greens Conditions
5
Fairways Conditions
5
Landscaping & Views
5
Level of Satisfaction
5
 

This relatively flat, beautiful course was developed on the site of an "expired" tin mine. A huge lake and some lakes and creeks border the fairways and greens on this one of the most exclusive club in Malaysia. The course name "Mines" came from the tin mine.


view from 1st hole

view from 7th hole
view from 13th green
Lakes and creeks come into play at the front 9 holes while the back 9 are a forest course. The front 9 have open views or there are very few things to obstruct your vision. The front 9 and the back 9 look like a different course. It is especially fun to play at front 9. Over all, you need to decide where to land the ball and to hit very accurate tee shots each time in order to make a good score. Putting is also challenging as the greens are well undulatting. The rougting of the front 9 and the back 9 was reversed when I played in 2015.
 

Scorecard

When playing in Jul 2003 (Old version)

Hole 2　Par 5　557 yards
A signature hole. A dogleg to the left along a large lake. The landing area of the second shot is squeezed by the lake on the left and bunkers on the right. The left side of the green faces the lake and the green slopes from the right toward the left lake. The view of trees and the town buildings reflected on the lake is superb.
 

Hole 2　Par 5　557 yards (3)

Hole 2　Par 5　557 yards (2)

Hole 2　Par 5　557 yards (1)
　
Hole 3　Par 4　475 yards

Hole 3　Par 4　475 yards (2)

Hole 3　Par 4　475 yards (1)
A very long and straight par 4. The fairway slopes form the right to the left on the tee shot. You hit shots toward a hotel that looks like a mosque. The appearance of Islamic architecture behind the green is impressive.

　
Hole 4　Par 4　402 yards
An almost straight hole. Water comes into play on the right on the tee shot and another water comes into play on the left on the second shot.


Hole 4　Par 4　402 yards (3)

Hole 4　Par 4　402 yards (2)

Hole 4　Par 4　402 yards (1)
　
Hole 6　Par 4　291 yards

Hole 6　Par 4　291 yards (2)

Hole 6　Par 4　291 yards (1)
A very shot but interesting hole. A carry of 220 yards is needed to clear 2 bunkers on the center of the fairway. A long hitter can drive close to the green but when his shot is too much from the left to the right, it will be in a big lake bordering the right of the fairway. The green slightly slopes from the front to the back.
　
Hole 7　Par 3　182 yards

7th green seen from side

Hole 7　Par 3　182 yards
A beautiful par 3 over a large lake. The front and right sides of the green face the lake. The inverted reflections of buildngs of the other side of the lake, seen of the lake, are really impresive.
　
Hole 11　Par 3　170 yards

Hole 11　Par 3　170 yards
A par 3 over a ravine. The green is surrounded by trees. You feel like your are in a forest off the tee. This is not an easy hole as the ravine on the right of the green comes into play.
 
Hole 13　Par 4　435 yards
A slightly dogleg to the left, difficult hole. The fairway is somewhat generous but a large bunker on the left is well in play. The closer to the green, the narrower the fairway becomes. The whole left side of the green faces a lake and the green is no wide, so a well-stricken fade ball is required on the second shot. When you are not confident on the second shot, you should lay up right in front right of the green and try to save par with one chip and one put.
 

Hole 13　Par 4　435 yards (3)

Hole 13　Par 4　435 yards (2)

Hole 13　Par 4　435 yards (1)
　
Hole 14　Par 4　424 yards

Hole 14　Par 4　424 yards (2)

Hole 14　Par 4　424 yards (1)
A straight hole which requires very demanding tee shot. The landing area off the tee is considerably squeezed by water on the right and trees on the left. The green is slightly elevated and has subtle undulations.
　
Hole 17　Par 4　410 yards (1)
A uphill, dogleg to the right. You should avoid a series of bunkers at the right corner because they are deep. The fairway is wavy with OB on the right and left. The distance perspective will be difficult on the approach shot as it is uphill to a blind green.
 

Hole 17　Par 4　410 yards (3)

Hole 17　Par 4　410 yards (2)

Hole 17　Par 4　410 yards (1)
　
Hole 18　Par 4　437 yards

Hole 18　Par 4　437 yards (2)

Hole 18　Par 4　437 yards (1)
A dwohill, dogleg to the left. There are a deep forest to the left and 2 farway bunkers to the right off the tee. 2 bunkers protect the right side of the green. The teeshot is strongly dwonhill and the approch shot is flat.
　
19th　hole
It is a 30-minute drive from Central Kuala Lumpur and a 40-minute drive from the airport.

A Mahathir's house next to the 9th tee

Palace of the Golden Horses
You need to be accompanied by member to play. However, visitors can play on weekdays only if they use a golf package of staying at either one of 2 hotels, The Mines Resort or Palace of the Golden Horses. This package was very expensive compare to the average prices in Malaysia but was worth it because the course was great.

The Mines Resort

The Mines Resort
The Mines Resort
Top 100 Golf Courses (top100golfcourses.com) ranks The Minies GC as the 3rd best course in Malaysia in 2020, which has over 200 courses.


The other Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed courses in Malaysia are Bukit Jambul CC, Desaru G &CC, Pulai Springs Resort (Pulai Springs Course).

The golf club hosted the Carlsberg Malaysia Open 2003, PGA European Tour. The world cup of golf 1999 was also held at the golf club and the United States team, Tiger Woods & Mark O'Meara, won the event.

High-class residential area is in the course. I saw the villa of the former Prime Minister Mahathir.