A unique opportunity came my way a couple of years ago. I got a phone call from the Tourism Malaysia station inquiring whether I’d like to fly to Malaysia and play Kota Permai Golf and Country Club. After recovering from the initial shock, I rushed to pack as I was to leave in two weeks. Soon I was on board a Malaysian Airlines Airbus A330 bound for Kuala Lumpur.
My guide Adib, proudly showed off the new government city of Putra Jaya where the government had relocated all government offices in an effort to decongest Kuala Lumpur. The city is built around a series of man-made waterways spanned by bridges of varying designs. The government offices are a sight to see. The architecture is a unique blend of Muslim and modern architecture and uniquely Malaysian. Chief attractions are the palace of the Sultan of Selangor and the RoyalPalace of the Prime Minister. We didn’t tary here for very long but I’d love to spend at least an entire day exploring the new Malaysian capital city.
Malaysia has blossomed into an amazing country. The place is so organized and the people there are so proud of their country and where it’s headed. Tourism is at an all time high in spite of the AH1N1 advisories; Malaysia now ranks second to China in terms of the amount of money generated by tourism in Asia and they’re not sitting on their laurels. If anything, their success has made them market their country more aggressively than ever.
The next day, I and golf writers from Indonesia, Thailand, Japan and France were bussed to Kota Permai Golf and Country Club, the jewel of the 1,820 acre township developed by Hicom Gamuda in Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam in the Malaysian state of Selangor. Kota Permai (whose name means serene and beautiful in Malay) is an award winning golf course. In just four years, the club was voted Malaysia’s Number One Golf Course by leading magazine, Golf Malaysia in 2001/2002 and again in 2004/2005. The club was also voted the Most Memorable Golf Course and the par four second hole was recognized as the most beautiful in Malaysia in the same poll. The golf course aside, the club has also been recognized for it’s management, efficiency, leadership and innovation. The club was the proud recipient of the American Business Initiative Directions’ (BID) Quality Summit International Award in the Gold Category presented in New York. What made the BID award extra special was the fact that Kota Permai was the only Malaysian business entity amongst the 64 countries present at the New York convention.
The championship golf course was designed by Australian golf course architect Ross Watson. Since its opening in March 1998, Kota Permai has captured the hearts and imagination of the Malaysian golfing fraternity. Watson’s intelligent design is challenging yet fair, with playing options for all levels of golfers. The layout features a tantalizing mix of straight holes and doglegs, while scenic water hazards and sculptured bunkers add to the challenge. The course measures 6,396 meters from the tips and is a true championship test. The course was the site of the $2M Maybank Malaysian Open, the World Cup Qualifier in 2005 and was the inaugural host of the Asian Cup of Nations in 1999 just a year after the course opened its doors.
The rolling fairways are planted with Zoysia and the large undulating greens with Tiftdwarf. Kota Permai is famous for the speed of its greens. When I played the greens were rolling 10.5 on the stimp which I learned was typical at the club. That might not seem so bad to some, but when combined with the sometimes severe undulations, they can be extremely difficult to putt. The fairways are lined with oil palms and a tasteful blend of tropical foliage and are alive with the songs of hundreds of birds. The golf course is completely lit so that sunset doesn’t mean an end to the golf here.
The opening hole is a gentle introduction to the Hicom Nine. The long hitters will relish having a go as the fairway is generously wide. They can reach the well-bunkered green in two while those who lay up will need to stay clear of several fairway bunkers. Deceptive hollows on the right of the green add to the difficulty. The par four second hole is the most beautiful hole on the golf course. With a water hazard stretching along the left of the fairway and snaking to the front of the green, two solid shots are needed to hit the green. Fairway bunkers are placed strategically and the approach landing area on the fairway is blind from the tee box. An added attraction is a large rendition of a squirrel, the course’s logo on the left side of the fairway as you approach the green.
Three is a difficult par 4 that measures 380 meters from the tips. The fairway slopes markedly from left to right making placement of the tee shot critical and will present the golfer that fails with a difficult stance. Three bunkers guard the entrance to the green. Four is a long par 3 175 meters in length. Water lines the right side and the heavily sloped green will provide a stiff challenge to the golfer. The scenic par five 5th hole can be reached in two by long hitters. A waterway runs along the right side of the fairway and through the front of the green and this makes precision a must.
The 408-meter 8th is the one handicap; the most difficult hole on the golf course. Water lurks along the right while bunkers come into play to catch the errant tee shot. The approach must carry bunkers to find a very deceptive green. Nine is no picnic either. This is a difficult driving hole with a narrow fairway guarded by trees on the right and bunkers on the left. The approach shot plays uphill to a green that is severely sloped from front to back.
The first few holes on the Gamuda nine seem to offer a bit of a respite as the first four holes present your best opportunities to score on this nine. They lull you to sleep and set you up for number 15. The 408-meter, index two hole requires a long and accurate drive as out of bounds and bunkers lurk on the right and a watery grave on the left. Sixteen is another demanding driving hole with water and trees in play. The fairway is narrow but a good tee shot will set up your approach into an angled, well bunkered green. The finishing hole is a superb, 517-meter par 5. From the elevated tee box, golfers are greeted by a panoramic view where the magnificent clubhouse provides the backdrop from a distance. Strategically placed bunkers on the fairway and by the green ensure a tough finish to the round.
The club is well appointed and possesses a range of other facilities to complement the golf. A completely furnished fitness gym, swimming pool, squash, badminton, tennis and table tennis are at your disposal here. Other activities such as pilates, tai-chi, taekwondo, yoga, aerobics and line dancing are also conducted regularly for the members pleasure allowing families to enjoy Kota Permai together.
Kota Permai is a superb golf course and a fine place to spend a golf holiday. Factor in the wide range of shops and restaurants and the sights of downtown KL and this could well be some of the best golf available in Southeast Asia. I enjoyed my round here immensely and recommend it without reservation.
Image credits: Mike Besa