The Gunung Raya Golf Resort is located at the foothills of the majestic Gunung Raya (Celebration Mountain). The Langkawi golf course covers 300 acres of former rubber plantation land and was designed by renowned American golf architect Max Wexler. Gunung Raya has nice panoramic views and an impressive landscape. The Langkawi golf course opened for play in 1998 and they have held many amateur golf tournaments over the years.
Continuous remodelling keeps the course in good condition and almost everywhere you will see continuing maintenance taken place. Even the golf carts direction is peppered with yellow-colored blossoms and grasses. Most of the resort holes provide a picturesque perspective of rolling hills and mountains. For instance, the 1st hole from its raised tee, is a slight dogleg right with a nice view of Gunung Raya and the total course.
The fairways are wide which makes it easy to keep the ball in play. Bermuda grass ensures your ball sits nicely, waiting to be hit. There’s not much OB or hazards. The back nine has more water.
Some of the most notable holes include the 10th, a 500 meter par-5. The dogleg right hole has water running the entire length on the left while a hill serves as an obstacle to choose the tiger line towards to right. Littered with bunkers the fairway leads to a huge green which is fairly flat.
Hole 7 is a 207 meter par-3. Watch out for wind conditions and pin position for a good score on this long par three. The bunkers flanking the green and the two-tiered layout can pose problems to high handicappers. The challenging closing hole, a long 423 meter par-4, is tough to hit on regulation because of its uphill layout while two bunkers side by side on the right can add to the strokes. The elevated green calls for a lofted shot to seek the pin.
The clubhouse and practice facilities are adequate for the visiting Langkawi golfer. Overall Gunung Raya Golf Resort is a nice course to play in combination with other Langkawi golf courses. It won’t win any awards, but nevertheless makes for a good day out.