Kelab Golf Sarawak a challenging 36 hole layout near Kuching City
Kelab Golf Sarawak (Sarawak Golf Club) is the closest golf course to the center of Kuching City and is the only 36-hole golf course in Sarawak, Malaysia.
The course consists of the south
facing Matang/Santubong 18 and Siol/Demak 18 in the northern direction.
There are total two 18-hole golf courses on flat terrain, making
exquisite use of water hazards.
The Matang Nine and the Santubong
Nine make up one 18-hole course called “Old Course” while the Siol Nine
and the Demak Nine make up the other 18-hole course aka “New Course”
that opened in 1989. The old course is a little longer, has faster
greens, and is the better of the two layouts.
The Matang/Santubong course name comes from Sarawak’s well-known geographical landmarks, the two famous mountain ranges – Santubong and Matang. The mountains themselves are clearly visible 25 kilometers from the golf course. The 6,394 meter par-72 championship course is designed to test a player’s ball-striking accuracy and course management skills. It comes with a combination of undulating Paspalum grassed fairways and strategically positioned hazards to provide a significant challenge to both high handicappers and scratch players alike.
Some memorable holes include the par-3 3rd over water. A lake guards not only the front side of the green but also front and back bunkers protect the narrow green. An accurate tee shot is needed to par this hole. The 4th is a 435 yard par-4 and dogleg to the right. Water comes into play on the right and OB on the left. The second shot is over water, and while the left needs to be avoided to miss another greenside lake. Bunkers protecting both sides of the green come into play, too.
The 12th hole is a 377 yard par-4. An accurate tee shot is required as the width of the fairway is only 20 yards at the landing area. There is another lake, which surrounds the right and back of the green. A large bunker protecting the left frontage of the green comes into play, too.
The signature hole 17 is a short par-3 with a lake on the left. It plays to a small and double-tiered green that and slopes sharply from the front toward the right back to the direction of the water.
The Siol/Demak 18 located in the northern side of the clubhouse. It is also a par-72 championship course but is slightly shorter in length at 6,224 meters. The New Course was re-designed by Nigel Douglas in 200 who also developed Kota Permai in Kuala Lumpur with Ross Watson. Every hole was re-routed, and all greens, tees, bunkers, and turf grass were newly built. As a result, the course is more challenging in that there are numerous hazards, with a good mix of bunkers, and lakes. Seasoned players and single handicappers tend to regard it as a less challenging course. Nevertheless, its narrow fairways and numerous water hazards at every bend fringing the fairways down the stretch require precision ball striking skills and accurate placement game. Wayward shots off the tee would invariably result in the balls rolling or diving direct into the many ponds guarding the par-3 holes, as exemplified by hole-6 at Siol 9.
In addition to golf, KGS is complete with lighted driving range and clubhouse catering to every golfer needs. The clubhouse with its highly unusual architecture bears a resemblance of an outstanding pyramid from the ancient land of the Pharaoh. There is nothing old about what one can find within this unique building though. The F&B outlets provide a wide range of Chinese, Western, Japanese, and Thai cuisines. While enjoying the food at the Pavilion and the Golfer’s Terrace, one could have a breathtaking view of the finishing holes at Matang and Santubong nines.
