Damai Laut Golf & Country Club

Damai Laut Golf & Country Club: This wonderfully peaceful and natural seaside resort, offers an abundance of fascinating excursions and activities, as well as an excellent Ron Fream designed golf course. Regularly voted one of Malaysia's most scenic layouts (and understandably so) Damai Laut is also one of the more challenging resort layouts, especially if attempted from the back tees with the afternoon wind blowing.

The front-nine (Lake course) introduces a pronounced elevation change at the dramatic and snaking par-5 2nd, with a dramatic descent to the front-nine's more characteristically flatter terrain. Within this relatively flat and open environment, many holes are dangerously flanked by lakes and ponds, with good bunkering and a line of palm trees also giving good definition to the holes.

The back-nine arguably contains some of the best holes, particularly as you get into the closing stretch. The very attractive island green par-3 13th is surrounded by sand rather than water, while the par-4 15th is regularly voted one of Malaysia's most scenic holes. After a semi-blind tee-shot, the approach is played to a green alongside the beach - affording wonderful views onto Senangin Bay (also known locally as Bay 7). An earlier visit to the ocean's edge is provided by the back-tee of the tough par-5 5th hole.

This well-maintained, challenging and at times dramatic resort course ends in fine style, with a tough semi-blind tee shot (the large rock is your marker) and then a testing approach over water to the slightly elevated final green.

With many views out to sea, as well as inland to ridges of jungle-clad hills, this well maintained and nicely presented layout will challenge and entertain in equal measure.