Pulai Springs Resort (Pulai course)

Pulai Springs Resort (Pulai course): GOLF COURSES WERE CLOSED IN 2019 ... probably on a permanent basis. Formerly home to two championship layouts, the higher-rated Pulai course now appears to host foot-golf and disc-golf. The shorter Melena layout seems to have been largely ploughed over. Check with resort (which remains open) for current status before planning a golf visit.

[Original Where2Golf description]: Although hi-density housing has started to press in on Pulai Springs on two sides, the excellent Pulai course still proves a challenging test, albeit with a little less jungle around it than in the past. Like its companion course, the Melana, the holes are laid out on constantly undulating, lightly tree-lined terrain.

Robert Trent Jones Jr's outstanding design, is given great character by its ever-threatening stylish bunkering. Although the good-width fairways will appeal to big-hitters, sand looms large for wayward drives and for approach shots that are either short or slightly offline to left or right. You will often get a great look at the hole ahead from several wonderfully elevated tee-boxes. The requirement is usually for a well-placed tee shot, then a carefully judged approach shot to an elevated green, often fiercely defended by a multiplicity of deep bunkering.

The downhill par-5 9th has the greatest elevation change, although it can be argued that the best holes come on the back-nine. The par-3 13th, with its island tee-boxes lined up towards a water-surrounded green, is one of the most memorable. Bunkers galore lie in wait at the short par-4 16th. Also in common with the Melana layout, the Pulai finishes with a long uphill par-4, played to a heavily bunkered and elevated green.

The presentation and maintenance here, never easy in tropical countries, is generally excellent. Beyond the course, large swathes of what was dense jungle have been cleared to make way for Johor Bahru's urban sprawl.