Gemas Golf Resort

Main Entrance of the Clubhouse

INTRODUCTION

Gemas Golf Resort (GGR) is located slightly more than a kilometre across the train tracks south-west of Gemas train station.  Officially opened in 1996, it is an 18 hole golf resort bordering forest reserve and an oil palm plantation.  It was develop by Mitnas Sdn. Bhd.

In its three storey clubhouse, it houses 32 hotel rooms, meeting and function halls, a golfers' terrace, changing and shower, and administration.  Swimming and wading pools are found at the back of the clubhouse.  I did see a sign pointing to the driving range but I missed it during my game there.  The terrace was not open; it could be due to the fact that my visit coincided with the Muslim fasting month.

The Clubhouse

Clubhouse Interior

Swimming & Wading Pool

THE COURSE

Before I continue, GGR is the most hilly course I have ever played.  Both front and back nines have identical distance of 2852 meters from blue tees.

Hole 10 - View from tee.

The front nine is more hilly with water hazards being almost none existence.  Sand hazards meanwhile are in positions that rarely affect play with the exception of hole 9 where a bunker is situated between two trees to trap drives of  approximately 190 meters from tee.  Water and sand hazards become more prominent in the back nine of the course.  On Hole 16, a minimum carry of 200 meters from tee box is required to ensure that your ball does not get stuck in the banks of the lake.  I gave up after loosing two balls into it ..... a humbling experienced indeed.

Hole 16 - View from tee.  If you hear 'thud', your ball is
stuck into banks of the lake.

Getting around the course can be confusing as there was insufficient sign-ages pointing directions from greens to the next tee which can be quite far apart for most.  Epitomising this matter best is the route between the green of Hole 6 to the tee box of Hole 7.  A recently build bridge across the nearby train tracks cuts through between these two holes forcing golfers to go through the bordering oil palm plantation, it was quite an unnerving experienced for a city guy.

The Bridge between the green of Hole 6
and tee box of Hole 7

Go onto the path that can be found on the
left of the 6th green.

Get through the above gate and take the path on the left
which will bring you to tee box of Hole 7.

Besides the above matter, stakes indicating distance to green was no where to be found maybe except one on Hole 1 or 2.  Bald patches on fairways was a fairly common sight and a few greens can be bumpy.  Fairways grass are cow and greens from what I gather is bermuda.  However the biggest problem yet to be mention are wild boars.  These creatures burrow many tee boxes, fairways and worst of all aprons rendering green side short play almost impossible.

Burrowing marks on apron done by wild boars.

NOTABLE HOLES


A Welcoming Par 3 - Hole 8, SI 18, 163 meters.
After going through prior holes that were quite poor, affected by upgrading works on the nearby train tracks and/or with barrowing marks of wild boars, the view from tee towards green on this hole was refreshing.  Not a very difficult hole to play except be prepared to use a long iron or wood 5.

Hole 8 - View from tee towards green.

Longest Par 4 - Hole 14, SI 4, 432 meters.

Can't remember ever hitting a par 4 that is longer than this one in GGR.  To compensate its extremely long distance, the fairway is straight with little undulation.

Hole 14 - View from tee.

A Tiring Par 5 - Hole 7, SI 1, 440 meters.

A slight dog left it is a undulating and slopping left uphill to the green.  The green is located at the top of a steep gradient hill.  Make sure you are physically fit if you choose to walk this course, if earlier holes have not tire you, Hole 7 will.

Hole 7 - View from fairway towards green.

Hole 7 - View from fairway, final push towards the top.

Over Designed? - Hole 16, SI 2, 475 meters.

Needing at least a carry of 200 meters to get across the water hazard safely is ...... crazy!  OK, I am a bit sore and my ego dented.  Need to find ways to increase my driving distance.

RATES        

Please contact GGR to confirm rates and promotions.

HOW TO GET THERE


As mention earlier, the train tracks in Gemas Town is being upgraded.  This has cause some parts of the roads nearby to be closed or rerouted.  At the time of writing this review, relying 100% on GPS or the map from GGR website, will not get you there.

From Gemas Town, drive on Jalan Batu Anam towards Segamat.  Just outside the town boundary which is denoted by an semi circle arch, turn right on the first junction.  It will lead you onto a dirt road and get you across the train tracks.  At the junction ahead turn right and drive on the main road and it will lead you into Taman Gemas Indah.  Continue driving into the this housing estate until reaching the edge, turn right and drive straight and it will lead you to GGR.  Anyway once across the train tracks earlier, there are some sign-ages pointing the way to GGR, so you shouldn't get lost.

Their address:

Gemas Golf Resort,

Lot. 1160, 73400 Gemas,

Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus,

Malaysia.

Tel: +6 07 - 9482687

Fax: +6 07 - 9482688

Website: www.gemasgolfresort.com

CONCLUSION

The clubhouse is quite impressive for a small town golf course resort but needs tweaking to make it more comparable to the ones in bigger towns like Melaka.  Its facilities are suitable for small groups be it overnight seminars or retreat.  

The hilly 18 hole golf course is challenging, interesting and has potential to be better.  However, a few pertinent issues need to be address and it must start by mitigating the affect of wild boars from the surrounding areas.

As a outstation golfer, I would not be playing in this course any time soon.  I would probably wait for the nearby train tracks upgrading works to be completed as it does affect the quality of the front nine and also keeping an ear for more positive feedback from other golfers in the future to indicate that the present issues have past.