Carey Island Golf Club

An antique steam engine greets golfers at the club grounds.

INTRODUCTION

Carey Island?!  If you are not a native of Selangor, you would probably be surprise like me when I first heard of the place.  Fortunately (or not for some), the nationalistic fervour of the 1960' and 1970' did not erase the name of Valentine Carey from the map of Malaysia unlike some of his more famous countrymen like Sir Frank Swettenham (Port Swettenham to Port Klang) and Sir Charles Jessel (Jesselton to Kota Kinabalu).  This island is unique in that you would not know it is one due to its close proximity to the mainland; separated only by Sungai Langat.  I would not know its existence if not for Carey Island Golf Club, which to any avid golfer, its jewel.

Open for play in1930, this golf club must be among the oldest still in operation in this country.  It must have been built for the recreational use of the then Golden Hope Rubber Estate's management and staffs.  Over time rubber trees were replaced with oil palms and in 2007 Golden Hope merged with Guthrie and Sime Darby to create the world's biggest palm oil company under the banner of Sime Darby.  The purpose of the club thankfully remains the same today and is open to public when it is not in used by Sime Darby for its functions.

The Clubhouse

The clubhouse  and buildings nearby are of  British colonial era.  The first nine surrounds these buildings and from afar, the grounds look well kept and well landscape with tall matured trees, creating a stunning English countryside feel to the place.  I was half expecting a British planter in khaki pants, pith helmet and a walking stick to pass by as I drove towards the clubhouse.

View of Clubhouse from 1st Green.

View from varandah of Clubhouse looking out.

Facilities available at the clubhouse are swimming pools, games room, terrace (with limited menu) and changing / shower / toilet areas with tennis courts just adjacent.  The clubhouse is the size of a large bungalow built in 1920's with a touch of modern amenities.  Unfortunately the swimming pools, games room and tennis courts are reserve for the use of Sime Darby's management and staffs only.


THE COURSES


Carey Island Golf Club (CIGC) has two courses of nine holes.  They both are par 36 with the front nine called  Plantations Heritage at 2760 meters from blue tees and the back nine or Tropical Links longer at 3175 meters.  While the club has been in existence over eighty years, Tropical Links course was only opened for play sometime in the first decade of the 21st century.


Carey Island was formerly a swamp land 2 meters below sea level; dykes were built to keep sea water out.  Because of its topography, fairways are generally quite flat with greens mounted slightly higher.  Sand hazards are sufficiently place especially those protecting greens; unfortunately some bunkers have grass growing in them.  Water hazards meanwhile consist of little ponds and monsoon drains with exception of one between hole 14 and 15 which is quite scenic.  Overall water hazards have little affect on play but locating some of them on flat ground can be tricky.  Grass on fairways is cow with greens having Serangoon and/or Paspalum.  Buggy is only available for the back nine.


Plantation Heritage Course and the buildings it surrounds have aged gracefully with matured trees and beautiful landscaping.  It would seem that its designers wanted to minimise the space used as the nine holes seem to be cramp near to each other.  This cramp situation is especially noticeable for the first four holes where in order to increase distance dykes have been used as tee box, roads become hazards and  fairways almost criss crosses each other.  Further on this point, the shortest par 4 that I have ever played until now is in this course, which is Hole 4 at 239 meters.

Tee Box 2 on top of a dyke.  Also in the picture fringe of the 1st green and road further ahead.

The contrast between the two nines are almost like night and day.  Tropical Links Course is spacious with  hardly any trees for shade.  Also, this course is long with two par 4s over 400 meters in length  which I have never encountered until now (Hole 11 - 410 meters and Hole 15 - 421).  Nearest trees are those at the fringe of the plantation or nearby forest which hardly affect play.  What it lacks in shot changing trees, this course has tall grasses and ferns at the side of fairways.  For safety reasons do avoid searching your ball in them unless your club is a magic wand and your name is Harry.  While the front nine has an English feel, the back nine due to its large open space has a whiff of a certain golf club in Scotland ....... . Overall the front nine looks better and more well kept than the back nine.

View from tee boox to fairway - Hole 17, large open space with tall rough.

Bridge over a drain - fairway of Hole 18.  Look familiar?

NOTABLE HOLES


The Most Scenic - Hole 1
August 5 this year, Natalie Gulbis tee off at this hole as part of the tour to promote Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia 2011.  She later planted a tree to commemorate the event witness by many of the conglomerate's 'big wigs'.  Being the 'first impression' for the club and more importantly a promotional tool for Sime Darby, this hole gets extra attention from the ground staffs.  Located at the front of the clubhouse, this par 3, SI 18, 153 meters hole has a well landscape garden with water features in the middle of the fairway.

View from tee box towards green - Hole 1.  Note the garden with water features ahead.

Tree planted by Natalie Gulbis .... well the plaque at least.

Triple Dog Leg - Hole 5
This is a par 5, SI 2, 480 meters hole.  The fairway dog leg to the right, then to the left and finally to the right again before reaching the green.  Reaching the green in three strokes is unlikely for most average players.  This hole is the first and only triple dog leg I have encountered thus far.

View from tee box - Hole 5.  Note the dog leg right.

View from fairway towards green - Hole 5.  After  a dog leg left,
the fairway dog leg right again.

Short but Challenging - Hole 9

Hole 9 - View from fairway towards fairway.

The first thought that came into my mind was how am I supposed tee off for this 287 meters, par 4 SI 6 hole.  From tee box, the fairway look extremely narrow.  The course is dissected into three sections with a monsoon drain about 160 - 175 meter from tee box and a road another 40 - 50 meters ahead.  Confident to carry 180 meters straight?  If not lay up with a seven iron.

The Longest Par 4 - Hole 15
At 421 meters with SI of 3, this is the longest par 4 I have ever played thus far.  Besides being long, other memorable features of this hole are that it starts to severely dog leg left at about 250 meters from tee and bunkers are littered aplenty on left of fairway (I stop counting after ten).

GETTING THERE

Exit Lebuhraya Kesas into Jalan Kelang - Banting.  Drive towards Banting, you will see Teluk Panglima Garang Free Trade Zone along the way.  Continue driving towards Banting and in about 2.5 km you will come to a roundabout.  Take second exit from the roundabout and in 1.3 km turn right at the cross junction which leads to the bridge linking Carey Island.  Approximately 5 km after the bridge turn right into the junction.  Get down and register at the police post, drive into the plantation following its main road and in about 12 km you will get into the club grounds after the a palm oil mill.

Get down and register.
 Note: This is one of a few police post on the island.

Below is the address of the club, however I think it would be of little help.  If want to contact the club which is private, do drop a comment and contact.  Will try to get back to you with their permission, the club's number listed in Golf Malaysia Magazine is no longer in use.

Carey Island Golf Club

West Estate

Selangor 42960

View Carey Island Golf Club in a larger map

CONCLUSION

  

Carey Island Golf Club have courses that touches different extremities.  One seem short and compress and the other long and wide.  One old and has matured gracefully and the other new, raw with potential to be moulded into a good if not a great course. With Sime Darby's financial muscle, I do believe it is a matter of time. One club with two different experiences for golfers.  Even though the front nine as mentioned earlier is better, both courses are playable for an average player.  One club with two experiences for an avid golfer, a gem really.


However do note that there times to avoid the club.  A flip side of dykes is that they also keep water in, drainage is poor and grounds can be soggy after a heavy rain.  Apparently minor flooding do occur from time to time. 

If you have time after a game, do visit the Mah Meri village.  The Mah Meris are the aborigines of the island and they are famous for their wood carvings.  Finish your day by having dinner in one of the few restaurants as you drive out of the island after the bridge.

Some final words, bring your own bath towel as the club does not provide them to golfers.  Also note that the scorecard provided has mistakes in them especially about the back nine.


 

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.

Port Klang Golf Resort Review

Entrance to the Club

Introduction

Port Klang Golf Resort  (PKGR) is located in the south west end of Tanjung Harapan, Port Klang; facing the sea on the west and south and bordering factories and godowns on north, north east and east.  It is a 18 hole golf course with 12 chalets for rent.  The club house facilities are modest at best housing a cafe, administration office and changing rooms.

The Club House

There are tennis courts next to the clubhouse and a swimming pool less than 100 meters away, unfortunately both these facilities are not open for use at this moment.  Its driving range is situated in between the fairways of Hole 1 and 9.

The Driving Range Complex

The course was opened for play in 1991 and according to Mr. George Ngoh the Acting General Manager there, it was built by a company call Eastern Green.

The Course

The two nines have equal length of 3,196 m each. The front nine course rating is 72.3 while the back is 70.3.  Slope ratings are 126 and 123 respectively, higher than world's average of 113.  With the exception of a few, fairways are generally wide.  

According to the resort, grass on fairways is Bermuda while greens are turf with Serangoon.  However I did notice patches of different grasses on fairways and some greens have patches of sand on them.  

Patches of sand on some greens.

Two outstanding features of the course here are that the terrain is flat (the flattest I have played thus far) and that there are many ponds in it which I estimate to be not less than ten in total.  These features are probably due to the fact that PKGR was built on what was once a swamp land.  Hence the choice of Serangoon for greens is not surprising as this grass thrive in our tropical climate and even survive short period of flooding.

While water hazards are prominent they do not require long carry to get over them (you may have notice that I mentioned ponds and not lakes earlier, what they lack in size they compensate with quantity).  Besides ponds, another type of water hazard that exist here are monsoon drains that criss crosses into the course.  At 100 - 150 meters, the flat terrain makes water hazards that dissects into fairways not easily visible.  I sank one ball into a pond and saw another bounced up high as it hit the angle wall of a monsoon drain due to this factor.  

Hole 2 - View from fairway to green.  Did not realised that the pond
 'cove' into the fairway when I took the second shot towards the green.

Monsoon Drain in PGKR

This may sound clinched; sand hazards are sufficiently included into the fairways and sides of greens.  However they are inconsistent in terms of quality from one to another.  Some are okay but terribly raked others have pebbles to large stone in them.  Some bunkers do not have rakes but the ones that do, have DIY type as the picture below.

Rake - pleaselah!

Pebbles and Stone in Bunkers

Notable Holes
The Most Challenging - Hole 11
For me this par 4 hole is the most challenging despite having the second lowest stroke index (SI) of 2 as  Hole 8 has SI of 1.  The fairway is narrow sandwich by tall trees with wide overhanging branches.  Anything less than a perfect drive will cause your ball to be trap by the web of branches.

Hole 11 - View from tee 

Hidden Water Hazards - Hole 2 & 8

As mention earlier, one of my shots resulted my ball sinking into a pond and another bouncing off the monsoon drain wall.  They happened on these par 4 Hole 2 (SI 7) and 8 (SI 1) respectively due to PGKR's  (wait for it .......) flat terrain that hides these hazards from view until it is too late.

Hole 2 - View from tee.

Hole 8 - View from tee

Something Different to Finish - Hole 18
This par 4 SI 10 hole requires a golfer's swing  to carry the ball not only over water hazard but also over trees get it into the 'dog left' fairway.  To me, this hole offers the best view from tee box to green among the 18 holes here.

Hole 18 - View from tee.

Transportion of Choice

Have you heard or ride on a turfmate?  Well below is a picture of the one I rode on this course.  I just love it, feels like riding a jet ski on land minus the speed.  Be careful of potholes and drain trenches on fairways though, they can more than rattle your clubs when you go over them too fast.

Turfmate

Rates

Weekdays - RM87.80 for 18 and RM50.10 for 9 inclusive of turfmate and insurance.

Weekends and Holidays - RM140.00 for 18 and RM82.50 for 9 inclusive of turfmate and insurance.

However, please do contact the club to confirm rates and promotions.

How to Get There

As the resort is located near the busiest port in Malaysia, there are many routes that link to it.  As a picture says a thousand words and I have found a way to link maps to the blog, kindly refer below if you want to have a flight at the resort.

View Larger Map

Conclusion

Conditions of the resort do suggest that it is going through a rough patch.  George and his team have manage to get the basic infrastructure going which makes the course playable but for greater golfing experience some improvements are clearly needed.  Considering the cost of playing in other more well known courses further inland, at RM87.80 for 18 holes PKGR does offer good value.  If you are nearby and game for an easy fuss free round of golf with friends and/or family do try the course and enjoy the turfmate ride.  Once there, do finish the day with seafood dinner nearby which I hope to do soon with some of my golfing buddies.

Orna Golf and Country Club

This review is in honour of my buddy's brother in law, Keith; who I had the pleasure of having a flight with as part of his birthday celebration not so long ago.  May you have many, many more birthdays and be bless with more time on this game.  Hope to have a flight with you when I re-visit Perth one day soon. Your shout, okay?

   

ORNA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB REVIEW

Entrance to the club grounds

INTRODUCTION
Orna Golf and Country Resort or Orna Resort as it more popularly known is a 27 holes championship golf course with up-scale residential development within its vicinity. Open for play since 1997 it was designed by Andy Dye, a pedigree third generation world renown golf course developer and architect from the Dye clan of United States. Andy's CV includes 300 golf courses of which 14 are on the list of top 100 golf courses in the world (www.diamondbaygolf.com). Its pronounce undulating fairways and greens with strategically located sand and water hazards, package with wide fairways make the three nines challenging and yet allowing average golfers to thoroughly enjoy themselves.


The clubhouse was visually overwhelming as I drove to drop my golf bag. It has a large foot print with multi level roof which makes it look like many of the oversize local government buildings in this country. Besides basic amenities it houses a Chinese restaurant, a pro shop and a tavern on the ground level. Cafe is on the lower ground while the swimming pool is at the back. Apparently it also houses 15 guest rooms, conference rooms and a banquet hall, hence justifying its size. A stone throw distance from the clubhouse you will find a two tier 44 bay driving range and tennis courts slightly further. Orna Resort also offers 3 or 6 bedroom bungalows for rent.  Overall, the facilities here are well maintained.

The Clubhouse

The Swimming Area

The Cafe

THE COURSES
The three nines in Orna Resort are called East (hole 1 - 9), West (hole 10 -18) and North (hole 19 - 27) Courses. Distance from the blue tees are 3066m, 3133m and 2796m respectively. The common feature of these courses are that most fairways are wide with heavy undulation and guarded by uphill like embankment at least on one side. These embankments have assisted many wayward drives from going out of bounds. Sand traps are incorporated generously; some fairway bunkers are long linking to green bunkers.  Also included are long bunkers which run along some of the water hazards, can't say if they are considered as waste bunkers as the sand in it are well raked. Water hazards are prominent in the courses however they do not really require long carries over them. Like fairways, many greens are undulating. Grass on fairway is bermuda, generally well kept while greens have tidwarf. I did notice dark brown patches on quite a few of the greens but they are more of a visual distractions than anything else.


The highest slope rating (SR) among them is the West Course with rating of 129, followed by the East Course (125) and North Course (120) which make them slightly above the worldwide average of 113. The rank of difficulty among these three courses seem to be in the right order after playing all three nines in two outings here.  My "archilles heel" and I believe most bogey players' are long par fours.  The average par four distance for West Course is 364m with longest par four is Hole 18 at 399m and shortest, Hole 10 at 319m.  Second longest average par fours is the East Course at 348m followed by North at 311m; hence according to my simple deduction the corresponding SR.


My Favourite of the three courses is without doubt the West Course, this is probably due to the fact that it provides greater diversity among its holes compared to the other two. In here lies Orna's signature hole; Hole 12, a full water carry 157m par 3 island green ala Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass' Hole 17 in Florida while another of its par three Hole 17, features sand hazard that requires a full carry of 135m.  My least favourite is the North Course even though it is the easiest of the three. This nine seem totally different from the other two nines in terms of outlook, quality and upkeep by grounds personnel.


Orna Resort is the only club in Melaka that boast of night golfing facility, however it is only available for play on selected Fridays.  

View of Course from Clubhouse

NOTABLE HOLES
The Most Challenging - Hole 7
While Hole 3 has a stroke index (SI) of 1, to me the most challenging is the 482m, par 5, SI 3 Hole 7. After the driving into a two tier like fairway, the second stroke is a blind shot downhill to lay up for the third stroke.  Another route is to hit the second shot over water into the fairway across the lake but you better come prepared to hit with 3 wood.

Hole 7 - View from tee

Hole 7 - View from fairway, lay up nearer to the
lakeside or take a risky shot with a long carry
over water. 

The Signature Island Green - Hole 12

Hole 12 - View from tee; inspired by TPC at Sawgrass'
Island Green designed by Andy's kin Alice Dye?

On Dragon's Back - Hole 14

Hole 14 - View from tee, bunkers and mounts in
centre of fairway.

Fairway Bunker with Thick Front Lip

The feature of this hole is the ridge with bunkers in the middle of the fairway.  These bunkers come with high mounts in front; targeting the green from here is definitely not recommended.  Going left of the ridge will require the second shot to carry over water to green while going to the right increases distance.  This hole is 396m, the second longest par 4 with SI of 2; long and difficult.

Sand Hazard Surrounding Green - Hole 17 

Accuracy is needed for this 135m par 3 SI 3 hole.  A total contrast to hole 12 which requires a carry over water, this hole requires a carry over sand.

Finishing the Game - Hole 9 & 18

These to holes are side by side separated by a lake with a view of the Clubhouse from tee to green.  Both are par 4 with the later as mention earlier is the longest par 4 at 399m with SI of 6.  Hole 9 is slightly shorter with  at 374m with SI of 5.

Hole 9 - View from tee.

Hole 18 - View from tee.

RATES

GETTING THERE

Orna Resort is approximately 20 minutes from Ayer Keroh Interchange of the North - South Highway and about 40 minutes from Melaka Town.  From the interchange drive down towards the city approximately 3.7 km and you will see World Youth Foundation Building on your left before a cross junction.  Turn left at the junction and continue driving this road for about 5.0 km and you will see Orna Resort's signboard on your  right.  Their address and contact as below:

Batu 16, Jalan Gapam,

77200 Bemban, Melaka.

Tel: +6 06 5210333  Fax: +6 06 5210222

email: ogcc@ornaresort.com.my