WHERE THE GRASS IS GREENER

David Bowden visits several of the region's most enthralling courses to appreciate that golf is often greener here than in many other parts of the world.

- DAVID BOWDEN

Southeast Asia is a golfer’s paradise, offering a compelling mix of championship courses, varied landscapes, and cultural immersion. With some 1,000 courses, Southeast Asia delivers variety, diversity, and discovery for golfers of all abilities. In Thailand, courses like Black Mountain are carved into the dramatic terrain, combining challenging fairways with

mountain vistas. Indonesia’s Nirwana Bali course offers the rare chance to play alongside ancient temples and a dramatic coastline. Malaysia’s Els Club Desaru integrates world-class design with uncrowded coastal beauty, while some fairways of Vietnam’s Laguna Lăng Cô are crafted through verdant padi fields.

The region’s tropical climate ensures year-round play, although mountain courses are popular for their temperate weather. The hospitality is welcoming, with caddies an integral part of the experience on many courses. What’s unusual is how courses often intertwine heritage with nature, from forested fairways of the exclusive, nine-hole Sarawak Matang Jungle Golf to courses in the shadows of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.

Of course, Southeast Asia also delivers unforgettable journeys. It’s where passion for the sport meets the allure of exotic cultures, making every round more than just a game, but a memorable adventure. Here are some iconic courses that continually impress.

THE ELS CLUB DESARU COAST, MALAYSIA