The Golf Club Datai Bay

Course Data
Location Langkawi, Malaysia  
Yardage 6555 yards Par 72  
Course Rating    
Playing Date 24Mar. 2008  
Desingner Ted Parslow  
Opened 1992  
Caddy No  
Golf Cart Yes (Compulsory and can be driven on the fairways)  
Rating
Overall Rating
4.60
Course Layout
5
Difficulty Level
3
Greens Conditions
4
Fairways Conditions
4
Landscaping & Views
6
 

This course is set in a virgin tropical rainforests and nestled between the majestic Mt. Machinchang, 750 meters (2500 ft.) high, and the sea. The most of the original forest is left intact, so the course is built though and around the jungle. The fairways are narrow and flanked by ancient trees and most greens are also narrow and small as well. The accuracy rather than distance is paramount. There are a lot of up & downs and dogleg holes. Each hole varies to provide good course layout. You can see the towering Mt. Machinchang from many holes. It is a little hidden retreat for golfers.



A view of the 6th green

A view from the 17th tee


A view from 17th green

A view from the 18th tee

Flowers to color the course

 
1st Par 4 398 yards

1st Par 4 398 yards (2)

1st Par 4 398 yards (1)
An almost straight par 4. Tropical rainforest guards the narrow fairway, and comes into play off the tee. The green is narrow & deep. It is well protected from both sides by bunkers.

2nd Par 4 382 yards
A dogleg to the right, par 4. The tee ground offers a magnificent view of towering mountain behind the green. The front of the green is protected by 3 bunkers. There is a sharp drop off toward a pond on the right of the green.
 

2nd Par 4 382 yards (3)

2nd Par 4 382 yards (2)

2nd Par 4 382 yards (1)

6th Par 4 470 yards

A dogleg to the left, very short par 5. The shallow but wide green is guarded by bunkers on the front & at the rear, requiring an accurate approach shot. I personally think that this hole should be changed from an easy par 4 into a challenging par 5 to make it better.

 

6th Par 4 470 yards (3)

6th Par 4 470 yards (2)

6th Par 4 470 yards (1)

8th Par 5 535 yards
A sharp dogleg to the left, par 5. The tee shot is over an angled creek and the safe route is over a bunker requiring a carry of 200 yards. A big hitter can take the risk of playing left to reach the green in 2. The second shot is over the creek which crosses the fairway and then runs along the right side of the green. The green slopes from back to front. The narrow & deep green is guarded from the front and both sides by bunkers.


8th Par 5 535 yards (3)

8th Par 5 535 yards (2)

8th Par 5 535 yards (1)

11th Par 4 406 yards
A straight & tight hole. The relatively narrow fairway drops steeply down from just beyond 240 yards off the tee. The green is narrow & deep. Well protected from the front & the right by bunkers. A creek and a hollow guard the green from the left.
 

11th Par 4 406 yards (3)

11th Par 4 406 yards (2)

11th Par 4 406 yards (1)
 
13th Par 4 387 yards

13th Par 4 387 yards (2)

13th Par 4 387 yards (1)
A dogleg to the left, downhill par 4. The second shot is a sharp downhill. A large bunker guards the front left of the green which slopes slightly down toward the back where another bunker lies in wait. A steep hollow on the right of the green is in play, too.
 
15th Par 4 385 yards

15th Par 4 385 yards
A steep downhill, short par 4. This hole set in a jungle is picturesque. A bunker protecting the back of the green is in play and there are a pond and a pot bunker in front of the green, so the right club selection is important.
 
16th Par 4 385 yards
A sharp dogleg to the right, par 4. The right side is fringed by tropical rainforest, so a diver over 240 yards is needed to have a clear view to the green. The longer the drive is, the narrower the landing area becomes due to 2 fairway bunkers on the left. You can see the ocean extending beyond the green from the second shot area. The front side of the green is protected by 3 bunkers.
 

16th Par 4 385 yards (3)

16th Par 4 385 yards (2)

16th Par 4 385 yards (1)
 
17th Par 3 191 yards

17th Par 3 191 yards
A challenging par 3 over the sea. The green is surrounded on three sides b y the sea and a bunker protecting the front side of the green is also in play, so an accurate shot is needed. This is normally the 19th hole but can be exchanged for the real 17th par 3 177 yards. The dynamic layout with the ocean coming into play should be included as the real 17th hole.

19th hole

It is a 35-minute drive from the Langkaui Airport and a 50-minute drive from Kuah. The course is very close to The Datai Hotel and The Andaman Datai Bay. The distance is in meters, so I have converted it in yards. I could freely play from the back tees. Wantan Noodle Soup and Chees Burger were delicious.

There are currently 3 courses in Langkawi, Gung Raya GR, The GC Datai Bay and Langkawi GC. I didn’t play Langkaui GC this time as the course doesn’t have a good reputation.



Restaurant

Wantan Noodle Soup

Chees Burger

The course was chosen 10th top golf course in Malaysia by the readers’ poll of Golf Malaysia in 2002. The other Ted Parslow designed courses in Asia are Dalit Bay GC, Sebana GR in Malaysia and Amai GC in China.