www.nst.com By Peggy Loh When driving through Johor’s premier industrial hub, you are often flanked by trundling tankers and trucks. On both sides of the tree-shaded dual-carriageways are container yards and processing plants, some with towering stacks that spew smoke and the occasional flare.
Drive on a little further and once you get past bustling Pasir Gudang, you’d be entering an oasis of refreshment that bears the ancient name of Johor Baru – “Tanjong Puteriâ€Â.
Turn in under graceful archways that mark the entrance and you will soon discover a haven far removed from the grind of commerce and industry. This is the Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort, recognised as one of the finest golf resorts in Malaysia.
Step into the lobby and your eyes are drawn to an elegant central stairway that splits midway to climb left and right, leading to separate wings of the clubhouse. Plush carpets in the spacious lobby silence your footsteps as you approach the reception.
At last, your longed-for hopes of rejuvenating after a gruelling workday will soon be satisfied.
Golf And More
With an emphasis on preserving Nature and protecting the environment, three championship golf courses designed by internationally renowned architects Max Wexler and Mamiya San have been carved from the undulating hills bordered by oil palm plantations, fruit orchards and village settlements.
Sited close to the Johor Straits, the 800-acre resort has several strategic points that command panoramic views of Pulau Ubin, Singapore.
In a 1996 Public Opinion Poll conducted by Business Times Singapore, the Plantation Course was rated “Best Golf Course in Southern Malaysia†while the Village Course and Straits Course were rated among the top 10 courses in southern Malaysia. With courses carefully landscaped to blend in with forests, mangroves and waterways to provide a natural ambience, golfers have the added thrill of spotting some wildlife on the green!
The resort hosted two major events for Asian Tour (formerly PGA) Academy, one of the most elite teaching programmes in Asia, and was part of Johor’s first Golf Carnival last year.
You can enjoy competitive games or just have fun bowling, playing tennis, squash, table-tennis, snooker, dart and board games.
Watersports enthusiasts can have a serious workout in the Olympic-size pool while two more pools are designed for learners and children.
While the children are having fun in the pool or at the playground, adults can check out the gymnasium or sauna. After your bout of physical exercise, pamper yourself with professional Balinese therapy at Serenity Spa and come out relaxed and renewed, ready for your next activity.
Where To Eat
The resort offers dining choices of Chinese, Korean, Western and local favourites. The He Yuan Chinese Restaurant, which specialises in Sichuan, Cantonese and Teochew cuisine, offers a fine dining option in the heart of the industrial zone.
Its After 18 Pub serves western gastronomical delights for lunch and at dusk, you can chill out with drinks and an extensive selection of wines.
The Golfer’s Café has all-day dining with an a la cart menu as well as daily breakfast and lunch buffet. For authentic Korean cuisine, head for the Seoul Café in the resort’s second Clubhouse.
For a refreshing thirst-quencher, ask for the resort’s signature drink, Coconut Splash. Served in a jumbo mug (equals to a jug!), this invigorating drink has smooth slices of young coconut swimming with slivers of grass jelly or cincau and flavoured with a dash of gula melaka (coconut palm sugar)! Simply irresistible!
Where To Stay
If group dynamics are what you’re after, villa accommodation is an ideal and conducive environment to develop better interaction. Each of the 34 air-conditioned villas features spacious living areas and a fully-equipped kitchen. The villas can accommodate up to 10 people in the five-room Istana Melayu Villas or eight in the four-room Mahligai Melayu Villas.
You will be equally comfortable in an elegant deluxe room or spacious suite in a private wing of the Clubhouse. While all rooms overlook the golf course, suites open into balconies for breathtaking views of fairways and greens.
Nearby Attractions
Bukit Layang-Layang, the venue for our annual International Kite Festival, is just a short drive away. It’s also home to Malaysia’s first and only Kite Museum where you can see some interesting kite exhibits, take part in a kite-making workshop and then fly your new kites in the adjacent field!
For a taste of outdoor adventure, take a short walk to Amigos Horse Riding stable where you can enjoy fun rides on the paddock or go on Jungle Trail rides through peaceful sun-dappled oil palm plantations and luxuriant green forests.
At sundown, a short drive down a dirt track to the water’s edge will bring you to an Orang Asli settlement where restaurants serve fresh seafood prepared with recipes peculiar to these friendly aboriginal people.
If you enjoy the adrenaline rush of motor-sports, head out to Johor Circuit, Johor’s premier international class circuit for competitive car, go-kart or motorcycle racing. Check out their calendar of events and you may even catch the Saturday Night Sprints where motor enthusiasts gather to display their mean machines and speed skills.
Getting There
Located 35km North-East of Johor Baru city, Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort is a convenient 45-minute drive on the Pasir Gudang Highway from the Causeway and the Pasir Gudang/Kota Tinggi exit of the North-South Highway. Visitors arriving via the Second Link will enjoy a comfortable one-and-a-half-hour drive on the Pasir Gudang Highway directly to the resort!
To contact the resort, call 07-271 1888, fax: 07-2711333 or email: enquiry@tpgr.com for reservations. For more information visit webpage: www.tpgr.com.
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