Sabah Golf Travel Blog
I have recently returned from Sabah following an inspection trip where I was hosted by the Sabah Tourist Board to assess the potential for golfing holidays for Australians.
Sabah is a state of Malaysia on the island of Borneo. The island is unique in that it is divided by three separate countries. Sabah and Sarawak are part of Malaysia, Brunei is a sovereign country and Kalimantan is a territory of Indonesia.
Sabah has an equatorial climate with day temperatures ranging up to the mid-thirties Celsius and high humidity from the regular rainfall. The wet season is during the North East Monsoon from October to February and the drier season during the South West Monsoon from March to September and typical of tropical climates, it is clear skies in the morning with usually heavy rain in the afternoons.
The City of Kota Kinabalu is the capital of Sabah. Located on the west coast and on the fringes of the South China Sea, KK is the bustling and colourful gateway to Sabah. You will find an international airport, world class hotels, many restaurants and cafes, shopping malls and business districts … and most importantly, many fine international standard golf courses.
I inspected 5 golf courses in Sabah, with 3 being stand outs.
Sutera Harbour Golf Club is part of the tourist development of Sutera Harbour Resort, which includes two magnificent hotels, a Marina and Country Club and a 27-hole international golf course designed by leading Australian golf course designer Graham Marsh.
This championship golf course is beautifully landscaped with undulating terrain and numerous waterways, providing a challenge for all levels of golfers. The Resort offers the only night golfing opportunity in East Malaysia and one of the largest facilities in Malaysia. The Golf Club is also the home to Golf Academy Borneo, one of the leading golf academies in Malaysia.
An hour’s drive north of KK will take you to the impressive Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort. This beautiful five star resort is situated on its own private beach and is set amidst a nature reserve, which includes an Orang-utan sanctuary.
Within the property of the resort is Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club. This superb 18-hole championship course designed by Australian Ted Parslow, provides the golfer with a stimulating playing experience, and was designed with the sensitivity to the natural beauty and the character of Sabah. Bordered by the Tambalang and Mengkabong rivers with a stunning vista of Mount Kinabalu in the distance, Dalit Bay is a prime wetland course where water comes into play at every hole.
A short drive from Dalit Bay is the Nexus Golf Resort. Undulating across a series of small lakes and waterways, the Nexus Golf Resort captivates golfers with breathtaking views of Karambunai Beach, the South China Sea and Mount Kinabalu. Set against the backdrop of a 130-million year old tropical rainforest, the par 72, 18-hole international championship golf course was designed by renowned American golfing architect Ronald Fream.
I was very impressed with the golf tourism infrastructure of Sabah. Magnificent five star resorts with challenging and pleasurable golf courses are a great combination for Australians looking for a golfing holiday away from the more predictable Asian destinations. There are direct flights from Australia to KK with Malaysia Airlines, and I believe Sabah represents tremendous value if you are looking for a tropical and relaxed golf holiday experience.
International Golf Specialists has great golfing rates and contacts in Sabah and we would be pleased to provide more information about this special golfing destination. We can provide golf packages that include accommodation, flights, transfers and of course the golf arrangements.
Regards
Gary Allomes
Managing Director
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