Johor Golf Vacation

Horizon Hills is a hidden jewel among Johor golf courses. Developed on 1,200 hectares in the heart of Nusajaya, the 6,271-meter par-72 championship layout designed by renowned architect Ross Watson. The sprawling 18-hole international championship golf course was officially opened in 2008 and shortly thereafter the 2010 Asian Tour’s Iskandar Johor Open was hosted by the club.

Horizon Hills was designed using the 'risk-reward' principle while at the same time preserving the natural terrain of the land. Many holes have significant elevation changes from tee to green.  Another exceptional characteristic of the golf course are the bunkers with full sand faces. Additionally, waterfalls, lakes, and ponds pose many exciting challenges, for both professional and aspirant golfers.

One of the most notable holes is the 500 meter second hole. For most players, this is a genuine three shot par-5 playing up a valley floor, which is bisected by a menacing creek. This creek poses some serious challenges. Average players will be best served if they treat this hole as a par 6 laying-up short of the two forced creek crossings. Better players will be challenged to carry the creek crossings. This is a genuine risk and reward hole and should be treated with great respect. It offers the chance of par but could quickly produce a double bogey or worse if not appropriately managed.

The moment of truth arrives on the last two holes. The 17th is a 135 meter par-3. The green is huge, but with variable winds wafting up and down the valley, it is sure to be many players' undoing. Of course, to merely hit the green may not be enough when pin locations are close to the surrounding water as the green is anything but flat. To score a 3 on this hole will be a great relief.

The final hole is a  par-5 can be played in 3 shots to the green by laying-up from the tee, followed by a fairway wood to the primary second landing area and then a mid to short iron approach across the corner of the lake which guards the green. Anything offline will require a strategy re-think with water continuous on the right from tee through to the green and several strategically placed fairway bunkers along the way. Long hitters have the option to take on the island fairway from the tee, but this requires a carry of 250 meters.

Once on the island fairway golfers will then be faced with another daunting shot over water to a green surrounded by water on three sides.

Club facilities include 5-star services, such as an Olympic-sized swimming pool, gym, tennis courts, sports activities, restaurants, and a large ballroom. Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club is one golf course to include on any playlist when golfing in Johor.

Forest City Golf Resort, Legacy Course opened in 2018 located 25 minutes from the Johor city center. The course is also reachable in less than 1 hour from Singapore and set among a large complex of four reclaimed islands in the straits between Singapore and Malaysia.

The Legacy Course is the first course of the Forest City Golf Resort (FCGR). The FCGR itself is part and parcel of a billion-dollar real estate project set on a 30-square-kilometer plot of land that overlooks the straits between Southern Malaysia and Singapore.

Located on low-lying land of the estuary of the Pulai River, the mostly Mangrove forest surrounded course protection against possible tidal flooding consists of 2.5 million cubic meters of dredged ocean sand forms. This cap forms the basis for the desert-like golf course.

The usual Cacti at desert golf courses were substituted with hundreds of palm trees, giving the Legacy Course a tropical feel. The Nicklaus design also makes use of Paspalum Platinum through fairways and greens and ensures excellent year-round playing conditions as its salt-tolerant and grows well in high humidity. Jack Nicklaus Jr., and his famous father, Jack Nicklaus Sr. both, had hands in the Forest City Golf Resort layout. There are many signature waste areas around the 18 hole course, so even offline drives can be played without worrying about out-of-bounds.

The 9th and 18th greens play around a shared hill, and the golf course has beautiful river views from most holes. From a player’s standpoint, the golf course is unique. Although the terrains are challenging, the golf course always keeps the amateur golfer in mind, as well as low handicappers and professional golfers.

Golf carts are allowed on fairways to help disabled golfers, speed up play, and enhance the course playability. Female caddies are standard, which is a big plus in Malaysia.

The massive 5-star Forest City Golf Hotel located in the middle of the property serves as the clubhouse. A grass turf driving range is available to golfers before and after their rounds.  The 21-bay full-length driving range has an open thatched roof structure fronted by a large short-game and chipping- and putting practice area. Facilities and service and the on-site golf resort match the 5-star standard.