Golfers Will Experience Paradise When Ernie Els’ South East Asian Course Opens After Re-Design

Malaysia’s Els Club Teluk Datai is set to officially open on April 15th, following a magnificent re-design guided by the hands of four-time Major Champion Ernie Els and his acclaimed design team.

Final preparations are underway at the Troon-managed Langkawi resort to bring to fruition the development, which has already been billed as one of the world’s finest re-designs.  The project has been close to the heart of the popular South African over the past two years and he is delighted to see his improvements to the course, first opened in 1992, reaching their conclusion.

“We have had word from the team in Langkawi that the course is in pristine condition and ready for play,’ commented Els. “Teluk Datai is a truly unique setting and I’m confident that, with the improvements my design team and I have put in place, it is set to become one of the most popular golf courses in Asia.”

The Els Club Teluk Datai is a valuable asset of the Destination Resorts and Hotels (DRH) group, a strategic owner of world-class venues at the very heart of Malaysia’s blossoming tourism industry. DRH has been entrusted by the investment arm of the Malaysian government to enrich the nation’s tourism landscape by developing sustainable resort destinations that will attract an international audience.

The Teluk Datai re-design represents the first stage of DRH’s ambitious Els Club Malaysia development project, which will eventually see the creation of a further two championship golf courses on the Desaru Coast. Each facility will be managed by Troon, the global leader in upscale golf course management, development and marketing.

The course is located in one of South East Asia’s most sensational settings, often described as a tropical paradise by tourists and earning the Els Club Teluk Datai a reputation as the most scenic of Malaysia’s many breath-taking golfing venues.

A million-year-old rainforest is the backdrop to the Championship course, with the surrounding appeal of the crystal clear blue waters of the Andaman Sea. The five holes, which skirt the water’s edge, bring the other islands in the archipelago and Langkawi’s white, sandy beaches into full view, to the delight of all golfers.

Feedback from selected VIPs and resort guests of the Datai and Andaman Hotels lucky enough to have sampled the layout prior to its official opening has been nothing short of sensational. This endorsement is no more than expected by The Els Club Malaysia’s General Manager Ken Kosak, who has been ever present since Els’ careful enhancements were set in place.

He said: "The course is looking simply stunning following a successful growing-in period. This is one of the most significant launches for South East Asian Golf and we will be striving to set a new standard for luxury in the region. We have been offering very limited preview play since December and guests have unanimously praised both the all-round quality of the course and the jaw-dropping setting in which it is located. "

Ernie Els is a firm favourite in South East Asia, with a loyal following of fans who are eagerly anticipating the unveiling of his reworking of one of the nation’s most esteemed golfing layouts. The Els Club name has become recognised as one of the world's leading luxury golf and leisure brands, and the 2012 Open Champion is heavily invested in ensuring his signature courses are positioned among the very best in the world.

"We are already experiencing an influx of enquiries as we near opening," continued Kosak. "Ernie is one of golf's biggest names and has a creative vision few can match in course design. Guests who visit will experience something truly memorable, in terms of all-round service standards and course conditioning, something that is synonymous with The Els Club brand and all Troon-managed venues around the globe."

The Els Club Teluk Datai has undergone the most rigorous quality control pre-launch, ensuring surfaces are immaculate and every minute detail has been adhered to. Troon's team of industry, agronomy and service experts have taken all measures to introduce their globally renowned standards and are confident in setting a new standard in luxury golf for South East Asia.

"We have taken every step possible to elevate the standards and quality," added Kosak. "We have made a commitment to delivering an unmatched service quality and an exclusive guest experience that I know will stand out in the markets we operate in."

The Els Club Teluk Datai is expected to attract guests from far and wide, with the region benefiting from Visit Malaysia's considered efforts promoting the destination’s diversity. The golf course also neighbours the 5-star award-winning luxury resort, The Datai LangKawi. Hidden amongst the natural surrounds of Datai, this elegant and luxurious hotel will play an integral role in the creation of a development that offers packages that will encapsulate the definition of luxury.   

Further information on The Els Club Malaysia is available at www.elsclubmalaysia.com

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