Els puts final touches to Els Club, Teluk Datai

Destination Resorts and Hotels (DRH), a strategic owner and developer of world class resort destinations, welcomed Ernie Els to The Els Club, Teluk Datai in Langkawi today. The 4 time Major Champion, made the short journey to Langkawi from Kuala Lumpur with representatives from DRH and Troon to examine the progress of the course and make any final adjustments before the highly anticipated opening. The Els Club Teluk Datai is being touted as Southeast Asia's most exotic golf experience and is due to open to the public early next year. Located amongst some of Malaysia’s most spectacular landscape, the course is nestled within a centuries-old rainforest with towering lush tropical foliage, offering the finest golfing experience to avid golfers. Coupled with the renowned service standards and course conditions provided by global golf management leaders Troon Golf, The Els Club Teluk Datai has set its sights high, with a clear aim to redefine Southeast Asian Golf.

“It is great to be able to visit Teluk Datai and see at first-hand how the project is progressing,” commented Els. “The site here is one of the most unique I have come across anywhere in the world and the end product is going to be breath taking.”

“We thought long and hard about the location of our first Els Club in Asia and in DRH have found great partners to help create a course that will have worldwide appeal,” continued Els. “I am thrilled with the progress and am excited to come back and play when it is officially opened to the general public.”

There are many striking features to the golf course that make it unique, be it the proximity to both a million year old rainforest, the indigenous plants, the Macaque and Dusky Leaf Monkeys that roam the flanks of the golf course as well as the picturesque shores of the Andaman sea. One unusual feature of the golf course however, is the absence of any bunkers. Els design took the bold decision to shape a golf course that works around the natural rainforest fauna and the dramatic topography, without bunkering.

“The golf course layout is very unique,” commented Greg Letsche of Els Design, the lead designer on the project.” When Ernie first laid eyes on the site, he wanted to create something that blended in with the natural greenery of the locations surrounds. The lack of any bunkering adds yet more intrigue to the course and has meant the design process has had to be more innovative and creative than usual to add visual impact via clever design, rather than strategic bunkering,” continued Letsche.

The golf course has become one of golf's major talking points, as Ernie embarks on his first ever Els Club development in Asia. The likeable South African has a strong following in the Asian market, leading the experts from Destinations Resorts & Hotels to appoint Els as master designer. DRH has been entrusted by the investment arm of the Malaysian government to enrich Malaysia’s tourism landscape by developing sustainable resort destinations that will attract international travellers from around the world. DRH’s current portfolio includes the award winning luxury resort The Datai Langkawi, internationally recognized for its unsurpassed service excellence and Desaru Coast, the region’s first luxury integrated destination in Johor, Malaysia, that will also be home to The Els Club, Desaru Coast, due to opening late 2014, completing The Els Club Malaysia brand.

“We are determined to ensure golfers will enjoy premier service and world-class playing conditions here at The Els Club Malaysia. It is more than just golf; The Els Club is an ideal place for the whole family to relax and unwind while enjoying world-class golf club facilities and impeccable personalized service,” said Darrell Metzger, Director of DRH.