Malaysia is exotic and making a global name as a true golf destination

Anyone who plays golf on a regular basis knows that it’s more than just a game — heck, if the only pleasure you got out of a round of golf was putting the ball in the hole (or, more accurately, trying to put the ball in the hole) there would be a lot more clubs in garbage cans than in golf bags. Golf is an experience — a chance to unplug from the world for a few hours, take pleasant walk in a scenic natural environment, and share some quality time with friends and playing partners. It’s an experience Malaysia’s golf community is taking to the next level. With an array of expansive golf resorts and courses, sure to provide golf enthusiasts with the challenging and diverse greens they love, Malaysia is fast becoming the world’s No. 1 golf vacation destination. The exotic Southeast Asian country features more than 200 professional-standard courses, many of which were designed by golf greats like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Robert Trent Jones, Max Wexler and Ted Parslow. These fairways have also been graced by the likes of Tiger Woods and Mark O’Meara. And there’s hardly a more unique experience to be found worldwide. Tee off in the clouds at Hornbill Golf and Jungle Club in Malaysian Borneo, which hosts courses sitting at 6,000 feet above sea level. Perfect that backspin at The Golf Club in Datai Bay, Langkawi — voted the Most Scenic Golf Course in Malaysia. Or, see the greens in a different light with Night Golfing in Kuala Lumpur. Don’t just take it from us, though — even the world’s top golf organizations are beginning to flock to Malaysia’s breathtaking courses. The World Amateur Inter-Team Golf Championship (WAITGC) returned to Malaysia for the 15th-straight year in March of 2008, the latest in a growing line of world-class tournaments to grace the nation’s fairways and greens, including European PGA Tour events, the PGA Tour Volvo Masters of Asia, and the Malaysian Open. In 1999, Tiger Woods and partner Mark O’Meara won the World Cup of Golf in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. The experience doesn’t end, either, when you pick your ball out of the cup on 18. City-lovers can enjoy Kuala Lumpur, the country’s bustling capital and home to the world’s tallest twin structures, the Petronas Twin Towers; eco-tourists can explore Sabah’s lush rainforests; while those looking to unwind can find refuge on the unspoiled beaches of Langkawi and the Pangkor Islands. In 2008, Malaysia is a must-see and must-play destination for golfers worldwide. For more information, visit www.tourismmalaysiausa.com. Remember — the time is now, the place is Malaysia!