Saujana Golf & Country Club, Bunga Raya Course

Although the Saujana Palm Course hosts the big professional golf tour events, the Bunga Raya Course remains many people's favorite. Whereas the tour players get a slightly longer and (some might say) more forgiving layout to play on, the Bunga Raya is nicknamed the Crocodile because of its powerful bite. It is tighter and more undulating than the Palm, presenting a stern but thoroughly enjoyable test for the higher handicap golfer.

The Ronald Fream layout twice takes you across an old railway cutting and into a former palm oil plantation (although the immense variety of trees, constantly undulating terrain and lush jungle vegetation doesn't make the plantation concept immediately apparent). Half the front-nine and half the back-nine are played across the railway tracks. Throughout, Fream serves up one excellent golf hole after another, making excellent use of the constant elevation changes and a wonderfully natural setting.

The surrounding jungle vegetation, oasis like environment and frequently seen monkeys often steal the show. If you ve ever played Pinehurst No.2 in Carolina, you ll have some idea of the short game test that also waits on the Bunga Raya course. The greens are fast and sloping, and if missed your ball can easily go rolling away down a steep run-off, requiring a delicate pitch or chip back onto the putting surface.

Some of the more notable holes include the 3rd, a par-3 over a ravine. It looks easy at first but is actually difficult to play. The green is guarded by bunkers on the left and a strong slope on the right. Moreover, the triple- tiered green has big undulations and is 40 yards deep.

The Saujana Bunga Raya 8th hole is a downhillpar-5 with an almost 90 degree dogleg to the right. Unless you are genuine long hitter, lay up in front of the hazard on the second shot.  The approach shot is 140 yards into a small, undulating, and well protected green.

The 16th is a short par-4. However don’t let the 300 yard length fool you.  The tee shot is a slight dogleg to the left with the green further swung to the left. An accurate long iron or fairway wood tee shot is required on this scoring hole because the fairway is narrow. The green is also small and protected on the front by water.

The Saujana Bunga Raya Course was renovated in 2010 by Ted Parslow and is now better than ever. Service is also excellent with well-trained caddies, golf carts with GPS, and a great restaurant serving both Asian and Western favorites. Distances on the golf course are all in yards, which is unique for a Malaysia golf course.