Penang Golf Club

Quite short and at times very tight but offers a good challenge for all golfers. During the renovations the existing course layout was maintained and most of the changes were cosmetic with re-shaped greens and tee boxes, larger water hazards and improved grass on the fairways. The renovation added many undulations to the already fast greens which are protected by very deceiving grass-faced bunkers which are difficult to spot from a distance.

Still one of the top courses in Malaysia and once hosted the Malaysian Open and still makes it onto the list of the best courses in the country and offers some panoramic views from the elevated tee boxes.

It is a very tight parkland course which requires very careful course management and from the very first hole you will know that you have to be accurate if you wish to score well.  Wild shots will probably end up in the jungle which lines many of the fairways offering no chance of a recovery and almost certainly a lost ball.

Penang Golf Club is around 20 minutes from the airport and Georgetown and around 40 minutes from Batu Ferringhi.

The 2nd hole is a medium length par-4 and slight dogleg right with the usual tree-lined fairways and a bunker along the left side perfectly positioned to capture your tee shot and then it’s uphill to the green with a bunker protecting the left side.  The 3rd is a straight forward par-5 with bunkers guarding both sides of the fairway off the tee and another five bunkers in on the approach to and either side of the green. The 4th is a short par-4 with a blind tee shot and then you play uphill to quite a small green.  The 5th is a pretty easy par-3 and you just need to avoid the large bunker guarding the left side of the putting surface.  The 6th is the longest hole on the front nine and the 7th is a driveable par-4 for the really long hitters but there is a large fairway bunker along the left side and another right in front of the green.  The 8th is a very pretty par-3 which is played from elevated tee boxes over the rocks in front of the green with bunkers left and right.  The 9th is another short par-4 but your approach is quite steep with two deep bunkers in front of the green.

The signature hole at Penang Golf Club is the 10th where you play from an elevated tee box some 100 high onto a very narrow fairway and you need to pick your spot very carefully – hit it short or long and you end up in the water.  The approach to the green is also over water with a very large bunker immediately in front of the green.  The 11th is a dead straight par-4 which is an easy birdie opportunity if you can avoid the fairway bunkers.  The 12th is a short par-5 with trees encroaching into the fairway which can block your second shot if you get out of position off the tee.  The 13th is a short but intimidating par-3 with water in front of the green and bunkers over the back.  The 14th is a very difficult driving hole with a large bunker on the right and a water hazard on the left – if you can avoid these hazards the green is wide open.  The 15th is a very short and easy par-3 offering probably the best birdie chance of all but the 16th is a very long par 5 with water all along the left side from tee to green.  The 17th is a tricky par-4 with water and bunkers in play off the tee and the finishing hole goes uphill back to the clubhouse with a very tricky approach to an elevated green.

Overall Penang Golf Club is very well maintained and the staff very attentive and professional but high handicappers may find it a tough challenge as there is little margin for error on this tight and technical course.

Tee Time Bookings at Penang Golf Club
As this is the only course on the island it can get very busy, especially at weekends, so we recommend that you book a tee time well in advance. 

Golfsavers have discounted green fees at Penang Golf Club and using our booking engine it is easy to book a tee time.