Friday October 2, 2009
JUST 45 minutes from Kuala Lumpur is the perfect highland golf getaway - the Berjaya Hills Golf and Country Club.
The resort, spaciously spread across 6,500ha, with a rainforest as the backdrop, is easily accessible from the Karak Highway.
Berjaya Hills is a challenging and picturesque experience. It is a par-72, 18-hole tract designed by acclaimed golf course architect J. Michael Poellot.
It stretches all of 6,312m from the black, or championship tee box and has played host to the World Inter-Team Amateur Open, the Hospitality Asia Golf Championship and the Pahang Men & Ladies Amateur Open Golf Championships.
Tricky: The Par 5, hole no 18 at Berjaya Hills can lead to birdies as well as bogeys.
Given the course's location in the highlands, Poellot did an excellent job of taking in the natural surroundings and using the undulations to great effect.
The sweeping fairways, tricky greens, strategically-placed sand bunkers, as well as the water hazards that come in the form of natural streams and lakes, all chip in to make this an interesting course that leaves an impression on one forever.
Berjaya Hills opens with a 350m par-4. This hole is a gentle uphill dogleg that is marked by a friendly fairway while the large green should provide a smooth start to a round. Off the tee box, players should note the fairway bunker on the right, which encourages one to play down the left, from where the flag can be targeted.
The second hole is the first par-5 and measures 485m. The water on this Index 3 hole, is close to the left of the green and then comes down towards you as you approach, before turning across the fairway and directly influencing the second shot.
And because the hole plays downhill, the tee provides for a brilliant view of the entire hole. It is good advice to play the tee shot from right to left so as to take the two fairway bunkers on the right out of play.
Two holes later on No. 4, golfers find the most difficult challenge at Berjaya Hills.
Unforgettable: Tee-off at the picturesque Berjaya Hills Golf and Country Club.
This 396m par-4 gives nothing away and demands total focus.
Anything less than precision is punished wholesale. A huge valley runs across this harsh dogleg and comes into play on both the drive off the tee and the approach shot.
Thus, accuracy off the tee is of great importance here, as one must clear it in order to safely reach one of the layout's most strikingly beautiful greens.
Berjaya Hills' signature hole is the No. 17, and for good reason.
It features two routes to the green as it doglegs to the right. The “Tiger line” to the well-protected putting surface is long and must fly over Stony Creek to a tight landing area.
The other route is much safer, as one plays to the left and leaves Stony Creek out of the equation. This, however, does mean that a demanding uphill approach shot will follow.
On arrival at the clubhouse, after parking the buggy, golfers and their guests can indulge in the comfort of well-laid out facilities and enjoy good food.
“The Restaurant” at the clubhouse overlooks the swimming pool and the picturesque Titiwangsa range, and offers a variety of dining options on local and international cuisine.
The Golfer's Lounge, meanwhile, also enjoys a panoramic view of the golf course, while the bar, music room and karaoke rooms are ideal venues for relaxation and to unwind after a round of golf.
There is also a gift shop at the clubhouse for guests' convenience, and a pro-shop that is well-stocked with golf equipment and souvenirs.
But that is not all; golfers can also spend the night here, as the club features 21 luxuriously furnished suites and 12 golfer's rooms.
All the suites are fully equipped with modern amenities, such as TV set, with in-house movies, IDD telephone line, and coffee/tea making facilities.
This is probably the best time to visit the Berjaya Hills, as the club has just launched its seasonal golf package. A flight of four only has to pay for three golfers, and this works out to about RM70 for green fees, buggy and insurance.
For more information and reservation, contact: Tel 09-288 8180. --The StarMetro
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