Melaka and Johor Bahru

Stadthuys
The most imposing relic of the Dutch period in Melaka is the massive red town hall, the Stadthuys, built between 1641 and 1660. Believed to be the oldest Dutch building in the east, its typical Dutch architecture features substantial solid doors and louvred windows. It now houses the excellent Historical, Ethnographic & Literature Museums with detailed explanations of Melaka's history, local culture and traditions.

St Paul's Church
Originally built by the Portuguese in 1571, it was regularly visited by Francis Xavier. Following his death in China, the saint's body was brought here and buried for nine months before being transferred to Goa in India, where it is to this day. The church has been in ruins for over 150 years, but the setting is beautiful, the walls imposing and fine old Dutch tombstones stand around the interior.

Golfing:
Royal Johor Country Club
The state's first 18-hole golf course, the Royal Johor Country Club is located at Taman Tasik just on the fringe of Johor Bahru. In 1970, the club was known as the Johor Golf Club. In 1983, Royal status was bestowed on the Club by HRH the sultan of Johor. The Club's name was then changed to the Royal Johor Country Club.
The clubhouse is of contemporary design and offers a host of dining and recreational facilities. One has the choice of indulging in racquet sports, working out at the gym, trying out billiards or cool off in the swimming pool. There are restaurants, a bar and lounge and a banquet hall. Golfers can also practice their swing at the driving range and practice green.

Palm Resort Golf and Country Club.
Located next to the airport at Senai, north of Johor Bahru, is the Palm Resort Golf & County Club. Covering some 800 acres of former rubber and oil palm estates, the luxury resort offers three championship courses. The lush green undulating landscape of rolling fairways is a wondrous sight to behold. the golf courses feature a fair share of waterfalls, streams, flowers, palm trees with water hazards, island greens, bunkers and sand traps thrown in for excitement.
The range of facilities is extensive. There's tennis, squash, lawn bowling and swimming for outdoors and cards and billiards for indoors. For the more energetic there are also a bowling alley and a fitness centre. There are saunas or therapeutic Japanese baths to soothe the tired muscles later. An entertainment room and pro-shop are also available.
A five-star resort hotel offers a range of services and facilities normally associated with resort living while luxury resort bungalows are also available in different architectural styles.
The resort is a short away from Johor Bahru. A special railbus service is available for guests from Singapore's Keppel Street Station.

Desaru Golf and Country Club.
The Desaru Resort Country Club, located at Tanjung Penawar, 88 km north-east of Johor Bahru is yet another golfing haven down south. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., it offers golfers the excitement and challenge of playing right next to the rolling surf and up the steep slopes of the hills. The 18-hole course features undulating terrain, ponds, an island green, tree clusters, fantastic views of the blue seas amidst cool sea breezes.
Other facilities include a floating driving range and dining facilities at the clubhouse. Accommodation facilities range from dormitories and traditional huts at the campsite to beach chalets and luxury rooms at two first class hotels. Activities for non- golfers include pony rides, canoeing and tennis.

Tanjung Puteri Golf and Country Club
Located 38 km east of Johor Bahru, near the Pasir Gudang Industrial Area, is the Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort. The 833- hectare resort development incorporates two golf courses designed to offer a relaxing yet challenging game. The 18-hole West Course features open greens and fairways while the 36-hole Championship layout of the East Course (under construction), is characterised by sloping hillsides, valleys, trees lakes and sand traps.
The West Course has its own clubhouse with swimming pools, gymnasium, bowling alley, restaurants and multi-purpose function rooms. There are also facilities for tennis, squash and indoor games. When fully developed, this resort will also encompass bungalows, chalets and apartments (to be completed in mid-1995), condominiums, a hotel and marina.
Catering to every whim and desire, this exclusive facility is the ideal getaway for business or pleasure.

Starhill Golf and Country Club
Another resort development set to take the golfing scene by storm is the Starhill Golf & Country Club, located at Skudai about 20 minutes drive from the Causeway. 460 acres of former plantation and swamp have been recreated into a luxury resort offering two 18-hole championship courses, condominiums, hotels and private housing.
The Bintang Course, the more challenging of the two, features and exciting layout with the hazards of narrow tree-lined, fairways, bunkers, sand traps and streams, whilst the Bukit Course offers different obstacles and challenges at every hole. Golfers shall also be enchanted by the warm service rendered by the Club's trained lady caddies.
The colonial style clubhouse on the hill commands a spectacular view of the surroundings. The Club also boasts a water theme park incorporating a swimming lagoon, a water slide, waterfall and a water games area for children.

Kukup Golf Resort
The small town of Kukup, once known for its seafood restaurants, now offers a 36-hole golf resort built on what was formerly an oil palm plantation. Set on undulating rolling terrain, the course abounds with lakes and streams amid lush greenery to provide a challenging game amidst beautiful natural surroundings. The two courses differ greatly in terms of layout - the north course features sand traps while the south course is noted for its water hazards. Buggies are provided at the former while walking is the order of the day at the latter.
The clubhouse is perched on high ground to provide sweeping views of the surroundings. Styled on Bugis architecture, it incorporates a glass-walled golfer's terrace, games room, a roof garden and balconies overlooking the course. Other facilities available are meeting and conference rooms, rejuvenation centre and also sports and recreation centre. Chalets and condominiums provide ample accommodation for golfers and visitors.
An added attraction is the Dolphin Learning Centre featuring dolphin shows and even rides on the dolphins.
The resort is easily accessible from Singapore. There is also a ferry service to Kukup from Jurong.

Tioman Island Golf Club
The island of Tioman in the South China Sea, off the coast of Pahang, evokes images of an idyllic paradise. The enchantment of its clear blue seas and swaying palms in the shadow of mist- shrouded mountains made it the logical choice for the movie representation of 'Bali Hai' in 'South Pacific'.
Today the same fascinating qualities make it the ideal choice as a golfing getaway. Its 18-hole par 71 golf course lies between the sea and the edge of the forest, offering the golfer an exhilarating challenge plus the visual delights of an enchanting scenery. The panoramic view of the spectacular coastline more than make up for the difficulties posed by tight fairways, sand bunkers, boulders, water traps, streams and ponds lined up to catch the unwary.
The clubhouse overlooks both the sea and the golf course. Housed within are restaurants, a lounge, a bar and rooms for a host of indoor games and leisure activities. Accommodation facilities include six deluxe rooms, one suite within the clubhouse and also chalets within the vicinity. Facilities for golfers include a pro-shop, practice green and buggies.
Fast Facts

Pulai Springs Country Club
The varied terrain, water element and changes in elevation all combine to make Pulai Springs a golf course of distinction and beauty as well. Located close to the prestigious Universiti Teknologi Malaysia campus and the Technology Park, Pulai Springs is easily accessible via the Skudai and Universiti Expressway. Designed by Peter Dalkeith Scott and Robert Trent Jones Jr, the two 18-hole courses offer luxurious resort-style golfing amidst natural beauty.
With its unique architecture, the Pulai Springs clubhouse, covering well over 120,000 sq ft, is a harmonious blend of ancient Malay and Bugis design to reflect the state of Johor's rich heritage.
Facilities at Pulai Springs include a Mediterranean-style Spike bar, sports centre, gymnasium, jacuzzi, sauna, steam baths, aerobics, squash, tennis and badminton courts, karaoke, cineplex cum theatrette, snooker, games room, card room, children's room, proshop, drugstore and a swimming pool.

Sebana Golf & Marina Resort
Sprawled over 1,400 acres amidst the emerald panorama of tropical rainforests, oil palm plantations and mangroves, Sebona Resort is the only development in Malaysia that pastels golfing and marina complete with state-of -the-art facilities that spell luxury, excitement and adventure for the entire family.
A creation of Ted Parslow,the resort has a 27-hole golf course sculpted out of the Malaysian rainforest and oil palm plantation. One of the prettiest holes is the 178 metres, par 3,16th. The tee is encircled with dense vegetation of palms and ferns and gives you the perception of hitting out of the jungle over a natural stream.
The 'Nineteenth Hole is a thematic Malay-style clubhouse with views out over the 10th green and beyond, It encloses the pro shop which takes booking from 7 am to 5 pm daily and also stocks an extensive range of Sebona Golf Resort merchandise as well as clubs and other golfing accessories