Renovation works on three greens at The Els Club Teluk Datai (TECTD) are progressing well and look set for completion in November.
TECTD director of golf Aaron Johnston noted that returfing of the green at the signature par-five 7th as well as the double green shared by two par-threes, the 5th and 17th, had to be carried out due to encroachment on the Tifeagle surfaces by the fairway’s hardier Zoysia Matrella grass.
“Remedial work was not getting the desired results and we started the renovation work on the 1st of June, taking advantage of the closure of international borders. We’re heading to the final stage of planting and grooming now and, weather permitting, the new greens should be playable in November,” said Johnston.
In the meantime, play carries on as normal with golfers hitting to temporary greens at the 5th and 7th holes, while using the layout’s ‘spare’ par-three (dubbed 17b) as the penultimate hole.
Johnston noted that traffic has been exceptionally good this month as Malaysians had to travel locally for holidays during the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO).
“We reopened for play on May 7 and initially it was slow with only Langkawi golfers coming to play. But once interstate travel was allowed with the RMCO in early June, traffic started to pick up as more and more golfers from KL, Penang and even Johor started to come to Langkawi for their golfing getaways.
“July has been an amazing month for us and we are looking at chalking up over 1,200 rounds,” shared Johnston, who joined TECTD in 2018 after heading the golf operations at Dalit Bay in Kota Kinabalu for nine years.
“This is a great time to come to Langkawi as hotels are offering some really good deals,” he added.
Formerly known as Datai Bay Golf Club and originally built in 1992, the TECTD course re-opened for play in 2014 following an extensive redesign by South African legend Ernie Els. The bunkerless layout plays from the emerald foothills of Mount Machinchang out to the azure waters of the Andaman Sea, offering an exceptional golfing experience along with stunning picture-postcard views.
Operated by bespoke golf management specialist Troon Golf, TECTD is owned by Themed Attractions Resorts & Hotels, the hospitality arm of the Malaysian Ministry of Finance.
For more information and updates, log on to www.elsclubmalaysia.com
