Penang Golf Club (formerly known as Bukit Jambul Golf Club) was built in 1984. It has recently been placed under new Japanese ownership and given a much needed upgrade to make it more competitive and popular to the world outside Penang. It has undergone a major facelift and reopened in November 2012. The original course design has been retained with cosmetic changes. Club entrance: My golfing experience started at the bag drop-off area where I was much welcomed by friendly staff. The starter and caddy-master were gracious and gave a very good first impression of the club. I was met at the registration counter by an equally welcoming manager who was kind enough to provide me with light banter and local info about the club and members. Changing room: The changing room however was very average in terms of appearance but kudos to them for keeping it very clean, with adequate toiletries and full air-conditioning throughout. The showers had good pumps running the water so no problems with having a clean bath. Course playability: Tee boxes: The tee boxes are maintained with the right kind of combination to me: flat planes to give you stability & consistency at every drive and proper maps with lengths in metres. I was glad I did not have to survey any tee box before any shot, you can simply place your ball along any side and you’re good to go. Fairways: It now has new Bermuda turf on its fairways which is maintained very well. For normal days (as opposed to competition days) the 1st cut and the rough have been trimmed, so in general you would not complain too much about losing your ball off the fairway. Although as with any golf course, you should know which side of the fairway to place your tee-shot to get the best angle for your approach. The cart paths have been lengthened & upgraded to allow better turning radii and generally is a safer and smoother ride. To make the course even more friendly for amateur golfers like me, the club allows buggies on fairways too. For me, this makes the course much more playable and reduces stress in terms of selecting the proper clubs for your next shot, having your buggy and golf bag right next to your ball for your approach shots. Greens: The new upgrades have given Tidwarf grass for its greens and some modifications to make it more challenging and exciting. Personally, I give the greens a 2-thumbs up as the new undulations can been deemed as an upgrade and require much thought and consideration as opposed to simple flat lies at some golf courses. Some greens even have multi-tiering that require a fully calibrated yardage to reach the pin at the correct plateau. Caddy: The caddy that I was given had adequate local knowledge of the course and the greens. He was very friendly and professional to his task so I do not have much complaints at all. Although I was told that currently they have many Indonesian caddies under training there, therefore I would implore you to call and enquire about the availability of local experienced caddies beforehand. Overall summary: In summary, as a first timer there, I was very impressed with the overall feel of the course. This golf club is matured and on a lot of holes you know you are playing at gem of a course. The front 9 is located more along the boundaries with external roads so you can catch a glimpse of the neighbourhood outside. You even have a sense that on an island such as Penang, this is like a private getaway with tranquillity and serenity that gives you that added exclusivity whilst playing here. I would definitely recommend this course for anyone willing to bring along their golf set up north. Rating: 8/10 * Contributed by Prom
2 Comments
Joi
6/19/2014 09:15:08 pm
Thanks for the review Prom.
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8/25/2023 03:57:21 am
my time at Penang Golf Club exceeded all expectations. It's clear that the team behind this establishment is passionate about providing an unforgettable experience for golfers of all levels. Thank you, Penang Golf Club, for an unforgettable day on the green. I can't wait to return and create more wonderful memories.
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