Don’t be fooled by the long name! Located on the northern portion of royal town of Shah Alam and very close to the majestic Blue Mosque, Kelab Golf Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (KGSAAS) is an important venue not just for visitors golfing in Malaysia but professional golfers as well. KGSAAS provides a quick relief for golfers in Malaysia as the Kuala Lumpur golf course is accessible in only 25 minutes from the center of Kuala Lumpur.

The Kelab Golf Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah 27-hole layout is connected to royalty not only through its location, but also by its designer, 5-times Open Champion, Peter Thomson, is one of the “kings” of the game. The constantly undulating Thomson layout here comprises three nine-hole loops (President, Sultan and Alam Shah), each of which shelves away from the clubhouse, before climbing back to it. Using the natural undulations of the terrain and beauty of lakes, along with more than 25,000 trees and shrubs, the result is a picturesque landscape. The parkland KGSAAS courses are challenging without being overly dramatic. Thomson’s trademark pot bunkers, rolling fairways and medium-to-large elevated greens all feature strongly.

Top level competitions normally use the Sultan / Alam Shah Nines, ensuring competitors are tested on the fabulous par-5 Dragon Hole (No.2 on Sultan). This signature hole is played from a slightly elevated tee onto a narrow fairway, with the second shot requiring a carry over a wide creek, before climbing to an elevated and well-bunkered green. These testing characteristics are repeated on many other holes, although perhaps not as fiercely as on the Dragon, and often with a tad more fairway width. The three nines contain an excellent collection of par-3’s, where water or elevation changes are used to good effect. Maintenance standards are generally good without necessarily being immaculate, although the greens here are some of the truest and fastest you’ll putt on in Malaysia.

Also popularly referred to as ‘The Home of Night Golfing’, Kelab Golf Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah was the first golf course in Malaysia to be flood lit for night play. Other KGSAAS facilities within the Mediterranean style golf clubhouse include a well-stocked pro shop, café terrace with outdoor grill, and health center with sauna and Jacuzzi.