Overview

Set amongst some of the most unspoilt rainforest and natural beaches, The Els Club Teluk Datai has established itself as a new icon on the golf scene. Another masterpiece by four-time Major Champion, the Rainforest Course has unique characteristics in abundance. Whether it is the 100 ft high trees, the constant buzz of wildlife or the tranquillity of the coastline vistas, the golf course is mesmerising.

The island of Langkawi, located north west of Kuala Lumpur and epitomises paradise. The distinguishing factors of the Rainforest Course are its holes that run adjacent to the waters edge and those that wander through a million year old rainforest. The Rainforest Course is accompanied by two luxury resorts; The Datai and The Andaman which provide an ideal option for guests looking for a quick weekend retreat or those looking to switch off completely.

The golf course quickly rose to critical acclaim scooping ‘The World’s Best New Golf Course’ award and ranking #84 in ‘Golf Digest’s Top 100 Greatest Golf Courses in the World’. One of the many redeeming features is the attentive service the facility offers its guests. When you add the fact the course is one of the finest conditioned in the region, you can certainly imagine The Els Club Teluk Datai becomes top of the bucket list golf escapes.

Key Features

• Ernie Els championship design
• All golf cart course. Carts are permitted on the fairways
• Golf carts have the latest state-of-the-art GPS system
• Full grassed driving range with multiple target greens
• Short game practice areas for chipping and putting
• Hornbill Café
• The Els Lounge
• Fully stocked golf shop
• Full amenity locker rooms
• Corporate and golf packages

Perched on the edge of the Andaman Sea is Datai Bay: a long crescent of pristine, sandy beach. Located at the northwest tip of Langkawi, Datai Bay was featured in National Geographic’s Top 10 Beaches in The World, and is widely acknowledged as one of the island’s most beautiful and unaltered beaches. Once at the beach, visitors need only look ahead to see the tiny island known as Pulau Anak Datai atop clear turquoise blue waters.

Stretching 1.5 kilometres in length, the white beach merges with the lush foliage of a 500-hectare rainforest. This rainforest forms the base of Gunung Mat Chinchang, an 850-metre-high mountain that cocoons Datai Bay. Formed some 500 million years ago, it stands as the oldest mountain in all of Southeast Asia, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Geopark. Many exotic species, such as dusky langurs, colugos, hornbills, and some 530 different species of butterflies, call the rainforest at the foothills of Gunung Mat Chinchang home.

Datai Bay, known locally as Teluk Datai, is a 40-minute drive from Langkawi International Airport and a 50-minute drive from the tourist-friendly areas of Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah. The Datai Langkawi Resort is in the immediate vicinity, and offers both a five-star experience and exclusive access to the indescribable beauty of Datai Bay.

Datai Bay is known for its richness in marine life and the ineffable beauty of the coral reefs that can be found there. Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins are also known to frequent Datai Bay in search of food, often showcasing their acrobatic abilities by leaping and breaching out of the water. Visitors of Datai Bay are encouraged to keep a lookout for them as watching dolphins in the wild provides one a wonderful experience.

Langkawi is easily accessible by air from Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Singapore via major carriers such as Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Firefly, Malindo Air, SilkAir and Tigerair. A quick one hour flight from Kuala Lumpur or 1 hour 35 minutes from Singapore.

Langkawi is also well connected by sea. Visitors from Penang can board ferries at Kuala Perlis, Kuala Kedah and Georgetown. Visitors from Thailand may also depart via ferry from Satun or Koh Lipe.