There are golf courses you play because they’re famous. And then there are golf courses you play because you somehow get the chance to experience a little piece of history.
Royal Selangor Golf Club was definitely the latter for us.
Founded in 1893, Royal Selangor is one of the oldest golf clubs in Malaysia and has been an important part of Kuala Lumpur’s history for more than 130 years. The club received its “Royal” designation in 1963, becoming the Royal Selangor Golf Club.
We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to play nine holes at this historic club during our time in Kuala Lumpur. Nine holes may not sound like a lot, but when you’re playing at a club with this much history, we were certainly not complaining!
So, we grabbed our clubs, headed onto the course and enjoyed a glimpse of what makes Royal Selangor such a special part of golf in Kuala Lumpur.
Royal Selangor Golf Club at a Glance
| Location | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Club | Royal Selangor Golf Club |
| Founded | 1893 |
| Number of Holes | 45 holes |
| Visitor Access | Private membership club – public visitors not permitted |
| Golf Caddies | Available / required for visiting members and guests |
| Course Type | Parkland |
| Address | Jalan Kelab Golf, 55000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Phone | +60 3 9206 3333 |
| Website | Official Royal Selangor Golf Club website |
Our take: Royal Selangor is a fascinating piece of Kuala Lumpur’s golfing history. We only played nine holes, but the opportunity to experience this historic club was something we certainly won’t forget.
Playing Nine Holes on the New Course at Royal Selangor
If you read about our trip to Borneo, you may remember that Menekşe was bitten by a tick. After having it removed, we wanted to see a doctor in Kuala Lumpur to make sure everything was in order.
That meant we only had time to play nine holes at Royal Selangor.
We had hoped to play the historic Old Course, but we visited on a Monday and the First Nine Old was closed for maintenance. Our host suggested the First Nine New instead.
And how right he was!
The New Course is a parkland course winding through an amazing collection of mature trees right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. I played from the Blue tees at 3,187 yards, while Menekşe chose the Red tees at 2,731 yards.
We were also introduced to our caddies, one of whom had been with Royal Selangor for more than 40 years!
Fore Right!
Our first tee shot came with a pretty spectacular target: the Petronas Twin Towers.
The 382-yard par 4 is a slight dogleg left, with the ideal line aiming at the right tower before drawing towards the left.
Menekşe went just left of the left tower, while I blocked my tee shot way right and into the approaching fairway.
Not exactly the start we had planned!
The course itself was beautiful. Many of the huge Tembusu and Samanea saman, or rain trees, date back to the days when the land was used as a tree-planting research centre for the Forestry Department.
Surrounded by Kuala Lumpur but almost completely hidden from it, the course feels like a green sanctuary in the middle of the city.
Unfortunately, my golf swing wasn’t feeling quite as peaceful.
On the 513-yard par 5 third, I never even saw the fairway. I blocked my tee shot way right and played up the adjacent fairway.
Embarrassing? A little.
But at least it proved a par could still be made from there!
Finding the Fairway
We loved the fact that we could walk Royal Selangor. After playing so many courses in Asia where golf carts are the norm, it was refreshing to walk.
The Hogan’s walkways—narrow, beautifully mown paths leading from tee to fairway—were another nice touch.
By the eighth hole, I had finally found my swing.
The 331-yard par 4 provided another great skyline target, The Exchange 106, and this time I found the fairway— only the second time all day!
My wedge landed softly just right of the pin, but then I missed the putt after ignoring my caddy’s advice to aim at the right edge.
After more than 40 years at the club, perhaps the caddy knew what he was talking about!
Finishing the First Nine New
The ninth was a fun way to finish.
The 392-yard par 4 bends to the right, and it finally suited my swing. I hit a straight driver to the far-left corner of the fairway, leaving a good angle for my approach.
With the pin towards the front of the green, I hit an 8-iron, thinking about the middle. I caught it a little too hot and flew the green, leaving a 40-foot downhill putt.
And somehow, my long putt dropped!
A birdie to finish was certainly not what I expected after the start I had.
After thanking our host again for his hospitality, we waved goodbye to the Club and walked across the street to the hospital, where we made it to Menekşe’s doctor’s appointment right on time.
All while carrying our golf clubs!
A Golf Club Steeped in History
Royal Selangor Golf Club has been part of Kuala Lumpur’s story since 1893, when a group of coffee planters decided the city needed a golf club. A jolly good idea, we think!
The club moved to its present location in the early 1920s, with the Old Course opening in stages from 1921 and the New Course following soon after.
In 1963, the club was granted the “Royal” designation, officially becoming Royal Selangor Golf Club.
More than 130 years later, it remains one of Kuala Lumpur’s most historic golf clubs—and one of the most interesting places we’ve had the opportunity to play.
Can You Play Royal Selangor?
This is an important one for traveling golfers: Royal Selangor Golf Club is a private membership club, and public visitors are not permitted to simply book a tee time and play.
Golfing privileges are available to members and their invited guests, while members of reciprocal golf clubs may also be able to play under the club’s reciprocal arrangements.
So, if you’re visiting Kuala Lumpur and hoping to play Royal Selangor, you’ll need to have the appropriate connection to the club or come through a reciprocal arrangement.
That’s actually how our own visit came about. We were fortunate enough to be introduced to a member of the club, who arranged our visit and gave us the opportunity to experience nine holes of this historic course.
Our advice: if Royal Selangor is on your Kuala Lumpur golf wish list, arrange access before you arrive. This is definitely not a course where you can simply turn up and ask for a tee time.
How to Get to Royal Selangor Golf Club
Flying to Kuala Lumpur
If you’re flying into Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) is the main international gateway to the city.
Royal Selangor Golf Club is conveniently located right in central Kuala Lumpur, in the heart of the city’s Golden Triangle. The club itself says the airport is around a 30-minute drive away, although Kuala Lumpur traffic can make journey times considerably longer.
Getting to the Golf Club
For us, Grab would be our choice.
Grab is easy to use throughout Kuala Lumpur and saves you the hassle of driving through the city, finding parking and, most importantly, figuring out where to put two sets of golf clubs!
Simply order a Grab with enough space for your golf bags and enter Royal Selangor Golf Club as your destination.
The club is on Jalan Kelab Golf, just off Jalan Tun Razak, making it easy to reach from the central Kuala Lumpur hotel areas.
For traveling golfers, we think Grab is by far the easiest way to get around Kuala Lumpur.
Where to Stay in Kuala Lumpur
Because Royal Selangor Golf Club is right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle, you certainly have many outstanding options.
Our Choice: Bukit Bintang
For us, Bukit Bintang is one of the best places to stay in Kuala Lumpur.
We loved the restaurants, cafés, shopping and nightlife, and it was a fantastic base for exploring the city. Even better, Royal Selangor Golf Club is right in the same central area, so getting to the course by Grab is quick and easy.
Rather than choosing a hotel simply because it is close to the golf course, we’d recommend staying somewhere you’ll enjoy spending time when you’re not golfing. And for us, that means Bukit Bintang.
Our Golf Splurge
If you’re looking to make your Kuala Lumpur golf trip a little more special, there are plenty of luxury hotels around the Golden Triangle. This is where we’d consider treating ourselves to a golf-trip splurge.
Royal Selangor is surrounded by some of Kuala Lumpur’s best hotels, restaurants and shopping, so you can combine a round of historic golf with a little bit of luxury.
And, of course, our interactive map below is a great way to explore the area and find the hotel that’s right for you.
For more of our recommendations, check out our guide to The Best of Travel and Golf in Kuala Lumpur.
And if you’d rather see KL than read about it, check out our Kuala Lumpur Travel Vlog 🇲🇾 Food, Cafés & Hidden Gems on YouTube!
Other Golf Courses Near Royal Selangor
If you’re putting together a Kuala Lumpur golf itinerary, there are several excellent courses within reach of Royal Selangor Golf Club. We’ve played two that are well worth considering.
Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club
Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC), in Bukit Kiara, is one of Malaysia’s premier golf destinations. Its award-winning West Course has hosted major international tournaments and is currently ranked among the Top 100 Golf Courses in Asia.
We played the West Course and absolutely loved the experience. If you’re looking for a more prestigious golf experience during your time in Kuala Lumpur, KLGCC is an excellent choice.
The Mines Resort & Golf Club
The Mines Resort & Golf Club offers something completely different.
Built on the site of a former open-cast tin mine, this Robert Trent Jones Jr. design was transformed into a beautiful parkland course surrounded by mature trees and a huge lake. The 18-hole championship course is one of the most unusual and memorable golf experiences we had in Malaysia.
We really enjoyed our round at The Mines—and if you have time for more than one round of golf in Kuala Lumpur, we’d definitely put it on the list.
Our Verdict: Would We Play it Again?
We may have only played nine holes at Royal Selangor Golf Club, but we’re very glad we had the opportunity.
This is a fascinating piece of Kuala Lumpur golfing history, with a beautiful parkland setting, mature trees, great skyline views and a wonderful old-school golf-club atmosphere.
It’s also a course that clearly rewards walking, good course management and listening to your caddy!
As public visitors aren’t permitted, playing Royal Selangor takes a little more planning. But if you have access through a member or a reciprocal club, we’d definitely recommend taking the opportunity to play.
For us, nine holes simply left us wanting more. One day, we’d love to go back and play the full 18.
Ready to Explore More Golf?
Royal Selangor Golf Club was just one course on our worldwide golf journey. If you’d like to see where else we’ve played, explored, and discovered along the way, there’s plenty more to explore.
Planning your own Malaysia golf adventure? Explore all our Malaysia golf blogs, course reviews, travel tips, and favorite places to stay.
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