The Els Club Teluk Datai has been on our golf bucket list for a long time. Located on the beautiful island of Langkawi, Malaysia, this Ernie Els-redesigned course winds its way through a million-year-old rainforest, with dramatic limestone mountains on one side and the Andaman Sea on the other.
We had heard that Teluk Datai was one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world, and after finally playing it, we can understand why. From rainforest fairways and curious monkeys to spectacular ocean views, this is a golf course where the scenery is every bit as memorable as the golf.
The Els Club Teluk Datai at a Glance
| Course Information | Details |
| Location | Langkawi, Malaysia |
| Course | Rainforest Course |
| Designer | Ernie Els |
| Holes / Par | 18 Holes / Par 72 |
| Tee Options | Multiple tees available |
| Visitor Access | Yes |
| Golf Carts | Yes — GPS-equipped shared cart |
| Caddies | Available for hire; not required |
| Practice Facilities | Driving range, chipping area & putting green |
| Course Type | Rainforest, Resort |
| Address | Jalan Teluk Datai, 07000 Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia |
| Phone | +60 (4) 959 2700 |
| reservations@elsclubmalaysia.com | |
| Website | Official Els Club Teluk Datai website |
Why We Wanted To Play The Els Club Teluk Datai
Malaysia was home to a few courses on our golf bucket list, and a trip to the picturesque island of Langkawi had been in our minds since we started turning this dream trip into a reality.
But why Langkawi?
Easy. Because Langkawi is home to one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world, The Els Club Teluk Datai.
Located within a million-year-old rainforest, the Ernie Els-redesigned course was ranked number 83 on Golf Digest’s World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses ranking back in 2016 — the list that we carry in our backpacks.
So, naturally, playing Teluk Datai was something we were really looking forward to.
Unfortunately, Menekşe wasn’t feeling well on the day we had planned to play. She woke that morning to a bit of what is commonly called Bali Belly. But knowing how important playing Teluk Datai was to me, and with all the rain that we had been experiencing while we were in Langkawi, the sun finally shining was too good an opportunity to miss.
So she insisted that we should go anyway — and that she would chauffeur our buggy.
Now that’s love!
Before heading out onto the course, we had a quick look around the Pro Shop, hit a couple of balls on the driving range, and then made our way to the first tee.
We were finally about to play The Els Club Teluk Datai.
Playing The Front Nine at The Els Club Teluk Datai
The front nine at Teluk Datai takes you on a wonderful introduction to the course, winding its way through the rainforest before revealing some spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and the Andaman Sea.
The Limestone Mountains
Teluk Datai allows you to ease into your game, with the opening holes routing you down, then up, and then back down through a tranquil rainforest setting.
The obvious target on Majestic, the 351-meter (384-yard) par 4 second hole, was one of the perfectly framed limestone peaks of the Mat Chinchang Mountain range. Even if there had been a “Hit it Here” sign, the target couldn’t have been more obvious.
The mountain views were a pretty good indication that this was going to be a golf experience unlike any other we had played.
The Most Beautiful Hole at Teluk Datai
But it was the fifth hole where the golf course really started to blow us away.
Once you finish the fourth hole, the ocean comes into view, and you won’t believe your eyes when you reach the 155-meter (170-yard) par 3 fifth hole, curiously named Illusion.
It is anything but an illusion, because believe it or not, that view is real!
You may want to pinch yourself to ensure that you select your weapon of choice wisely here. With the Andaman Sea as your backdrop, if you overclub, you will need to bring your passport because that is Thailand in the background!
This was one of those holes where the golf almost seemed secondary. We could have stood on that tee box for ages simply taking in the view.
The Rainforest Returns
The sixth hole temporarily takes you away from the ocean, just to have the seventh hole return you to where you belong.
Named Teluk Datai, the 520-meter (569-yard) par 5 was, in a word, breathtaking. Here is truly where a picture is worth a thousand words.
And this was only the seventh hole.
As we continued through the front nine, the rainforest once again became the dominant feature, with the course beautifully blending into its surroundings.
By the time we reached the end of the front nine, it was becoming pretty clear that Teluk Datai was going to be about much more than simply playing golf. We were playing through an ancient rainforest, surrounded by mountains, with the Andaman Sea appearing at seemingly every opportunity.
And we still had nine holes to go.
Playing The Back Nine at The Els Club Teluk Datai
The start of the back nine takes you uphill and slowly meanders its way through the rainforest. Ten through thirteen were probably our favorites of the rainforest holes. They are a series of three par 4’s and a short, but not easy, par 5.
Monkeys in the Rainforest
The downhill 370-meter (405-yard) par 4 eleventh was the best hole of this stretch. As we made our way from the tenth green to the eleventh tee box, we were greeted by a good-sized troop of monkeys.
It was then obvious to us why the eleventh is named Dusky Leaf.
The monkeys were certainly entertaining, but the hole itself was just as memorable. The dramatic downhill tee shot gives you a completely different perspective of the rainforest, and it was one of those moments when we found ourselves stopping to take it all in.
The Challenge of Club Selection
Then came Solitude, the extreme downhill 138-meter (151-yard) par 3 fifteenth.
This is a fun one-shooter.
I guessed the elevation drop to be one club, only to end up being one club too long. Clearly, the rainforest has a way of making you question your club selection!
Paradise Found
And then came the sixteenth.
The theme of correct club selection off the tee continued to the 374-meter (409-yard) sixteenth hole, called Paradise Found.
With an uphill sharp dogleg right in front of me, I didn’t know what to hit off the tee. I was certain that if I hit my driver straight, it would be too much club and would have put me in trouble.
So I elected to play it safe and hit a 5-iron off the tee.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough club — for me anyway — to reach the bend in the fairway. Now that we have played it, we know that a 3-wood or hybrid would have been the better play.
That would have allowed us to get to the top of the hill, where we would have had a view of the green.
And oh, what a beautiful view it is.
I guess we can live with making bogey on Paradise.
Andaman Shores
The seventeenth, Andaman Shores, is another oceanfront par 3 that you will never forget.
At 148 meters (162 yards), with the ocean on the right and a long, narrow green, the prudent miss is left. Taking dead aim at a helpless flag, “don’t miss it right” thoughts quickly rushed into my mind at the top of my swing.
Apparently, my inner self knew better.
I missed the green just left, but it was pin high.
Unfortunately, it didn’t take us very long to play 18 holes.
We say unfortunately not because we enjoy a slow round of golf, but because this is a course where we surely wouldn’t mind spending an entire day.
And as we walked off the course, we already knew one thing:
We would have to come back.
What Makes Teluk Datai Special? And Is It Difficult?
Interestingly, there is not a single bunker on the golf course.
According to Golf Digest, Ernie Els felt the extreme amount of annual rainfall would make bunkers a maintenance nightmare. Instead, he used trees and a natural meandering stream as his primary hazards.
While there may be no bunkers on the golf course, there is a beach that just might come into play!
With ample landing areas and generous greens, Teluk Datai wasn’t the most difficult course we have played. The natural rainforest setting certainly provides its challenges, but overall, we found the course very playable.
To us, however, the sheer difficulty isn’t a measure of memorable golf.
And, without a doubt, The Els Club Teluk Datai was the most beautiful golf course that we have ever seen!
What You Need to Know Before You Go To Teluk Datai
Playing golf in a million-year-old rainforest is a pretty special experience, but there are a few things we think are worth knowing before you tee it up.
Be Prepared for Rain
Langkawi is tropical, and the weather can change quickly. We experienced plenty of rain during our time on the island, so having a rain jacket and an extra pair of golf gloves in your bag is a good idea.
Bring Your Camera
This is definitely a course where you will want your camera.
From the rainforest and limestone mountains to the Andaman Sea and the monkeys along the way, there are plenty of moments when you will want to stop and take it all in.
How Much Does it Cost to Play Teluk Datai?
Playing The Els Club Teluk Datai is definitely a special-occasion round for us. At the current published rate, 18 holes for international visitors is MYR 660 per person (about US$164). The rate includes your green fee, shared GPS-equipped golf cart, and golfer’s insurance.
But there is a way to make this bucket-list course a little easier on the golf-traveling budget. We took advantage of the discounted twilight rate when we played, and it worked out perfectly for us.
We had more than enough time to complete our 18 holes before dark, so we got to experience this incredible course without paying the full rate.
Prices and twilight availability can change, so we’d recommend checking the current rates when you book.
How to Get to The Els Club Teluk Datai
The Els Club Teluk Datai is tucked away on the northern coast of Langkawi, about a 40-minute drive from Langkawi International Airport.
Flying to Langkawi
Langkawi International Airport (LGK) is your gateway. If you’re traveling internationally, you’ll most likely arrive via Kuala Lumpur (KUL) or Singapore (SIN), with a short flight to Langkawi.
From the airport, it’s an easy drive north to the golf course.
Getting to the Golf Course
We hired a car specifically for our day at The Els Club Teluk Datai. With our golf clubs, having our own car made getting to and from the course easy. Keep in mind that Malaysia drives on the left side of the road. And watch out for local wildlife (monkeys!!) on the road.
For the rest of our time on Langkawi, we actually hired a scooter and found it a great way to explore the island. But when you’re traveling with golf clubs, we’d recommend having a car for your golf day.
We also used Grab extensively while traveling around Malaysia. One thing we learned in Kuala Lumpur is that golf clubs and a standard Grab car don’t always make the best combination! 😂 We had to use the Grab XL option to make sure there was enough room for our clubs and luggage.
So, if you decide to use Grab for your golf day, make sure you choose a vehicle with enough room for your clubs.
Where to Stay: Finding The Perfect Langkawi Base
Where you stay on Langkawi really depends on what kind of trip you’re looking for.
Stay Near the Golf Course: Datai Bay
If your main reason for visiting Langkawi is to play The Els Club Teluk Datai, staying in the north of the island makes a lot of sense.
The course is right in the beautiful Datai Bay area, with some seriously impressive luxury resorts, including The Datai and The Andaman.
We’ll be honest — these were a little outside our golf-traveling budget! 😂 But if you’re looking for a luxury golf getaway, this is definitely the place to splurge. You’ll be surrounded by the rainforest and just minutes from the golf course.
Stay in Pantai Cenang: Our Choice
For us, Pantai Cenang was a much better fit. This is where we based ourselves during our time on Langkawi.
It also offered much more choice for our budget, which is always an important consideration when you’re puttering around the world with golf clubs!
Of course, there’s much more to Langkawi than golf! We spent several days exploring the island, and you can read about our favorite places in our guide to The Best Attractions in Langkawi.
No matter which area you choose, our interactive map below can help you explore accommodation options around Langkawi.
Our Verdict: Would We Play it Again?
Absolutely!
Still dressed in our golf clothes, we stopped at a beach on our drive back to our hotel so that we could watch the sunset.
As we sat there watching time stand still, I couldn’t help but get chills thinking about how lucky I am. And how thankful I am to have a partner in life who does all this with me.
Thank you, Menekşe!
The Els Club Teluk Datai ranks very high on our list of the best golf courses we’ve played in Malaysia, and it’s a course we know we’ll come back to.
First, and most importantly, so Menekşe can play it.
And second, well, because the golf course is just that damn good!
Ready to Explore More Golf?
The Els Club Teluk Datai 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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