6 Days Kota Kinabalu Golf Tour: 4 Rounds, Mount Kinabalu View

Hello travelers, welcome to Malaysia! Upon arrival at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI), you will be met and transferred to your hotel. You and your partners will stay at Nexus Golf Resort Karambunai.

Kota Kinabalu (KK) is the capital of Sabah, Malaysia, located on the northwest coast of Borneo. It's a vibrant coastal city renowned as the primary gateway to Sabah's rich natural wonders. You can explore its stunning island-hopping opportunities within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and its proximity to the majestic Mount Kinabalu (Southeast Asia's highest peak). KK also boasts beautiful sunsets and a diverse culinary scene, making it a popular destination for nature lovers, adventurers, and foodies alike.

Arrival Ideas: Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) is the main gateway to Sabah and is well-connected both domestically within Malaysia and internationally.

International Flights

• Southeast Asia: Singapore, Manila (Philippines), Bangkok (Thailand).
• Northeast Asia: Seoul (South Korea - Incheon and Busan), Tokyo (Japan - Narita, seasonal), various cities in China (e.g., Guangzhou, Shanghai, Hong Kong).

Domestic Flights within Malaysia

• Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru, Kuching (Sarawak), Other towns within Sabah (e.g., Sandakan, Miri).

This morning, you will have a nice round at Nexus Golf Resort Karambunai. It is a Seaside Parkland Course, offering magnificent views where sea, land, and mountains intertwine.

Nexus Golf Resort Karambunai has received numerous accolades, including being voted "Malaysia's Best Resort Golf Course," "Best Golf Course in East Malaysia," and "Malaysia's Third Most Memorable Golf Course".

This creative and modern 18-hole, par-72 championship course was designed by the renowned American golf course architect Ronald Fream, who preserved its natural form, making it a true gem.

The course extends from the mountains to picturesque sandy beaches, spanning 6,063 meters. The course's conditioning and turf maintenance are unique in Sabah. It begins with inland tee-offs and then runs along the beach from the third to the fifth hole, with the majestic Mount Kinabalu in the background. Nestled between ancient, million-year-old rainforests and the South China Sea, golfers can enjoy spectacular views of Mount Kinabalu and pristine white sandy beaches.

The course design cleverly utilizes the natural terrain, starting from the rainforest foothills and gradually extending towards the beach. The fairways are undulating, the greens are beautifully shaped, and a series of small lakes, waterways, and hills are skillfully integrated, adding both challenge and visual appeal.

Enjoy your golf time and immerse yourself in the fine scenery. May you have a happy mood and good results!

In the afternoon, you will have some free time to explore the top attractions in Sabah.

Free Time Ideas in Sabah:

• Kota Kinabalu City Mosque ("Floating Mosque"): This iconic mosque is built on an artificial lagoon, giving it the appearance of floating on water, especially beautiful at sunset.
• Tanjung Aru Beach: Famous for its stunning sunsets, often listed among the best in the world. Enjoy a stroll, grab a drink at a beachside cafe, and watch the sky ablaze with colors.
• Night Market: Kota Kinabalu is famous for its fresh and affordable seafood. Head to the night market for a delicious seafood feast and tropical fruits.

This morning, you'll head to Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club for your second round in Sabah. It's conveniently located right in the city center of Kota Kinabalu.

Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club was designed by Graham Marsh and boasts beautiful landscapes. This 27-hole, 6,316-meter championship course features well-maintained undulating terrain, waterways, and strategically placed bunkers, offering challenges for both amateur and professional golfers. With its Lake, Heritage, and Garden Courses, Sutera Harbour provides a superior golfing experience, highlighted by interesting holes surrounded by the ocean and sandy areas.

The signature hole at Sutera Harbour is the 24th - a 330-meter par-4 on the Garden Course, featuring sandy waste areas and an undulating green bordered dramatically by the ocean.

Three Nine-Hole Combinations:

Sutera Harbour Golf Club isn't a traditional 18-hole course; instead, it comprises three independent nine-hole courses:

1. Lake Course: Starting from the clubhouse, this nine-hole course, it is characterized by abundant water hazards and artificial lakes. Its fairways wind among the lakes, testing players' precision.
2. Heritage Course: This nine-hole course is relatively serene and secluded, integrating local natural elements to offer a more traditional golf challenge.
3. Garden Course: A picturesque nine-hole course featuring lush garden landscapes, meticulously designed bunkers, and spectacular distant views of the ocean and islands.

How to Choose Your 18 Holes (Tell us your ideas):

• Garden + Lake Course: This is an excellent choice if you want to enjoy seaside beauty while experiencing the thrill of water hazards.
• Garden + Heritage Course: Consider this option if you prefer a combination of ocean views with more serene and strategic fairways.
• Lake + Heritage Course: This combination will offer you a rich challenge of water hazards and a relatively traditional, strategic inland golf experience.

After playing golf at Sutera Harbour Golf Club, you will have free time to explore Sabah, including its islands and local markets.

On this day, you will play your third round at Sabah Golf & Country Club. This is a Hilly Parkland Course, known for its undulating terrain and narrow, challenging fairways.

Sabah Golf & Country Club, established in 1976, is one of Sabah's older golf courses and was the first 18-hole course developed in Sabah. It's an international-standard course surrounded by lush trees. This par-72 course, originally a secondary forest and rubber plantation, is one of Robert Muir Graves' masterpieces. Its undulating fairways, rugged terrain, massive lake hazards, clusters of ancient trees, and unpredictable winds mean that every hole presents a unique and continuous challenge, awaiting your conquest. It has now earned a reputation as one of the most difficult courses for golfers to conquer in Southeast Asia.

Enjoy your golfing time, constantly adjusting your stance and power to handle uphill, downhill, and side-slope shots. This round will take about 5 hours to play.

In the afternoon, you will have time to explore Kota Kinabalu. Enjoy a nice stroll.

This morning, we will transfer you for your fourth round at Mount Kinabalu Golf Club (about 2-2.5 hours’ drive from Kota Kinabalu). Situated at the foot of Mount Kinabalu, at an altitude of about 1500 meters, it is Sabah's highest golf course. It belongs to the Highland Hilly Parkland.

Mount Kinabalu Golf Club is a "Fairyland in the Clouds." Located within Kinabalu Park, this course nestles at the base of the majestic Mount Kinabalu, whose peak soars to 4,095.2 meters. As Southeast Asia's highest golf course, its unique charming slopes irresistibly attract countless visitors. Built on the highland plateau of Pinousuk, 1500 meters up on the shoulders of the sacred mountain, it is truly Sabah's highest golf course. The picturesque views of estates, farmhouses, and deep valleys are breathtaking, while the cool, refreshing air makes for an invigorating experience. It's a masterpiece designed by Robert Muir Graves. Starting from the 6,319-meter back tees, golfers will find this course to be a demanding test of both physical and mental strength. Constant winds, steep slopes, and lingering mists will push your skills to their limits. At times, the thick fog can truly make players feel as if they are golfing above the clouds, completely lost in the moment.

Featured Holes You’ll Try:

Hole 14 (Par 3): This short par-3 is considered the course's "signature hole." It requires golfers to hit a precise shot from an elevated tee across a deep gorge (with a river at its base) to a green situated on the edge of a cliff. This hole is a true test of skill and nerve, demanding extreme accuracy.

Hole 7: Also renowned for its undulating terrain and visual impact, offering both beauty and strategic challenge.

Enjoy your nice and peaceful golf time at the foot of Mount Kinabalu.

After your golf round, if you would like to relax, you can visit the nearby Poring Hot Spring. Located in the eastern part of Kinabalu Park, it is famous for its sulfur-rich natural hot springs. If you like, enjoy the hot spring in the pool, or opt for the Canopy Walkway, a suspension bridge hanging high above the rainforest canopy, allowing you to view the rainforest from a different perspective. If time allows, enjoy the nearby scenery, including Kipungit Waterfall and Langanan Waterfall.

After the tour, you'll head back to your hotel in Kota Kinabalu.

On this day, before you say goodbye to Sabah, you can choose whether or not to play your final round of golf in Sabah.

If you like, we can take you to Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club for Wetland Golf experience. This course skillfully utilizes mangrove forests and wetland terrain, making water hazards its most prominent feature and a strategic challenge for players who enjoy tactical play.

The course was designed by the renowned Australian golf course architect Ted Parslow. It's built along a river, winding through rivers, pristine rainforests, and wetlands.

The championship course at Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club is situated within the luxurious 400-acre Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort, offering golfers an exceptional experience amidst beautiful natural landscapes. The course design aims to complement the local and rural environment of Sabah, Malaysia, competing with the world's best golf resorts. Most holes offer spectacular views of Mount Kinabalu, Southeast Asia's highest peak, with the best viewing time being early morning before the daily clouds roll in. During your round, you might encounter various wildlife, such as monkeys and monitor lizards.

Signature Holes:

Hole 4 (Par 3): This short par-3 hole features a green surrounded by water, forming an "island green" that requires precise shot-making to reach.

Hole 9 (Par 4): Considered one of the course's most challenging holes, its fairway has dense trees and a wetland lake on the left, large bunkers on the right, and water and bunkers around the green, demanding extreme accuracy for both tee shots and approach shots.

Hole 11: From the tee, you'll need to hit your ball over the Tambalang River to reach the green, with distant views of Mount Kinabalu, making it both scenic and challenging.

Closing Hole (Hole 18): This is a 372-meter par-4 hole with a continuous water hazard along the right side of the fairway. The landing area is tightly guarded by four bunkers, requiring a precise tee shot to secure a favorable position for your approach to the green.

After that, it’s time to say goodbye to Sabah as your 6-Day Malaysia Golf Tour comes to an end. You will be driven to the airport for your departure.

Golf Trip Extension:

If you’d like to continue your golf experience in other destinations in Malaysia - such as Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Johor Bahru, or Sabah - just let us know. We can customize your golf tour to suit your interests. We can also add classic sightseeing into popular Malaysian destinations like Penang, Melaka, and Cameron Highlands.

Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel for your Malaysia tour. We are committed to enhancing your travel experience and look forward to welcoming you on your next adventure in Asia. Have a safe journey home!