Garden by the Coast
The Els Club Desaru Coast Hosted Michelin Star Culinary Experience Supported by Tourism Malaysia
Desaru Coast, Johor – December 7, 2023
December 7, 2023, Desaru Coast, Johor – The Els Club Desaru Coast hosted an enchanting evening of culinary experiences at the esteemed Big Easy Bar & Grill, created by renowned Michelin Star Chef 2024, Raymond Tham.
The collaboration, between Desaru Coast Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia, The Els Club Desaru Coast and Beta KL, saw guests enjoy an evening dining experience on 6th December 2023, against the breath- taking backdrop of the Ocean Course.
Chef Raymond Tham, celebrated for his culinary prowess and innovation, curated a gastronomic journey that transcended traditional boundaries. The menu was a symphony of flavours, featuring carefully selected ingredients that showcased a perfect fusion of creativity and finesse:
- SNACKS:
ROSE APPLE | Winged Beans | Budu BABY CORN | Kulim
PRAWN | Mango | Kaffir Lime - 0.00% YEAST BREAD | Tapioca | Red Chili Emulsion
- DUCK PROSCIUTTO Turmeric | Coconut | Fig
- GARDEN SPINACH | Broccoli | 24 Months Parmigiano Reggiano
- WAGYU SHORTRIBS | Masak Hitam | Ladies Finger
- GULA MELAKA | Buah Perah | Roselle
The unique blend of ingredients and techniques used by Chef Raymond Tham added a distinctive touch to each dish, creating an unforgettable dining experience for all attendees.
Representative of the Tourism Malaysia said, “This Garden by the Coast dinner event exemplifies the rich culinary experiences that Malaysia has to offer. Chef Raymond Tham’s innovative menu showcased the diversity and quality of Malaysian ingredients, reinforcing our position as a top culinary destination. We are proud to have collaborated with The Els Club Desaru Coast, Desaru Coast Malaysia and Beta KL in bringing this extraordinary event to life. We invite both locals and international visitors to explore Malaysia’s vibrant culinary scene and discover the unique flavours that make our country a gastronomic delight.”
Harris Abdullah, the General Manager of The Els Club Desaru added, “We are thrilled to have hosted the Garden by the Coast dinner event; the combination of Chef Raymond Tham’s culinary expertise and the stunning backdrop of our Ocean Course created a truly magical evening. We are committed to providing exceptional experiences for our guests, and this event is a testament to the world-class offerings at The Els Club Desaru Coast.”
The Garden by the Coast dinner event has set a new standard for culinary excellence in The Els Club Desaru Coast, and attendees are still savouring the memories of a night filled with extraordinary flavours and captivating ambiance. For those who missed this exceptional event, be sure to stay tuned for future culinary experiences that promise to be nothing short of extraordinary.
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Fairways Through The Forest
The Els Club Desaru Coast Rejuvenates Its Stunning Valley Course
Desaru Coast, Johor – October 11, 2023
The Els Club Desaru Coast, the stunning coastal golf resort in Johor, Malaysia, has completed significant upgrades to the greens and fairways of its breathtaking Valley Course. The comprehensive enhancements to the playing surface offers a fantastic experience for golfers, a significant step for The Els Club Desaru Coast, which already boasts luxurious facilities for its guests, set amidst an enchanting and unforgettable landscape.
Renowned for its stunning coastal views and challenging layout, the Valley Course has been meticulously improved to provide golfers with an even more captivating and enjoyable playing experience. These enhancements to the fairways and greens have addressed challenges with the course, and oversaw the strategic re-planting initiative using fresh turf, resulting in the establishment of a more consistent playing surface.
The Valley Course, a challenging par 72, 7200 yard course, was designed by three time major tournament winner Vijay Singh, and has already proven its excellence in the golf world, recognised as Malaysia’s Best Golf Course in 2020 and 2021 at the World Golf Awards.
Harris Abdullah, General Manager at The Els Club Desaru Coast, said: “Our commitment to delivering an exceptional experience to our visitors remains unwavering, and these enhancements epitomize our commitment to raising the bar of excellence.
Combining the beauty of the Desaru Coast with the challenge that our excellent Valley Course presents is a way to make memories that will last a lifetime, and we extend the invite to golf enthusiasts from around the world to experience the magic for themselves.”
DJ Flanders, Executive Vice President at Troon International, said: “Having recently visited The Els Club Desaru Coast, and witnessed first-hand the improvements to the Valley Course, it is no surprise that the course is held in such high esteem in Malaysia, but also across Asia and beyond.
The captivating coastal views set within the scenic forest landscape would give even the most well-travelled golfers a sight to behold. The Els Club Desaru Coast will continue to flourish now on the back of these improvements, a journey that we at Troon International are excited to be a part of.”
The Els Club Desaru Coast is inviting golfers from across the world to experience the breathtaking beauty of the resort. In line with the refurbishments, the Club is offering limited promotional slots daily via its online booking platform at RM275 in the morning and RM250 in the afternoon per person. This offers a fantastic opportunity for guests to enjoy a truly exceptional round of golf, surrounded by the breathtaking natural beauty and meticulous craftmanship that define the Valley Course.
Furthermore, The Els Club Desaru Coast offer a range of ‘Stay and Play’ tailored golf packages, with a range of six stunning hotels for visitors to choose from for accommodation, before heading out to tackle the Valley Course.
For inquiries, bookings, and further information about The Els Club Desaru Coast – Valley Course, please visit www.elsclubmalaysia.com.
New General Manager at The Els Club Desaru Coast
Desaru Coast, Johor, Malaysia, May 24, 2022
As international travel resumes, The Els Club Desaru Coast’s new General Manager Harris Abdullah is gearing up to welcome golfers from around the world to grace its award-winning fairways and abundant wildlife again.
A familiar face among regular golfers at The Els Club Desaru Coast, Harris, who recently succeeded Steven Thielke, is known for his amicable and hospitable disposition. Harris’ stellar career has been one of consistent high-quality performance in the golf industry.
His appointment as General Manager at The Els Club Desaru Coast is set to drive greater value to this Troon Golf-managed facility to continue drawing enthusiastic golfers to Desaru Coast via a combination of strategies.
Diving into action, Harris’ immediate task is to ensure business scalability with the reopening of the international borders while his mid and long-term goals comprise customer-centricity and sustainable development.
Harris said: “We’ve been receiving many enquiries lately from travellers on golfing at The Els Club Desaru Coast. We believe many more regular travellers to Malaysia are eager to resume their golf outing in Desaru again.”
Harris joined The Els Club Desaru Coast as a pioneer team member in 2016 with more than 23 years of experience in a semi-private club and resort.
He was greatly involved since the club’s pre-opening where he worked with the ownership to establish the two stately clubhouses, the 27-hole Ocean Course, 18-hole Valley Course and The Els Performance Golf Academy with complete facilities. The 46-year-old Harris was also instrumental in the implementation of standards that are aligned to Troon Golf’s policy every step of the way.
Harris began his career in 1996 at Cherry Hills Golf Club in California where he learned the ropes of golf operations. A year later, he returned to Malaysia to join Pulai Springs Resort in Johor. That was followed by a 15-year stint at Ria Bintan Golf Club & Resort in Riau, Indonesia where his last position was Resort Manager.
He successfully directed several major tournaments at amateur and professional level. Many of these events have provided first hand collaboration opportunities with international golf brands such as the Asian Tour.
Desaru is located in the southeast of Johor and is a 45-minute drive from the Senai International Airport and a 1½-hour drive from Singapore. The soon-to-be opened Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal is set to transport passengers from Singapore directly to Desaru Coast.
Popular for its Stay and Play packages, The Els Club Desaru Coast offers golf with accommodation at Desaru’s The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast and Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas. Also available are Stay and Learn Golf packages. Meanwhile, regular golfers at The Els Club Desaru Coast are encouraged to opt for a Privilege Pass for unlimited golf rounds per year.
Prior to the reopening of the borders, the agronomy team seized the opportunity to nurture the golf courses with scheduled upkeep routines on The Ocean and Valley Courses.
For more information, visit www.elsclubmalaysia.com
The Els Club Desaru Coast – The Ocean Tees Off in Style
Highly anticipated 27-hole golf course opens for official play
Johor Bahru, Malaysia – 27th September 2016
The introduction of South East Asia’s newest golf destination was met with high praise from the privileged guests, who experienced the first rounds of official play at The Els Club Desaru Coast – The Ocean, the first of two-major golf developments to open in Desaru Coast.
To mark the occasion, Themed Attractions Resorts & Hotels Sdn Bhd (TAR&H), the owner of The Els Club Desaru Coast, hosted a group of influential media to unveil what is set to become one of the nations’ flagship golf and tourism projects and announce The Ocean course is open for general play. Guests lucky enough to experience the first official weekend were unanimous in their praise for the new course, pointing to the service, quality and layout of the property as being of the highest standard. Course designer and four-time Major Champion Ernie Els commented; “It certainly has the makings of one of South-East Asia’s top destinations. You have a great location, in close proximity to so many major Asian hubs. You have a corner of coastline that simply takes your breath away and an ownership group dedicated to creating some of the finest tourism attractions in the world. When you add these ingredients together, you have the makings of something very special.”
The Troon-managed Ocean Course, located on the south-eastern region of the country, in the state of Johor, features 3 distinct nine-hole courses; the Coast, Ridge and Lakes. In addition, it will be home to The Els Performance Golf Academy – the first of its kind in the region; and two casual dining restaurants including an all-day cafe and bar created as an ode Ernie’s PGA Tour record-breaking 72-hole aggregate in the 2003 Mercedes Championship. The Els Club Desaru Coast – The Valley is also scheduled to open soon after its neighbouring sister course – The Ocean. Designed in collaboration between fellow Major-Champions and golfing icons; Ernie Els and Vijay Singh, The Valley will be a world’s first bringing together two of golf’s most recognised personalities, uniting on this exceptional project.
Muhammad Zainal Ashikin, Chief Executive Officer Destinations Resorts & Hotel Portfolio of TAR&H commented, “Today marks a major first step in the development of Desaru Coast. We have made considerable strides in bringing the very best partners to Johor, and have set in motion a tourism legacy that will deliver jobs and a world class experience for all who visit. Today we have opened The Els Club Desaru Coast – The Ocean, which will fly the flag for the development and pave the way for a succession of top-class amenity introductions.”
The destination of Desaru Coast spans over 3,900 acres along a pristine 17km beachfront facing the South China Sea, and is easily accessible via road, air and sea. The destination will also be home to globally renowned hotel chains and resorts; Aman Resorts & Villas, The Westin Desaru Resort, Anantara Desaru Resort, and Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast; a state-of-the-art conference centre, a 27-hole and 18-hole golf course, a themed water park and a retail village.
“The Els Club brand resonates with excellence and quality,” continued Muhammad Zainal Ashikin. “We are committed to embedding a new standard for hospitality, service and quality that will set Desaru on course to become one of the top tourism and golf destinations regionally and internationally.”
Guests now have the opportunity to book tee times online and be among the first to experience South East Asia’s spectacular new golf course offering.
For more information, visit www.elsclubmalaysia.com or contact Jed Moore at Performance54 — jed.moore@performance54.com.
The Els Club – Grand Opening By Her Majesty Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajjah Haminah
28th October 2014
In the company of Her Majesty Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajjah Haminah, The Queen of Malaysia, World Golf Hall-of-Famer, Els, struck the opening tee shot on the world’s most hotly-anticipated new course. Key dignitaries, media and VIP guests were also invited to witness the historic unveiling and enjoy a unique insight from fans’ favourite Els, the winner of more than 60 professional tournaments worldwide.
Upon unveiling the latest layout in the Ernie Els Design portfolio, which also includes courses in his native South Africa, Dubai and the USA, The Big Easy said: “This is, without doubt, the most spectacular golf course setting I have had the pleasure of working on and I am incredibly excited about the prospect of inviting the first visitors to come and enjoy The Els Club Teluk Datai.”
“The course is truly breath-taking and I am delighted with what we have achieved here. I endeavoured to make the most of this unique location and I believe that we have done just that.
“It was an honour to hit the opening tee shot alongside Her Majesty and I would personally like to thank all of those in attendance for their support in what we are confident is set to become one of the world’s most revered golf course designs.”
Having already been voted the region’s ‘Best Golf Course’ at the 2014 Asia-Pacific Property Awards, The Els Club Teluk Datai has gained unprecedented interest among the world’s golfing media and industry officials.
Nestled between ancient rainforest and the Andaman Sea on the iconic island location of Langkawi, the 18-holes championship course will serve as a focal point for the award-winning Datai Langkawi resort, which is a favourite amongst international travellers.
The Els Club Teluk Datai will now play an integral role in realising the vision of resort owners Destination Resorts and Hotels Sdn Bhd (DRH) in developing golf and bespoke tourism experiences in Malaysia.
Charged with developing strategic tourism, DRH selected The Els Club Brand for three Malaysian golf developments, two of which are currently under construction in the southernmost state of Johor and will transform the nation’s golf offering over the coming years.
“Today marks the start of a new era for Langkawi, Destination Resorts & Hotels as well as Malaysia. Our business strategy by design seeks to create sustainable and economically viable tourism propositions. Given golf’s positioning on a global stage and the demographic it attracts we have sought to redefine standards in the regions golf offering. Ernie is an exemplary partner, whose Els Club brand stands for the kind of excellence we strive towards, which will add impetus in our efforts to attract tourist to the island of Langkawi. The Els Club Teluk Datai will certainly become a flagship asset for our business and give enjoyment for many more generations to come. ” commented Tunku Dato’ Ahmad Burhanuddin, Managing Director of DRH.
Senior Vice President of The Els Club Malaysia, David Townend, spoke of his excitement at officially opening to the public. He said: “This is one of the world’s most visually stunning golf courses, so the early feedback we have achieved and the tremendous reaction we have experienced here today is really no surprise.
“Over the coming months we expect to welcome golfers from all over the world, who are eager to test themselves against Ernie’s masterpiece and take advantage of the incredible experience that can be had as a tourist in Langkawi.”
The course is managed and operated by Troon Golf, the global leader in upscale golf management, who oversee operations at some of world’s pre-eminent golf resorts.
For more information visit www.elsclubmalaysia.com, follow @ErnieElsDesign and @TheBig_Easy.