The official opening of The Els Club Teluk Datai, on the island of Langkawi, Malaysia, has taken place.
Designed by Ernie Els’ firm, The Big Easy was in attendance to strike the opening tee shot, and was joined by the Queen of Malaysia, Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajjah Haminah at the ceremony.
“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,” said Els. “The course is truly breath-taking and I am delighted with what we have achieved.”
The course forms part of the Datai Langkawi resort, and lies on the edge of the Andaman Sea. The Els Club Teluk Datai is the first of three developments led by the resort’s owners Destination Resorts and Hotels Sdn Bhd (DRH) in Malaysia. The other two projects are still under construction in the state of Johor in the south of the country.
“Today marks the start of a new era for Langkawi, Destination Resorts & Hotels, as well as Malaysia,” said Tunku Dato’ Ahmad Burhanuddin, managing director of DRH. “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.”
The new course will be managed by Troon Golf.
David Townend, senior vice president of The Els Club Malaysia, said: “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.”