ERA Golf Country Resort

About 10 minute drive from Bahau, ERA Golf & Country Resort is Negri Sembilan’s newest par-72 18 holes course.

Opened earlier this year, it was designed by local golf course architect, Bobby Lim, and stretches just beyond 6,000 metres. It is set in a valley, bordered by forests and presents one with an impressive sight when driving there.

Much of the layout has had its surrounding terrain kept intact and Lim used a lot of the old, tall trees to good effect as he shaped the courses around them.

Almost immediately, golfers get to sample just what the owner Datuk Chua Tiong Moon, wanted from his tract when playing the second hole. The 194-metre par-3 is Era’s signature hole and a delightful challenge it is too. It plays slightly downhill to a green that has been built up and jealously guarded by water and sand. The tee shot is played over a pond, which also comes into play on the right for anything heavily sliced, while a cluster of bunkers add to the degree of difficulty on the same side, and even more sand on the left.

The closing hole at Era is a 455 metre par-5. Another deceptively tricky hole, the task here is to keep the ball on the fairways and stay clear of the water on the right and the thick forest on the left. Even if one does get the ball on the green in two, the putting surface provides challenges of its own, given its narrowness and contours.

A buggy-course, Era has a driving range for those who might want to sharpen their skills before taking up the challenge, For members and their guests, there is a swimming pool to splash about in. For food, there is a restaurant that serves a cross-section of local and international cuisine.

Plans are afoot to build a hotel adjacent to the swimming pool, and, according to Chua, will ready before the middle of next year (2008). This will no doubt entice outstation guests to spend a night or two there, and play more than just one round of golf. But golfers can take advantage of attractive stay and play packages offered by Era Hotel in Bahau – RM 88 nett for twin sharing room and 18 holes golf, plus buggy (weekdays) or RM 118 nett on weekends. For golf alone, it is RM 40 and RM 60 (weekdays and weekend, respectively).

Malaysia Golf

• Golf Malaysia
• Negri Sembilan Golf