Built in 1964, the Royal Pahang course was originally a nine-hole layout until it was upgraded in 1987 to 18 holes. A short distance from the famed Telok Chempedak beach and within easy reach of Kuantan town centre, this links course has become very popular with hotel guests and visitors to Kuantan.
Spreading across 120 acres, this very flat layout has a forest as its backdrop with the South China Sea visible from some holes. The State Guest House, beside the 14th hole, lends a touch of both colour and grander. Come afternoon, swirling winds often pose a challenge to golfers-clubbing and control becomes a real test of skill.
The First Nine is marked by wider fairways, with mature trees but less water. The Second Nine demands accuracy, as its water, bunkers and tall trees are all very destructive. Playing here is pleasant yet challenging.
The Club is affiliated to many major golf clubs in the country. Other facilities in the club include the Driving Range, Pro-Shop, Restaurant, Cafetaria, Karaoke Lounge, Billiards and Swinning Pool.
This flat course was built along the seashore. The front 9 is marked by wider fairways and less trees and water comes into play. All holes in the front 9 are straight and look more or less the same. They are easy except for the3rd hole, which is a 446 yard, par 4. However, The back 9 has a lot of doglegs with mature trees, water and tight fairways. Accuracy a must. The front 9 is rather boring but you will be fascinated by the back 9 that is very pleasant to play. This is not a difficult course but the sea wind provides the extra challenge.
A par 3 where water surround the green from all directions except for the front right side. The big green has moderate undulations.
A straight hole located next to the sea. The left shoreline is OB and the fairway is relatively narrow with tall trees on left and right. You need to drive the right half of the fairway in order to have a clear view on the second shot. When you hit to the left, the trees hang over the fairway greatly from the left side will disturb your next shot, which makes a very difficult second shot. The sea overlooking from the green area is beautiful.
A difficult, sharp dogleg to the right. There is an OB on the left and trees on the right with the narrow fairway, so the tee shot is demanding.
A strong dogleg to the right with a difficult tee shot. Tall trees on the right side of the fairway, which is impossible to clear off the tee, come into play. A long hitter must fade a ball with a driver or a 3 wood; otherwise, your straight tee shot might fly it into a OB zone. The view of the ocean behind the left side of the green is excellent.
An interesting dogleg to the right although the layout is just ordinary. To make a short cut you need a carry of 200-250 yards to clear a house on the left corner. The family of one of several princes lives there. When your tee shot is in the house, it will be OB. It seems that the thousands of balls have entered their house and they seem to be generous about it.
A long par 4 with a creek crossing the fairway 260 yards off the tee. The green is surrounded by water, so the precise second shot is required.
A straight hole with the green swung to the right. Trees on the right and water on the left comes into play off the tee. The approach shot is over water.
It takes 40 minutes by flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan followed by another 30 minutes drive from the Kuantan Airport. It is 30 minutes drive from Kuantan or 3 hours drive from Kuala Lumpur.　We stayed at the Club Med Charting Beach with my family and it took 45 minutes to get there by taxi. You can stay at Hyatt Regency Kuantan within the walking distance to the course.
Handicap requirement is needed to play here, men for 24 and ladies for 36. The course is measured in yards which is rare in Malaysia where meters are commonly used in golf courses. Yardage sticks of 100 yards and 150 yards were up to the front edges of the greens, not up to the centers of the greens, which need to pay attention to. You can choose freely the tees to play.
The first 9 was built in 1964 and Malaysian Jimmy Fah redesigned and upgraded its course to 18-hole course in 1987.