My golf friends: Covid-19 MCO - JB Golf Tour 13

Probably all keen golfers would have heard of the ElsClub in Desaru where the Ocean Course is designed by the four-time major champion, Ernie Els. Overlooking the South China Sea the course comprises three 9-holes course namely Coast, Ridge and Lakes. Each layout has their own character but not link style as the name may implied.

On normal days, the green fees alone cost about RM500. To most of us, this is too expensive to even consider playing a round. But when we heard about the Stay & Play package that were on offer during the Covid-19 MCO, we grabbed the opportunity immediately.

The packages on offer.by The Els Club Desaru Coast, JB.......

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Day 1 - Sunday 13 Sept, AKGCC

Since the package comes with unlimited rounds of golf with cart, our plan is to play 18 holes in the morning and probably another 9 holes in the afternoon. This is simply not possible if we leave KL even by 6am. So in order to achieve our goals, we decided to play Ayer Keroh GCC on day 1, and spent a night in a budget hotel at Bandar Penawar, which is a small town less than 10km away from the ElsClub.

Of course, we cannot leave Melaka without having lunch at our favorite restaurant "Hong Seng"

The group gave a surprised, though belated bday celebration to Lee.
Khoo San also gave Lee a Bday Ang Pau.

Lee wishes all Joy and Happiness, Good Health always

Day 2 - Monday 14 Sept, The Els Club Desaru, Ocean Course

Although there were 2 separate courses under the Group. the Valley course has been closed for some time.

At the 1st Tee Box, Lake 9

At 1st Tee Box, Coast 9/

Today we started off from the Lakes 9 then crossover to Coast 9. Unfortunately, heavy rain poured during the 14th hole and we had to stop play. Although we were in the buggies, we were soaking wet as the downpour came with a very strong wind as well.

After a quick shower, we went to a restaurant at Bandar Penawar for lunch, then checked in to Amansari Hotel.

Were we in luck?

A short while after checked in to the hotel., we noticed that the rain has gone as quickly as it came. So leaving Khoo San behind to rest, 3 of us headed back to the course, and finished another 18 just before 6PM. So today we played a total of 32 holes,!

Day 3 - Tuesday 15 Sept, Els Club Desaru, Ocean Course

Breakfast at Amansari Hotel is absolutely a disappointing experience! The breakfast was served to the room (apparently the coffee house was closed), in plastic container and plastic utensils. Imagine eating this in the hotel room, without a table and chairs and you have to make your own coffee! This hotel is no better than a budget one and has absolutely no class, let alone customer services! I sent a feedback to Els Club Management and hope that they will remove this hotel from their accommodation list!! Luckily we stayed only 1 night!

Today, we started off from Lake 9 and proceed to the Ridge 9.

Found this stunning beauty budding out from the cow grass off the ground.
Each of the soft tentacles has tiny flower at the end, swaying in the breeze and visited by tine little bees!
Simple amazing

After saying sayonara to the Els Club, we had lunch at a seafood restaurant just besides the Amansari Hotel. The food is excellent and the price reasonable, much to our surprise because we thought that they would have normally catered for Tourists from Singapore.