Finally, we managed to get organized and golf at Sebana Cove! This golf course is in Kota Tinggi, Johor Malaysia. To get there, we had to endure a 45 minute catamaran ride from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. In addition to golfing, affluent folks can berth their yachts there. It may seem luxurious with the golf and yachts, but it's more than meets the eye.
Reasons to visit Sebana Cove
1. No crowds
I'm not sure if it's the Sunday afternoon tee-off, but there really wasn't much golfers on the greens. Hazeman and I played the first 11 holes without any contact with other golfers. It was until the 12th or 13th when we finally see some uncles teeing off the hole before us. No flights at the back pushing us, no pressure. Suits us fine.
2. Diesel-powered buggies
All the battery-powered golf buggies in Batam, Bintan and Phuket are pussies compared to the ones in Sebana Cove. The buggies here use diesel! Meaning, once you step on the accelerator, you go off like Lewis Hamilton. SW and Pwa had some technical difficulties, but that's another matter altogether. These things are really fast, and most of us enjoyed driving these powerful mini-beasts.
3. The Golf course
Some of us thought that the lengthy fairways provided a mean challenge, while others thought that it's rubbish. The par 4s here are between 291m to 375m. The longest hole is the par 5 3rd, at 498m from the white markers. Perhaps our perceptions on how far holes should be were tainted by the Seletar Base Golf Course, which has the furthest hole at 433m only.
The course itself was quite well maintained. It's doesn't have the standards of the courses at Bintan or even Batam, but it is decent. Scenery wise, some high-altitude holes provided a nice view of the Malaysian rain forest. Another nice aspect of the course is that the holes are not too close to each other. This gives you a feeling of exclusivity when you hit off the fairways.
Reasons to visit other golf courses instead
1. Kampong-style clubhouse
Some people love the rustic, old-school charm of a kampong. But, it's really weird to have a clubhouse designed that way in a place where people expect a bit of luxury. There's no marbled flooring, designer sinks, and air conditioning. Everything is au-natural, mainly using wooden logs and planks. Even the latches where you lock the shower door is made of wood! Speaking about shower rooms, it smells of urine, and there's no shower gel or soap! The metallic container supposedly holds liquid soap, but all you get is water from dubious origins.
Our package includes lunch. Well, it wasn't good. I took some fried rice and chicken knowing that I need carbohydrates into my system. Otherwise, don't bother.
In short, the club house sucks
2. Inflexible ferry schedules
They have ferries at 0800 and 1200. So, if you do not want to wake up at unearthly hours, you'll have to take the 1200 ferry (like us). And, because there's no time difference, we reach the club house at around 1330 after all the immigration and stuff. The ferry that brings us back to Singapore leaves at 1900. So, within 5 hours or so, we had to eat, get changed, play golf, get changed and get back to the ferry terminal. Well, we can't complete the 18 holes. Hazeman and I rushed through but had to stop at the 18th. SW's flight had to stop at the 13th.
In conclusion, Sebana Cove is worth visiting. The course is nice, it's not crowded and the buggies rock. But if you are extremely fussy over the shower facilities and food, and the "whole experience", then perhaps you should go to Bintan or Batam instead. We'll probably visit this place again, before that conjuring the mental fortitude of waking up at 6am and taking the 0800 ferry.
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