The Kuala Lumpur Golf Club is the only venue in the world to host all three major professional golf Tours this season, welcoming this week the LPGA for the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.
The site of the PGA Tour’s CIMB Classic and the European Tour’s Maybank Malaysian Open, which are played on the Club’s West Course, the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia has called the East Course home since the tournament’s inception in 2010. LPGA Rules Official Marty Robinson tells LPGA.com the course is in very good condition and will make for a fun week for players who will face a new test at the final hole.
“The 18th green was reshaped to allow for more hole locations,” Robinson said via email. “The 2nd and 18th greens are now separated, they were one large green before.”
Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club’s General Manager Steven Thielke told the media earlier this week they also considered adding some yardage to the course as well, which will play to 6,246 yards this week at a par 71.
“We tried to convince the LPGA to lengthen the course a little bit this year, but they said it works,” said Thielke. “The girls really love it the way it is. So we’re not doing anything. We did touch up on the 18th green, you might have noticed. Got a couple of extra pins there, and with a big buildup around the 18th, it’s to be quite exciting with the pin in the back right on Sunday. Perhaps that’s the thinking.”
Greens are a Paspalum Seas Isle Supreme that will run at 11.3 on the stimpmeter this week, according to Robinson. The undulating greens are going to be the biggest challenge for players this week says Robinson, as well as navigating the strategically placed bunkers. Eight holes bring bunkers into play off the tee, including five of the par 4’s and three of the par 5’s, with water in play on at least 11 holes.
Robinson tells LPGA.com the rough is a Seashore Paspalum that will stand approximately 2 ½ inches in height.
In 2014 defending champion Shanshan Feng fired a final round 63 that included a 6-under stretch on the back nine, something Robinson says could certainly happen again this year.
“These are the best players in the world and course conditions are good, so there is always that chance,” said Robinson.
Below is a look at each of the holes on the East Course and the ideal position players need to take off the tee to successfully navigate the course.
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