Johor Golf

In the 1960’s, nine hole golf courses were available in the State of Johor in the districts of Batu Pahat, Kluang, Segamat, Muar and Johor Bahru. In the case of Johor Bahru, the course was at the Royal Johore International Club.

In 1968, a group of enthusiastic golfers, mainly government servants got together and successfully convinced the State Government to allocate a piece of land to build an 18 hole golf course and a clubhouse which should also serve as a common recreational point for senior government servants, professionals, expatriates and businessmen.

One hundred & fifty-nine acres of land next to Tasek Utara (North Lake) was gazette for recreation and tourism which would include a golf course. This gave rise to the incorporation of The Johore Golf Club on 27th February 1968. The name of the club was changed to Tasek Utara Golf Club on 22nd November 1971 to reflect its location.

The golf course was designed by Dato' Ahmad Adam, the then Director of the Jabatan Kerja Raya (Public Works Department) Johor.

With the help of the JKR and the invaluable assistance from other government agencies, works began on the first nine holes in 1968. The first nine holes were playable by 1970. In 1972, works for the second nine holes began and by 1974 we had the first 18 hole golf course in the State of Johor.

The present site of the golf course was originally within a water catchment area and the terrain was undulating and covered with virgin tropical jungle. The natural terrain was maintained without much earth movement. The original jungle trees were retained and this made the course very difficult especially when one misses the fairways. Over the years the majority of these trees died because the undergrowth was cleared and the ecosystem disturbed. A number of pine trees in strategic positions were also destroyed by lightning over the years. Several thousand trees were planted to replace the dead ones.