TPC Kuala Lumpur’s Upgraded West Course Reopens

TPC Kuala Lumpur’s award-winning West Course upgrade has been completed and reopened for play.

“The 10-month intensive project was focused on providing improved playing surfaces by changing the turf on the course to more developed and enhanced grass species. Golfers can expect another level of golfing experience with the new resurfaced turf,” said Steven Thielke, Chief Executive Officer of TPC Kuala Lumpur, a Golf Course Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

The course, however, will close from September 17 to October 17 to make way for the CIMB Classic (October 11-14).

The new grasses are identical to those at TPC Sawgrass, home to The Players Championship, the PGA Tour’s annual flagship tournament in the United States.

Whilst TifEagle Bermuda grass has been planted on the greens to provide a consistently fast and true putting surface, Celebration Bermuda grass has been planted on all the tee boxes and fairways, as well as bunker and green surrounds.

“The new fairways will now have more run, and the new green surrounds can be mown short to provide run-off areas so as to allow for a variety of recovery shots to be played on a firmer playing surface,” Thielke said.

In addition, modifications were made to holes four, seven, 12, 14, 16 and 17 as well as a new 80-yard short game practice area which has also been built as part of the upgrading project along with the addition of a new practice putting green.

The upgrading project has been headed by Thielke, Mohd Nizam Othman, TPC Kuala Lumpur Head of Agronomy, Stephen Wenzloff, Vice President of Design Services of PGA Tour, Jason Winter, course architect from Parslow and Winter Golf Design.

“This project is a combination of feedback from various constituents from club members, PGA Tour players and Rules Officials, the course architect from Parslow and Winter Golf Design, and the TPC KL agronomy team. All the feedback was taken into consideration to ensure the new West Course is more competitive and beneficial to all parties,” said Wenzloff, adding that the West Course will be in prime condition for the upcoming CIMB Classic.

“Nizam and his team have put in a tremendous effort to enhance the overall aesthetics that include landscaping, open water features and lake edges. This is one of our unique ways to deliver world-class services and experiences to our Members at every touch point,” said Thielke.