Course Review - Harbour Town Golf Links and Kuala Lumpur Golf Club

After the heady excitement of the year's first Major, it's back to business as usual with the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head, South Carolina. But there is no let-down in intensity as this is one of the season's most anticipated events at one of the most recognisable locations on the calendar. Hilton Head is currently home to 24 golf courses and is one of the world's premier golfing destinations, but when a journeyman architect by the name of Pete Dye designed Harbour Town– with some help from a young Jack Nicklaus – the resort was barely a speck on the map.

That was 1969, and this week Harbour Town plays host of the Heritage for the 44th time, boasting past champions such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Greg Norman, whilst Pete Dye has gone on to become an iconic and influential figure in the world of golf. Harbour Town Golf Links is 6500m long and plays to a par of 71. The course is routed through mature coastal woodland and has water in play on many of the holes.

Overhanging trees, strategically placed bunkers and an ever-present unpredictable wind emphasise the need for solid ball striking and good shot making. There are stunning vistas from numerous locations on the course, but none is more spectacular than the picture postcard setting of the red and white lighthouse behind the 18th green framed by the sparkling waters of the Calibogue Sound.

The European Tour begins a three event Far East swing with the 51st playing of the Maybank Malaysian Open at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC). In 1999, the Malaysian Open was the first ever co-sanctioned event between the European and Asian Tours. Located in the Bukit Kiara hillsides just 8Km from the capital's city centre, the KLGCC was established in 1991 and is home to two courses, the parkland East Course layout, and the 6400m par 72 championship West Course that will host the Open for the third consecutive year.

Originally designed by Nelson and Haworth, the layout underwent an extensive reconstruction by Parslow & Associates in 2007 and 2008. This immaculately presented and maintained course stretches over pleasantly undulating terrain with water coming into play on 13 holes, offering challenges to imagination and execution that will delight the true shot-makers. Defending champion is Italian teenager Matteo Manassero who will be looking to ignite a lacklustre start to 2012.

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