Mutiara Pedu Golf and Lake Resort, Kedah

For those who prefer driving, it will take   about six and a half hours from Kuala Lumpur to reach Mutiara Pedu Golf & Lake Resort. One should take the North-South Highway and exit at the Gurun toll and then take a leisurely country drive through the towns of Jeniang, Batu Lima, Sik, Gulau, Belantik and Gubir before reaching one's destination. Alternatively, one can fly to Alor Setar from where one can be transferred directly to the resort. The 360-acre resort is set in a natural preserve environment that offers a kaleidoscopic view of nature's finest gifts and wildlife sanctuary which leaves a lasting impression of being pristine and untouched.

With 80 chalets and suites propped up on stilts on the resort's two islands with magnificent vistas of the lake, staying at Pedu will be an exhilarating experience. Imbued with Kedahan and Thai architecture and fashioned out of cengal wood, these abodes are luxuriously equipped with all the modern conveniences and wooden fittings and trimmings.

For the many golf enthusiasts, is the 6,020 meter Par-72 golf course. Not long by any measure, Mutiara Pedu Golf & Lake Resort meanders through a mesmerizing mix of lakeside holes and jungle-lined fairways. A variety of shots accompanied by good club selection will come in handy on a layout where water plays a prominent role. Divided into two nines appropriately themed as Tasik (Lake-Front Nine) and Rimba Oungle-Back Nine, the course also features narrow landing areas guarded by bunkers of varying dimensions.

Only after playing a round at Pedu, will golfers realize that it can be an adventure, a nature's walk and a golfing experience all rolled into one. One can watch the dazzling sunset over the jungle cover, hear a symphony of cricket sounds in a distance... and soak in the natural sanctuary of Mutiara Pedu Golf & Lake Resort.