Ponderosa Golf & Country Resort

The room key took a bit of sorting out. When I went to collect it around 1500h, another guest said their room hadn't been cleaned. I asked about mine, and after checking with the cleaner, they moved me to another room about 10 minutes later and confirmed it was clean. We got only one key card, though the room didn't need the card to turn on the electricity. They took a cash deposit of about RM$150, but SGD was accepted too. The room had a strong chemical smell, probably from mopping, so I turned on the fan and aircon to clear it. There were two good double beds, but the bunk bed shook when I tried the top bunk, and I was worried it might break, so I slept on the bottom one. Its blanket was small, probably meant for children or smaller people. The bathroom was large, but the luggage table was in there, which made it hard for others to reach the luggage when someone was using the toilet. There was no shampoo holder in the shower, so we had to put it on the floor. The empty bar fridge worked, and we could see our car from the room window in the large open car park. The Wi-Fi was okay and didn't need a password. We arrived early, around 1400h, and were told the room wasn't ready because all 16 rooms had been booked the night before. That's fine since check-in is at 1500h. They let us use the resort facilities while we waited, we ordered drinks from the cafe, and they kept our luggage. The resort is only two levels and has no lift.

Ponderosa is one of my favourite golf courses in Johore. Getting a booking and registering to play are both straightforward. The buggies have to stay on the track, which is fine by me since it helps keep the fairways in good shape. The renovated locker rooms and showers are bright and welcoming, a big change from the old, tired setup. Bravo, keep it up!

The course is in great shape and clearly well maintained, so that wasn't the problem. The staff made the visit miserable, trying to charge for things out of nowhere and following us around the course, interrupting the round. Play moved slowly behind a group ahead, and there was no chance to play through, even at the turn. Despite the quality of the course, I wouldn't recommend this place. A disappointing visit.

The greenery around the pickleball courts at Ponderosa Golf & Country Club makes playing there peaceful and relaxing. The courts are well kept, parking is easy, and the facilities are clean. People are welcoming whether you're there for a casual game with friends or something more competitive. A lovely spot for pickleball.