Desaru Coast, Johor Bahru, Malaysia: Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast welcomed 120 golfers, partners, influencers and guests for its inaugural 2026 Golf Classic.

The three-day programme centred on competitive play at The Els Club Desaru Coast, with proceeds supporting the hotel’s annual PINKTOBER fund-raising campaign, complemented by destination experiences and Hard Rock’s signature blend of hospitality, music and entertainment.

Designed by four-time Major winner Ernie Els, the Ocean Course provided the setting for the Golf Classic’s main competition, with golfers paired in two-person teams for an 18-hole scramble.

The format called for both players to tee-off on each hole before selecting the preferred shot and continuing play from that position, creating a team-focused contest that balanced individual ability with strategy and consistency.

Competition extended beyond the overall tournament standings with a series of challenges positioned throughout the course. Nearest to the Pin tested accuracy, Longest Drive put distance to the test, while Bullseye added another precision challenge to the round.

Together, the different formats kept the field competitive from the opening tee through to the final holes.

Following the day’s play, attention turned to the Golf Classic PAR-TEE, which also marked Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast’s eighth anniversary. The joint celebration brought golfers, partners and guests together for an evening programme that carried the occasion beyond the course and gave the milestone anniversary its own place within the three-day event.

Dinner was followed by a lucky draw before Malaysian band Gerhana Skacinta took the stage. Known for its ska-driven sound, the band brought a distinctly Malaysian live-music element to the evening, with the performance closing a day that had begun on the Ocean Course and continued into the hotel’s anniversary celebrations.

The Golf Classic also carried a community dimension, generating MYR15,000 for the Breast Cancer Support Group Johor Bahru as part of Hard Rock’s annual PINKTOBER breast cancer awareness campaign.

The contribution supported the hotel’s broader efforts to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer patients and survivors.

Murray Aitken, General Manager of Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast and Area Vice President, Hotel Operations – Asia, Hard Rock International, said: “For a first edition, what matters for us at Hard Rock is whether we have created something people want to be part of again.

“The response to the Golf Classic tells us we have. Desaru Coast has the golf product, the resort experiences and the accessibility to develop this into a strong recurring event, while giving us another platform to support causes that matter to our community.

“Raising MYR15,000 for our beneficiary makes this event particularly meaningful for the brand and gives us a solid foundation for 2027.”

The inaugural Golf Classic was made possible through the support of partners spanning tourism, aviation, leisure, golf and lifestyle.

*The Els Club Desaru Coast is a member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.