Heard of China? Like to know a little about golf in
this fascinating country? Read on...or
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A Brief History & Deveopement of Golf in China
Golf was invented by the Chinese in the 10th. Century A.D., so claim some historians...or really? Come to think of
it, what else wasn't done there first if you agree that the first ever tea-off was definitely there long before any
respectable Scot ever thought of a drink, let alone golf?
Hmm...pots full of tea for thoughts isn't it, but does it really matter at all? In 1984, the Party
condemned the sport as a decadence associated with colonialism. Less than 25 years
later, there are some 200 golf courses in China with another reported 500 and more in the pipeline. When fully
completed, it will rank China in the top few of the world golf nations. If you think the golf history of this
vast and ancient country is so brief as it has so much self-transformed in so short a time, you can only feel the
underlying current of change that is taking place in this modern, 'capitalist' China of today.
Some time around the time golf was banned, the late Henry Fok of Hong Kong, one of the richest men in the world,
engaged Arnold Palmer, one of golf's greatest, to design the first golf course in post-revolution China. The
product of their meeting was the Zhongshan Hot Springs Golf Club, near Guangzhou in southern China's Guangdong
Province.
"The fact that it was part of history was one of the reasons I agreed to design the course. As it has turned out,
we really did lay the cornerstone for golf in mainland China and we are all very proud of that." said Palmer,
who acknowledged too the huge part played by tycoon Fok and the hundreds of Chinese labourers who used
rakes, shovels and their bare hands to fashion a championship golf course out of a featureless tract of land.
To mark the 20th. Anniversary of the first course in China, a special tournament was organized which, other than
some big names in the professional circuit in Hong Kong, also included the pioneers of professional golf in the
country like Zhang Lian Wei and Zhongshan native Liang Wen Zhong.
Today, as a tribute, both Zhang and Liang have hit big times in Asian Tour as well as the PGA European Tour. And,
there is a string of young and promising players in the wing eagerly awaiting to follow their footsteps. Going by
the past records of Chinese successes in producing world champions in other sports, the golf world ought not be
surprised by a sudden emergence of a Tiger Woods of China, as reportedly there has been a drive to seek out
young talents to be groomed for the coveted role.
Whether or not such a rapid change to the landscape for an albeit vast country with such high population density
will eventually prove detrimental to the sport of golf and the nation as such is a subject of much controversies.
China has put the brake on the development of new golf courses, as it looks into projects that push ahead without
proper permission. One of the best policies China has undertaken so far is to require that a comprehensive
masterplan be prepared for a site prior to granting approval for a golf course permit or land-use conversion. The
world can only await so patiently as it would so whole-heartedly trust the good management to ensure the game of
golf blossom than otherwise.
No doubt the sport is increasing in popularity in China and sponsors are drawn to an economy that grows in double
digits for the last so many years, and the fastest too of an economy of any country in recent times. Before Shanghai
staged the first Formula One race in China in 2004, the city was already hosting another sporting debut: The BMW
Asian Open hosted by
Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club - the first
European Tour event in China. The sponsors moved the event to the mainland after only two years staging it in Taiwan
apparently drawn by the promising future there, and that only says so much of what is in store in the new land of
opportunity for not only golf but an entire spectrum of what is gainable.
"..China is the only country which has a 100 percent growth in golf.." Former world No. 1 Greg Norman told
reporters.
"It's growing like no other countries in the world." Period.
Golf Courses in China
Beijing
Beijing Golf Club of Beijing -
The club is just 30 minutes from the Beijing International Airport. This championship course was designed by
Poellot and Benz of the US. The fairways are lined with mature trees providing challenges for carry over for the
many doglegs that are the main feature of this course. When tee-off at the Par-5 405-yard first hole, do not forget
to catch a glimpse of the Great Wall in the distance. As an annual club programme, Beijing Golf stages the Amateur
Invitational Golf Tournament, the Helong Cup, every autumn and the 'BAT' China PCA League, Beijing, as well.
Beijing International Golf Club -
When the Beijing International Golf Club was first advertised, many proudly touted that the course had thirteen
holes where water hazard was the main obstacle, despite the fact that it being in an area of perennial water
shortage. Today, under the spell of El Nino or for any other reasons golf course investors choose not to talk about, the problem of
water shortage actually applies to much of China and the rest of the world in general, and the tag line has since
taken a bit of a bitter twist.
Situated north of the Ming Tomb Reservoir which is about an hour's drive from downtown Beijing, this 18-hole Par-72
6,990-yard was designed by Japan Golf Promotion Inc. It is a mature course with many undulating large greens and
quite a few threatening OB's in addition to the main course feature of water holes.
Distant mountain range bodes well for those who appreciate its beauty and majesty, for it is here that generations
of Emperors of past Dynasties chose to be laid to rest for its good Feng Shui. The most memorable hole is the Par-4
405-yard Hole#7 which has streams of water after the tee box and before the green as well. The fairways are lined
with tall trees adding hazards up in the air. The scenic view of this part of the course is always a consolation
to a less than satisfactory shot here.
Beijing CBD International Golf Club -
Not to be confused with the Beijing Golf Club or the Beijing International Golf Club, the Beijing CBD International Golf
Club uses Bluegrass for the fairways and is a 'Members-Only' club. Measuring 7,300 yards long, one of its more
potent sell-points appears to be its relatively central location - being only 8 minutes' drive away from the
landmark China World Trade Tower in downtown Beijing, according to some drivers. Designed by Brit Stenson, the
course is distinguished by its large water areas and long bunkers. Water is in play on 17 holes and the fate of the
eventual winner is often at its mercy. To cap it all it also has a classic island green to match the thrills and
spills of the more illustrous others. In 2006, this 18-hole Par-72 and the only TPC (Tournament Players Club -
A
network of golf clubs created with spectator golf in mind. TPC Sawgrass, home of the PLAYERS Championship, is the
flagship club.) in Asia successfully hosted the Volvo Junior Open Championship. Later this year (2008), it will go
one step further to stage the Volvo China Open which is one of the links sanctioned by the European Tour.
Pine Valley Golf Resort & Country Club of Beijing -
As we update, Pine Valley Golf is staging for the second year running the Beijing Open, and the Beijing Open 2008
is the tournament co-sanctioned for the first time by the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour Organisation and China Golf
Association. It is also for the first time that a JGTO tournament is staged outside Japan. Such is the prestige
attached to the club as a host. In the previous edition of the Beijing Open, it featured Jack Nicklaus, the course
designer, and John Daly, to name a few of the 'who's who' in the scene. In addition it also hosted the inaugural
Volkswagen Masters and the Johnnie Walker Classic in 2005. These exposures have certainly brought greater fame to
this very private club which incorporates golf with up-market property investment of a very large scale.
Situated in Changping District, some 55 kilometers west of the business center of Beijing, Pine Valley Golf covers
an area over 1,000 acres. It consists of the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Course and a 27-hole Jack Nicklaus II
Links Course, the latter of which is the venue for the current tournament being staged there. The course layout for
the Links Course is of course very open. The fairways are not particularly wide but the mostly flat and mild rough
on the sides provides the openness at the fringe of which pine trees demarcate the holes. The greens are large and
undulating but mostly only gradually. Most of the bunkers, both on the fairways as well as those at the green
sides, are quite shallow
[ Update-12 May 2008: It all sounds a little too forgiving you might think of the
course but the results of the just concluded Beijing Open 2008 shows only a moderate scoring success of 12 under-par for
the winner, Hiroyuki Fujita of Japan. ]. The course makes use of numerous man-made lakes to provide water play. Swaying willows
add artistry to an otherwise picturesque course. If the combination of a spectacular panoramic view of the
surrounding mountain range, beautiful landscaping, clean air and water is not captivating enough, the Ba Da Ling
section of the Great Wall of China is clearly visible and might just do the trick. And if this is not convincing
enough, Pine Valley Golf Beijing was voted '2004 Host Venue of the Year' by the players of the Asian Tour.
Shanghai
Lake Malaren Golf Club of Shanghai -
Easily accessible from Shanghai's Pudong International Airport and otherwise a 45-minute drive from city center,
Lake Malaren is part of the Crowne Plaza Lake Malaren Shanghai which is reputedly the only international-class hotel in
the fast developing northern suburb of Baoshan. It is also quite unique in that the golf course was built on
degraded land thus earning the status of a Certified Signature Sanctuary by
Audubon International, the first in Asia, when the course was completed in 2006. The same year, it hosted the annual Straits Cup
which pits top players from the mainland against the Taiwanese.
This Peter Thompson-designed course consists of two Par-72 18s namely the 7,248-yard Lake Course and 7,266-yard
Forest Course. The main feature of the course is the water which is often found hugging along the fairways all the
way to the green if not intersecting at critical points making suitable landings more difficult or around the
greens. Generally the Forest Course is the more challenging of the two with narrower fairways and smaller greens
than the other. The memorable hole is the Par-5 554-yard Hole#2 which tees off over water to
be followed by an island green well guarded by sand bunkers making choice of landing very difficult. Other long
holes follow somewhat similar pattern of design. The Par-4 434-yard Hole#9 has the tee-off landing area at the tip
of a long breadloaf-shaped peninsula and the second shot will have to carry-over water to the well-bunkered green with water again on the
right side. The Par-4 480-yard Hole#15 and the Par-5 592 Hole#16 are quite similar and require careful course
management. The Signature Hole for the Lake Course has to be the Par-3 185-yard Hole#3 which has water at about 2/3
of the way and the green sits tight at the top edge of an almost island green, again well protected by bunkers on
both sides of the approach.
Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club -
A golf blog promoting its own online betting by featuring the BMW Asian Open 2008 describes Tomson Golf as
having incorporated
"..30,000 imported camphor trees, maples and others... A staggering 30,000 cubic meters
of stone and
rock... 2.5 million cubic meters of earth and another 800,000 of imported frigid zone meadows and, ..hills
covered by veined grass with beautiful flowers...". We bet 1000 to 1 you would definitely come play this
course some day! Thanks to the betting link provided. We also place another for the same odd that Ernie Els will be recognised by
the special team set up to protect celebrity golfers like him like it did not in the previous Open when the
big man apparently went totally unnoticed and got mobbed by fans on the course.
But otherwise, the course is technically characterised by running creeks across much of the 'veined grass with
beautiful flowers' and the main obstacles to a good score are water hazards of ponds and lakes. For the
aesthetics, it has the garden feel in the carefully selected colour scheme for the various parts of the
course. Designer Shunsuke Kato combined the old and the new as well as the best of his perception of the best
courses in the US, Japan and Britain. This 18-hole Par-72 7,340-yard course is turfed on the fairways with
TIF419 Rye, Bent on the greens and Yoysia Japonica for the rough. Els holds the record of 62 set in 2005
for the professionals while Guo Zhiqi has that for the amateurs at 69 set in 1998.
The course was apparently voted by the Hu Run Report the best course in the Shanghai Area and many regard it
as a 'must play'. If you must miss the last put on the 18th., don't miss the spectacular sunset best viewed
from the club's glass-paneled cafe. A version of Mount Fuji and the Great Wall of China are also there
in this garden of all golf courses.
Grand Shanghai International Golf & Country Club -
Located in Kunshan at about mid-way to Wuxi from Shanghai along the Nanjing Highway, the Grand Shanghai
International is a Par-72 7,066-yard Ronald Fream-designed course featuring typically lakes and ponds which
constitute a good part of the natural landscape of this region of abundance. Not much has been heard of this very
low key golf club which on last call requires from public visitors 'an appointment for a practice at the driving
range'! A client of GOLFnTours.com playing there anecdoted receiving a surprise lunch between nines but nontheless
commented the fairways could do better with richer grass while the accompanying photo of the course seems to
suggest otherwise.
Tianma Golf & Country Club of Shanghai -
Situated in a region famed for centuries as the bread-basket of the country in central-south China, Tianma Golf
is surrounded by flat and rich agricultural land of grain paddies as well as numerous ponds and lakes of various
sizes dotting at random and teeming with abundant fresh water fish and prawns.
But Tianma is quite different from the other golf courses in the Shanghai region. Being part of the Sheshan
National Tourism Park, it has what the others do not in the only mountain in the region, Sheshan (the Rocky
Mountain) as its backdrop. Only about half an hour's drive from the older Hong Qiao Airport of Shanghai, this
27-hole Peter Rogers-designed course is known for its natural beauty naturally propped up by the mountain in its
backyard. It also boasts a
'Californian-style elegance and fine living'.
Shenzhen
Mission Hills Golf Club - Shenzhen
This is the world's largest golf course with 180 holes! It is located in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province.
Founded in 1994 and just at the border with Hong Kong, Mission Hills is the World's No. 1 Golf Club as
accredited by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2004. It is an exclusivey gated residential complex housing
a five-star hotel, resort and country club with the largest tennis facilities in Asia as well.
The 180-hole course is actually represented by 10-signature golf courses.
It is also the home base of China's David Leadbetter Golf Academy. The Mission Hills complex is one of the top 10
sights in Shenzhen and is nationally
recognized as one of the top-rated tourism resorts. Shenzhen's BaoAn International Airport is a mere 40-minute drive
to the golf club.
Apart from being a five star resort it offers an all-year-round playing golf green condition, 228 luxurious rooms,
50 tennis courts with three different types of surfaces. This fantastic resort attracts visitors from around the
world. With an area of 20 square kilometers, it would take two days to complete one circle of this huge complex.
Free shuttle buses are offered by Mission Hills connecting Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Kowloon. It is
available every 30 minutes when on schedule.
An Update on Mission Hills: As you read, the number of golf
courses in this giant complex of golf courses is now 12, having further increased the total number of holes for the only club on
earth with the most golf courses to a boggling 216. For anyone's indulgence, why not?
According to Executive Director Tenniel Chu in a recent interview with STARGOLF of The Star Daily of
Malaysia, not only does operation "..doing better than expected" and therefore presumably amply allows for
expansion, the number '12' also rhymes with the Chinese Zodiac which has 12 animals representing it. There seems
something running parallel here if you have read about the fervent search by a new and much more self-confident
China to recover the 12 bronze animal heads of the famous Yuan Ming Yuan plundered by foreigners towards the end of
the Qing Dynasty. Well, it may not be exactly the same feat in completing twelve golf courses to match the same
number of auspicious animal representations but it sure augurs well, not least with help from "..the golf world's
best-known architect" Pete Dye and China's prodigal son of golf, Zhang Lian Wei, who will have the last course
named after him in honour of his contribution to golf in China. Well, one should have no doubt there's not a mission
in Mission Hills that's a mission impossible!
- Feb. 2008
Mission Hills - Nicklaus 'World Cup' Course of Shenzhen -
'Jack Nicklaus skillfully incorporated the surrounding natural beauty to provide a true golfing challenge for
players of all levels'. This is just about the simplest description of a top class golf course that the writer
has come across so far. And yet, as if to complement the simplicity, this 18-hole Par-72 7,323-yard course with Sea
Paspallum-covered fairways and Tiff Eagle'd greens boasts of the following curriculum vitae few could match:
- The first in China to be accredited by the PGA Tour.
- 2003 - Staged the Dynasty Cup
- 2001 - Staged the first Chinese Golf Foundation Charity Tournament
- 2001 - Staged the Tiger Woods China Challenge
- 1999 - Staged the 5th. Omega Asian Tour Championship
- 1998 - Staged the Johnnie Walker Super Tour
- 1995 - Staged the 41st. World Cup of Golf
Well, seeing is believing; but not until you've actually played on this very 'simple' course that you would then be
able to appreciate it. A two-tiered green sitting in front of the clubhouse with a mass of sparkling white sand
bunkers guarding its front and ready to receive any second landing shot coming down the slope of the fairway. This
is the Par-4 459-yard Signature Hole#18 (pic) where the position of the pin often determines the degree of
difficulty.
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Mission Hills - Norman Course of Shenzhen -
10 years after the first ever tee-off in Mission Hills, Greg Norman added the 10th. course to this huge complex of
golf. This 18-hole Par-72 7,214-yard course has been, in a brush stroke, described as 'reflecting the perfect
combination of golf course style and nature'. Whatever that means and whichever type of visitors it was meant to
entice in the promo material, it sure seems short of descriptive than what the technicals would ruthlessly reveal.
At a slope rating of over 140 against the top
of the scale of 155 (The US average of a difficult course is only 113; slope rating is the measured degree of
difficulty for mid- to high-handicappers -
alas, it surely includes the writer!), it's no wonder '..here, mercy
is a commodity in short supply for the errant..', laments a golf course critic. I guess that speaks all for
what could be expected playing this course.
In fact you could get a feel of the course by just having a glance at an empty scorecard. Both Par-4s of Hole#12 and
Hole#17 are over 480 yards and the Par-5 Hole#14 is 644 yards long. And that's not all; some tee shots demand a
carry over of about 260 yards! Any room for error? Don't bother finding out, it certainly won't be there in the gnarly
fescue
(Festuca plant commonly used as rough in golf courses of the US and Canada) lining the fairways.
Noticed the stylised picture of a large crater-bunkering on the glossy hand-outs? It wasn't there only to beautify,
it actually exists somewhere on the course and, it has company of its kind there as well!
Perhaps Signature Hole#4 is something to cheer about. It is comfortably short at 147-yard and there are no bunkers
here to guard the green! But the accompanying photo of the hole will quickly and surely make you save the cheers. This Par-3 has
the tee box at 4 o'clock in the pic. The silky green is fast; landing anywhere from 12 to 3 o'clock right of it will end
in thick bush of a certain no retrieve and anywhere beyond the front edge is equally suicidal as the lake awaits
patiently down below.
Mission Hills - Vijay Course of Shenzhen -
Vijay Singh incorporates much of what makes Pebble Beach special and the result is a spectacular golf course that
ranks well at the top in many aspects in Asia at least. The main feature is the strikingly visual sand
bunker stretching a long 45 meters with the sand running right down and meeting the water (For another golf
course with a similar type of sand-and-water bunker, visit
Dam Vac Golf & Country Club of Hanoi in Vietnam).
The Signature Hole is the Par-4 432-yard Hole#2 where the water edge follows on the left and leans to the right
side near to the end of a normal tee-shot leaving either water or fairway on the far right for a dry landing.
The choice is obvious. Play safe and land the tee-shot there will earn a poor angle and longer distance for the second
landing shot. Brave the water edge will ensure a good angled-shot to the green even if the pot bunker just in front
of the green is ever so threatening.
Mission Hills - Faldo Course of Shenzhen -
A gem in Nick Faldo's treasure pouch of golf courses he designs, the Faldo Course reputedly has 'every hole highly
strategic and yet suitably playable'. The course, openned in 1999 to critical acclaim, has been widely received
as a product of using his outstanding shot-making skills as a basis for the design. The Par-3 163-yard Hole#16 is
the Signature Hole with the elevated tee overlooking an island green. Many view it as one of Asia's best Par-3.
Mission Hills - Leadbetter Course of Shenzhen -
Apart from the meticulously manicured landscape and aesthetic ground covers, the Leadbetter Course demands accurate
approach shots to large but undulating greens. Additionally large sand bunkers litter the fairways and protect
the greens as well while elevated tee boxes are strategically placed to raise the degree of difficulty. But otherwise,
the course is eminently playable by golfers of all levels. The catch is or the ulterior good intention in the
design of Mr.
Leadbetter
(The mother of all golf teachers?) one suspects is, at the end of the day, all the
clubs in the bag will have to have been used. So, before you head to this course to scalp your buddies for Hole#19,
learn the correct swing technique first.
(But where can I find a good school?)!
Signature Hole is the Par-3 183-yard Hole#16 which tees-off over a ravine to an island green sandwiched between
creeks from the ravine. Apart from being a testing ground, this scenic hole also offers great photo opportunity
(view pic).
Mission Hills - Olazabal Course of Shenzhen -
The course is a majestic vista of the original flora and fauna, and streams of clear water crossing paths with
the paspallum-covered fairways giving rise to a spectacular backdrop for a championship course. Finger-shaped sand
pits with deep bowl-bottoms and thick grassy vertical lips characterise the course.
Following the reservoir and curving right on the Par-5 580-yard Signature Hole#15, a plethora of Olazabal's
'bowl-bottoms' greet an unsuspecting visitor. Strategically, a conservative play, meaning accurate
placements and landing with the 3rd., will yield good scores here; otherwise attack only, meaning attempting the
green in two taking full advantage of the steep slope on the right to bounce the ball back to the fairway, if you
are willing to risk paying the price!
Mission Hills - Ozaki Course of Shenzhen -
The main feature of the Ozaki Course is the unique and unconventional direction of flow of the fairways on a terrain
of mountain valleys. Jumbo Ozaki took full advantage of the veins of the mountain range by housing the holes in
the many valleys found here giving each hole a natural protection in the form of wooded hillslopes of native flora.
Nowhere on the course illustrates the contour better than at the end of Hole#12 where a 280-yard long tunnel
connects to the tee box of Hole#13. Pitching and chipping skills on sloping ground are crucial to a good play on
this course. Anything forgiving on this course? Par-5 Hole#18 has the clubhouse snugly fitting in in-between
two mountain peaks behind in the distance; makes a good reference point
(think of Hole#19) for the tee-off.
Only
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Course in Lijiang has
a reference point in its snow-capped peak to assist in your tee-off this way this big!
The Par-4 395-yard Signature Hole, aptly numbered 13, has a deep valley lined with bunkers awaiting the tee-shot.
For those lucky enough there's some space to the right but with poor angle for the second landing. Big hitters
could always try to carry over and save the day.
(For those keen on the Mission Hills brand, click to visit
Mission Hills Golf Club of Kanchanaburi, Thailand or
Mission Hills Phuket Golf Resort & Spa,
Thailand)
Xili Golf and Country Club of Shenzhen -
Only 25 minutes' drive from Huang Gang Immigration Exit Point/the Chinese border with the New Territories of Hong
Kong SAR, Xili Golf and Country Club which is in fact just a hop across the Houhai Bay from the SAR, suitably serves
the bustling commercial capital of China South, the Pearl River Delta area at its heart. Designed by Nelson,
Wright and Haworth, this 36-hole course is made up of four
nines, namely Course A (3,317 yards), Course B (3,356 yards), Course C (3,269 yards) and Course D (3,296 yards). The
peculiar nature of the course layout serves the busy clientele well with these 9s which require less time to
'complete a game' and yet promising an equally exciting ending. Water hazards appear one of the main features while
picturesque surrounding tend to distract.
Shenzhen Golf Club of Shenzhen -
Not too many golf clubs in China with a lower profile have 'a bit of history'. This one has. This golf course was
originally designed by Isao Aoki in 1985. Rapid changes that have been taking place in China for the last 30
years have irreversibly transformed the Pearl River Delta region into a mega-commercial hub serving the hinterland.
Shenzhen Golf Club took an inevitable step forward to cope with the influx. In 2000, Nelson & Haworth re-designed
the course following which the club commenced Ryder Cup-style competition between top Chinese players with outsiders.
With its three Par-36 9-hole courses of Course A - 3,532 yards, Course B - 3,637 yards and Course C - 3,542 yards,
this course staged in 2005 the Volvo China Open which Paul Casey of Britain won.
Kunming
Kunming Country Golf Club of Kunming, Yunnan -
Kunming Country Golf Club is one of the oldest golf courses in the city. This Les Watts-designed course is located
hardly 30 minutes from the airport on the way to the must-go tourist attraction of Stone Forest in the Jiuxiang
County region. Reputedly built making full use of the landform in perfect harmony with the surrounding scenery,
this Par-72 6,918-yard course covers an enormous 90 hactares of land. It is an open course with many sharp
dogleg-right holes. With ten Par-4 holes of fair distances and only 4 Par-5s, there is little room for easy
birdies. Strategic play and clever course management are essential here for good scores. The most memorable hole
however is the Par-5 580-yard Hole#11. The resilience of the Burmuda turf used both for the greens and fairways
provides an all year round well preserved green.
Lake View Golf Club of Kunming -
Hardly 10 kilometers from Kunming city center, Lake View is yet another of Nick Faldo's stable of fine golf
courses and carved out of the natural land formation in a region renowned for its natural beauty. The course hugs
alongside the shores of Dianchi Lake, the 6th. largest in China and has the majestic beauty of the 'West Mountain',
Xishan, as the backdrop. The lake is, incidentally, the migratory sanctuary of the Siberian Red-beaked Gull and
the region is also famous for many varieties of native flora and fauna peculiar only to the region. Due credit to
the designer, the beautiful and ever-spring climatic surrounding only so easily makes the course one of the best
places to play in.
Not surprisingly, this finely turfed Par-72 7,260-yard course plays to rolling hills and trespassing waterways,
some connected to the big lake, while strategically placed sand bunkers compliment to make this course a testy one
and yet a pleasure to play on. Take the Par-5 651-yard Hole#6 for instance, the fairway is fairly open and
generally lies straight to the green. But do not be deceived. Two well placed bunkers (in terms of their respecitve
distances from the tee-box and positions) serve to make the entire passage a 'double-dogleg', right first and then
left. And if you must rip it because of the distance and openness (incidentally this is the longest hole on the
course), be very accurate as well. The Par-4 423-yard Hole#16 has a somewhat similar vein with a slight dog-leg to
the right but the reachable Bent Grass-green slopes to the left often leaving the player hesitant on choice of
landing on an otherwise easy Par-4. The short Par-4 336-yard Hole#17 is 'The Hole of Redemption' for the
'do-or-die'-hards. Its sharp dogleg left to a well-bunkered green with water skirting the left side allows a one-on
if you are brave and strong-hitting enough and also not jittery having to do a strong and high carry-over a wide
expense of water.
Spring City Golf Resort of Kunming, Yunnan -
There's a saying in China, the best conference is always a conference held in Kunming. Why? Because Kunming's always
neither too hot in summer nor too cold in winter: an almost perfect climate for contemplation. Don't believe us,
simply because we have not done a survey in a vast country like China; the saying actually came from the horse's
mouth, so to speak. The conclusion was the culmination of having travelled to all parts of the country to attend
seemingly endless rounds of conferences by a public servant there. So if Kunming is a representation of fine weather
in China, Spring City is that for Kunming...well, at least for golf and decadent pleasure living.
Located about an hour's drive from the city center in Yiliang county, this resort has two 18-hole courses seperately
designed by famous names. Regarded by many as the better of the two; depending on your level of appreciation really;
the
Lake Course was designed by R. T. Jones Jr. Described by some as
'..the natural topography containing
all the requisite drama...' and for what is ostensibly a resort course, this Par-72 7,200-yard course is
indeed a tough one. Nearly all tee-off shots require a generally higher level of accuracy and the 40-meter elevational
difference between the clubhouse and the edge of the scenic Yang Zong Hai Lake only adds to the woes even when it
fails to deceive the more experienced in its openness. Perhaps because of this and together with the cool temperate
climate, exacting design of the course, the scenic surrounding and the well-maintained bentgrass, the US Golf Digest
magazine ranked this course The Number One Course of China.
Measuring longer at 7,453 yards, the Jack Nicklaus-designed
Mountain Course is another kettle of fish. Situated
behind the clubhouse, this 18-hole Par-72 is built, in the designer's own words,
'..to compliment the area's
climate..' and is thus
'..framed by native pines and rock out-croppings highlighted by picturesque views of
the mountain and the lake.'. Sounds like golfing in a scroll of poetic Chinese landscape brush painting isn't it? The main
features are therefore elevated tee boxes and greens; generous fairways for a 'great run down' for bonus distances.
Others, including a liberal sprinkling of bunkers and grassy hollows, demand a more than usual accuracy.
Well contoured Bentgrass-covered greens will test your concentration to the fullest. But otherwise, the five sets
of tees will ensure anyone of any level will enjoy playing here.
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Lijiang
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club of Lijiang, Yunnan -
Golfing in Shangri-la?
Nestling at the southern foot of the Heng Duan mountain range which straddles the border intersections of the
provinces of Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club is the epitome of a golf course in
heavenly peace. At nearly 5,600 meters above sea-level, you would literally be teeing off in thin air, and that,
seriously, means an estimated 20% longer in distance gained from the reduction of atmospheric resistence. But don't
jump for joy as yet as this Nelson & Haworth-designed 18-hole Par-72 course is also one of the longest golf courses
in the world at 8,548 yards!
Built on gently rolling hills and pine covered hillocks with sparkling stream waters from
the mountains traversing the fairways, Jade Dragon has been voted several times as one of the most beautiful
courses in the world. Numerous elevated tee areas overlook the generous fairways. And the generous fairways below
appear rushing remorselessly towards the majestic screen of snow-capped mountain range in the distance. Typical of
these is the Par-4 497-yard 'All The Way Down' Hole#15 which even has its green sloping backward to suit should you
have by now got used to the one-way terrain. The Par-5 741-yard Hole#5 is another downhill hole with a wide sand
pit sitting strategically in-between and offering not much consolation. A strong carry-over is necessary here. The
Par-3s of 207-yard Hole#8 and 260-yard Hole#12 add variety to the course. The former is a confidence trickster with
a big lake all the way to the front of the green and the latter a wide sand area on the left to the green. Watch
for the right-sloping tee-box! All these stand testimony to an exhilarating golfing experience here for any visitor.
According to the records, of all the aspects of the mountain range, the one in view from the Par-5 634-yard Hole#1
has so far been used only as a reference for tee-off and never, never has it been climbed or conquered by golfers,
or mountaineers. Do not miss the opportunity! You could be the first if you would take the first step for a
great leap upward by first conquering this course! Contact Us?
(Well, we'll get you the General Office of Mountaineering
Activities of the People's Republic of China, at the least!)
Hainan
Yalong Bay Golf Club of Sanya, Hainan Island -
Another of Rober Trent Jones Jr.'s master pieces, Yalong Bay Golf Club sits right across the road from the Yalong
Bay Golf Resort of Hainan Island, the Hawaii of China, at almost the southern-most tip of all China. Measuring
7,116 yards, this 18-hole Par-72 course is shaped, in every standard of Chinese descriptions, like a 'dragon's
claw'. One would quite rightly assume there would be quite a few doglegs in the knuckles of the claw when in fact
the rolling fairways, with the mountains behind them, run loose in the open fronting the beach in a links-course
manner. The greens are particularly fast, undulating and well pretected by sand bunkers. There are also lakes,
semi-tropical swamp areas as well as coconut trees filling up the spaces in-between giving rise the impression of
the individual claw of the dragon.
If the scenic beauty of the course is a sight to behold, then the Par-3 Hole#15 is another as well, technically
speaking, at 240 yards. Together with another Par-3, the Hole#3, which requires a
confidence-testing carry over the water, and the whopping 600-yard Par-4 Hole#16, it's no wonder that this golf
course was awarded in the top ten for Best Golf Courses in China in 2007. Only 25 km from Sanya City, it was also
the venue of the Asian Tour's Sanya Open from 2003 to 2005. To top it all, it is also part and parcel of the entire
beach entertainment complex essentially making up much of the city now famed for having run the international beauty
pageant, the Miss Universe contest, consecutively for a few years now.
Hong Kong
The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Golf Club of Hong Kong -
For almost all of the good part of being a British colony, Hong Kong had at the same time been some sort of a bastion
against communism from the mainland and for almost a good half of the last millenium, Kau Sai Chau Island which is
just opposite the coastal seafood enclave of Sai Kung in the New Territory was used as a British artillery firing
range. Some say the island had been irreversibly depredated environmentally if you think building a golf course
there would not come close to any form of rehabilitation. What else could have been done better if not?
The Hungry Ghosts' Festival held every year on the 7th. month on the Lunar Calender only brings more damaging bush fires and
destructions caused by careless and irresponsible worshippers.
Two years before Hong Kong became an SAR (Self Administrative Region), the first 18-hole course, the North Course
openned to the public. Gary Player designed this 6,858-yard course. Perhaps owing to the much dilapidated
nature of the terrain, the course has been variously described as 'less forgiving', 'a monster when the winds are
up' and 'natural hazards make this course suitable only to the very low handicappers' etc., etc. Despite, you
can always capitalize on the easy holes of the Par-3 148-yard Hole#7 and the short Par-5 491-yard Hole#10, with the
latter come complete with an elevated tee box to assist in 'a hungry ghost's run down to the green for a birdie'. Failing which, brace
for the challenging Par-3 205-yard 'down-hill' Hole#14 with an island green which requires an absolute good spin.
The South Course, also designed by Gary Player, openned two years after the first. Much shorter at 5,906 yards, it
is 'The People's Course' and generally liked by the public for its forgiveness. Both the North and the South offer
holes with scenic view of the sea.
By late 2007, a third 18-hole course, the East Course, would have been added to the existing two. As we update, we
have yet received an invitation by the club for a visit and do a course review. As was understood, this new course
would have
'a completely self-sufficient irrigation system. Water supply will be provided by a desalination plant, while rainwater run-offs from the course
will be collected and recycled through a closed-circuit drainage pipe system.' We view this as a sign of
confidence the former colony carries with it in keeping abreast with the very advanced. We can only guess for the
time being that the East Course will be a first class course. Please send us your review if you have played on the East
Course.
Zhuhai
Zhuhai Golden Gulf Golf Club of The Pearl River Delta, Guangdong -
Built on 500 hectares of reclaimed land, Golden Gulf is a mere half an hour's drive from downtown Zhuhai. Perhaps as
a wish to add flavour of his homeland to Asia, Colin Montgomerie incorporated much of the links-style feature in
the design of this course. The clubhouse decor too has a very strong Scottish feel.
As the name suggests, the course is characterised by the strong presence of water. In fact a first impression would
be that the course was completely surrounded by water. And yet, only three of the 27 holes in this course of bent
grass-covered
fairways and Tifdwarf'ed greens require an across the water hit. In addition to the brilliant emerald-blue of the
surrounding sea contrasting with the silky green of the greens, it is generally a very 'golfer-friendly' course.
Most would enjoy a round here. A 9-hole night golf is also available.
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Come enjoy this scenic city nestled on the plateau of high-mountain surrounding of South West China;
immerse in the cool, but never too cold, clime of a year-round spring; discover the diverse cultural heritage of China
distinct to the region and pamper your palate with the deliciously spicy delicacies of Yunnan...and more! 
