Putting it on the Map

These six courses – from the North, South, East and West of the country – have helped elevate China to the verge of golfing superpower status

Mission Hills Golf Club, Norman Course
Shenzhen, Guangdong

HK Golfer readers need no introduction to Mission Hills. The brainchild of Dr David Chu, a one-time paper tycoon, the club surpassed venerable Pinehurst to become the world’s biggest in 2004 on completion of the Greg Norman-designed Norman Course, boosting the number of holes at this mega resort to 180. Although another two layouts have since been added (the par-3 Zhang Course and the members’ only Pete Dye Course), the Norman, situated at the club’s Dongguan site, remains by far the strongest test – and arguably its most scenic; the exposed front nine runs along a hillside, while the jaw-droppingly beautiful but much tighter back nine winds its way through two densely wooded valleys. Thick fescue flanks the fairways, and the bunkers are some of the deepest east of the British Isles. It is in the words of one member, the kind of place where God and the devil would square off with the destiny of the world at stake. (In case you’re wondering, God holes a 15-footer for par at the last for a 1-up victory).

Yardage: 7,228. Par: 72. Architect: Greg Norman

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Written by The Editors

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