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

Yalong Bay Golf Club
Sanya, Hainan

Tropical Hainan, scarcely an hour’s flying time from Hong Kong, has long been touted as China’s answer to Hawaii – but only now is it starting to emulate the latter when it comes to golf. While course construction on the island is rampant, with an estimated 30 layouts expected to come online within the next five years, Yalong Bay, one of Hainan’s oldest courses, remains one of the most enjoyable. Situated in the upmarket tourist resort of the same name, the palm-fringed course is within walking distance of a slew of beach-fronted five-star hotels and features an excellent mix of holes in first-rate condition. No surprise then that the course has been chosen to host a number of European and Asian Tour events since opening in 2000.

Yardage: 7,189. Par: 72. Architect: Robert Trent Jones Jr

Pages

Written by The Editors

Click here to see the published article.

The Charm of Fanling
How can you not enjoy playing at the Hong Kong Golf Club? It’s got a bit of everything and more: 54 holes routed over sweeping terrain bounded by dense vegetation and cityscape - some contrast...
Chambers Bay - My Verdict
I have never been to Chambers Bay in person but I have seen enough pictures and read enough articles to know what I would expect if and when I do pay a visit. Admittedly I watched bits and pieces of...
The 19th Holes of St Andrews
A game of golf just isn’t complete without a post-round tipple at the 19th hole. Discussing the highs and lows of the round - a snaking downhill putt holed from long range or a topped drive...
Less is More
A few years back I was ask to deliver some thoughts on the state of golf and golf course design for The Campaign for Real Golf - a noble initiative geared towards making the game more attractive...
Golf on the Wild Side
"Slow your swing down mzungu, there’s no need to rush,” urges Nathaniel, my caddie, as I watch my third drive of the morning at Nairobi’s Muthaiga Golf Club assume an unfortunate leftward...
Green Havens
Most of us live in a concrete jungle - by that I mean we live in a place surrounded by high-rise buildings, overcrowded transport systems, busy roadways and a lot of smog and pollution. Just...
Raising the Bar
Asian Tour players are in for quite the treat when they tee it up at the Ho Tram Open in December. The reason? Allow me to explain. It’s an ill-kept secret that professional tournaments aren...
Close Encounters
From an early age I’ve had the fortune (or perhaps misfortune) of coming in close contact with a variety of different arachnids and creatures of the reptilian sort. In particular I have...
Tee Time in Tehran
The bumpy fairways and patchy putting surfaces - more burnt-out browns than grassy greens - are not much to look at. In Iran however, this is golf at its finest. In the same way that the streets...
The Good Doctor
"I have been reduced to playing golf with four clubs," Alister MacKenzie wrote in a letter to Augusta National. "I am at the end of my tether, no-one has paid me a cent since last June, we have...

Pages