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

Tiger Beach Golf Links
Qingdao, Shandong

While 99.9 percent of golf course owners in China want their courses to look like Augusta National (although very few actually succeed), Beta Soong, a Taiwanese entrepreneur who made his fortune in electronics, took his inspiration from the classic links of the British Isles when designing Tiger Beach – and thank goodness he did. This is by far and away the most unique course in mainland China – and the total antithesis to the overwhelming majority of American-style courses in the Middle Kingdom. Featuring man-made dunes, seemingly inescapable pot bunkers, ankle-high fescue (which would grow to knee-height were it not for a herd of goats that are allowed to roam the course) and strong coastal winds that buffet players from all quarters, Tiger Beach is golfing nirvana for aficionados of the original form of the game.

Yardage: 7,222. Par: 72. Architect: Beta Soong

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Written by The Editors

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