Downtown Golf

Course

Nelson & Haworth’s changes, which focused mainly on tweaking the green complexes and improving the playing surfaces, have turned the course into a formidable challenge, strong enough to host the 2005 Volvo China Open, which England’s Paul Casey won following a playoff with fellow countryman Oliver Wilson.
The difficulty of the course comes not from the beautiful lychee and palm trees that flank the fairways, or even the umpteen water hazards that creep into vision on both tee and approach shots. Its length (all three combinations of nines measure in excess of 6,500 yards from the members’ blue tee) is a factor, but not crucial. There’s not even any real rough to speak of. By far and away the trickiest aspect here are the putting surfaces and the obstacles that surround them. Although comparisons with, say, Augusta National are a little extreme, there’s absolutely no doubt that the greens at SGC are severe. Multiple tiers, spines, crowns, shoulders – whatever you want to call them – can make even decent putters look decidedly foolish. This is accentuated by the fact that thanks to excellent conditioning they routinely run in excess of 10 on the stimpmeter. Pitching and chipping, too, call for precision and the greenside bunkering is both plentiful and punishing. Easy bogeys, tough pars s what this course is all about.

Clubhouse / Amenities

Unlike some of the bigger clubs in the immediate region, SGC lacks a tremendous variety of pre- and post-round amenities. The functional yet stylish nineteenth hole houses a decent restaurant, while the outdoor terrace is a popular spot for golfers wanting to dissect their rounds over a post-play pint. The locker rooms – including a Japanese-style onsen (hot bath), at least in the men’s – are particularly well-appointed. Massage facilities are also available, but it is advisable to check their availability before you tee off. The one truly disappointing aspect of SGC is the club’s practice facilities. The mat driving range (accompanied by ancient rock-like balls) is out of keeping with the rest of the club and should be addressed.