5 top-hole golf courses in China for elites

Sep 26 , 2018

The lake golf course at Spring City Resort is 2,100 metres above sea level, and is easily played during the summer, with breezes coming off the lake to keep things comfortable.

The Chinese were playing a form of golf a thousand years ago, but under communism the sport was banned until the early 1980s – now the Middle Kingdom is teeing off again

China has had an on-off relationship with golf. It can lay claim to having played a similar sport as early as AD1000, but the modern game has a much shorter and chequered history in the Middle Kingdom. Unlike Japan and Korea, the sport is strictly for the elite. From 1949 to the early 80s, it was banned. What followed was a frenzy of course building, providing some of the best in Asia.

These are five of the top golf courses in China:

1. Sheshan International Golf Club

Sheshan International Golf Club is situated on hilly land, making it a challenging course to play.

Built in one of hilliest parts of Shanghai, the course makes use of natural contours, along with placed hazards such as bunkers and water features. These work to create a challenging course; little wonder that it plays host to the annual World Golf Championship HSBC Champions competition. Located in the less urbanised Songjiang district, the 18-hole course is still close enough to have a huge potential number of players. Consistently, it has collected accolades as one of the best courses in China.

2. The 27 Club

The 27 Club is named for Major tournament winners whose favourite elements are integrated into the course, reflecting the unique character of their individual games.

Winner of the 2017 World Golf Awards for best course in China, the Tianjin club is quite unusual. Firstly, it has 27 holes after Beau Welling and Thomas McBroom redesigned the formerly 36-hole course. The name itself, though, comes from the 27 Major winners, including Greg Norman, Y.E. Yang and Vijay Singh, who all incorporated their favourite elements into the holes. As a result, each has a unique feel, yet has been unified into each of the three courses.

3. Shanqin Bay