Golf in China

[Jason Sills]

I would like to do a golf trip to China this summer.  Can anyone give advice on which resort(s), best time of year, and any other insights that might assist me.

Thanks in advance,
Jason

[Joel_Stewart]

I think you need to look at which courses you want to play and work backwards. 

If you interested in architecture, then Hainan Island is a must and Stone Forest.  I'm told Stone Forest is difficult to get to.  If you want to do something easy then Mission Hills with it's 12 courses.

Hong Kong also has some decent courses and that's easy as well.

[Greg Gilson]

Jason, I have only played at Mission Hills and was pleasantly surprised. I went there begrudgingly expecting pretty mundane, "buffet" golf. However, i had a fun week - and clients i send there genuinely seem to love it. Olazasbal is an impressive design achievement, the rest of the courses are fair to good and the scale of the operation is an eye-opener. The night golf adds something as well. If you're not looking for a new GCA experience but for a fun, convenient, good value golf trip its hard to beat.

[Mike Nuzzo]

Jason
Why do you want to play in China?
Cheers

[Tom_Doak]

I would like to do a golf trip to China this summer.  Can anyone give advice on which resort(s), best time of year, and any other insights that might assist me.

Thanks in advance,
Jason

I wouldn't go to Hainan Island in the summer ... it's semi-tropical, and that's the rainy season.  Even if it isn't rainy it will be steamy and hot.

Go to Kunming and play Spring City and Stone Forest -- although, sadly, you can't get on the most dramatic course at Stone Forest (the C course) unless you are a VIP.  You could also play some of the courses at the original Mission Hills, or around Beijing, where it's nice and cool in the summer.

[Jason Sills]

Jason
Why do you want to play in China?
Cheers
[/quote

Just looking for somewhere new to go.  Seemed like an interesting choice considering all the development going on over there.

Jason
]

[Mark Bourgeois]

Beijing can get quite hot in the summer and the entire country skimps on AC! In the northeast, maybe try Dalian in the summer; eg Golden Pebble Beach.

You'll need a visa to enter the country, that's the tricky bit.

[Cristian]

I trust that the Stone Forest courses definitely reopened after having been closed for "government inspection"?

[Bill_McBride]

Hong Kong also has some decent courses and that's easy as well.

Plus which it's one of the most exciting cities in the world!

[Tom_Doak]

I trust that the Stone Forest courses definitely reopened after having been closed for "government inspection"?

Cristian:

Yes, Stone Forest is open for play, although the best course of the three is reserved as private, for very limited play.

The government had threatened to shut the courses down for being built without permits.  I heard a very interesting story about how they avoided this fate, which I am not at liberty to share. 

[Tim_Weiman]

Tom,

I am curious. Is the private course reserved for Communist Party members only?

[Eric Strulowitz]

Jason
Why do you want to play in China?
Cheers

hi mike

I can't speak for Jason, but I spent several  weeks in China several years ago, it was a life defining experience.  Wherever we went, we were treated with the uptmost warmth and courtesy.  Never felt unsafe, and I mean NEVER!  Whenever we had a question or had a language issue, there was always a local ready to help and go overboard.  Can't say enough about the police, beyond freindly and helpful, they were patient with directions when we got lost, and if we needed translation, they were awesome.  .

Whererver we went, we never felt like strangers.  These are a very happy people.  Sure, they might be oppressed in the sense they don't have the free speech we do, but do we really have free speech here and if we do, what good is it doing us anyway.  Everywhere we went, people outside, walking ,dancing, socilaizing.   The parks crowded, the markets crowded.  Did not see a fat person once, not once.  Who are we to say we are any better off?  Don't believe the media and all the hype about these being an oppressed people.  They are happier than we are, healthier than we are. 

Did not play golf, this was not a golf trip, but did see a number of courses and they were stunning.

Hong Kong, there are no words to describe it.  At night, no other city has a skyline to match, with all the lights and colors.  Across the harbor in Kowloon, it is an amazing site.

We ate the local foods, did not get sick once.  The beer is great.

Anyone has the chance to go, do not turn it down.  Nothing to worry about.  Getting a visa is a breeze. 

It will be a life defining experience to anyone who makes the long journey.  Cannot reccomend enough, and can't wait to go back.

The golf is great and sure to get better.  Anyone on the fence about going should surely go!

[Tom_Doak]

Tom,

I am curious. Is the private course reserved for Communist Party members only?

I suspect some of the guests are government officials, although they like to keep a VERY low profile when playing golf ... they don't want to be seen on the golf course, and some courses go way out of their way to accommodate this.  But, it's not strictly for party officials, or I would not have been able to play.  They are trying to attract attention for the course, even as they try to keep it ultra-exclusive.

[Mike Nuzzo]

Eric
Thank you for sharing
I have been to China and I also loved it!
Shanghai!! and Beijing
I was traveling with hotel people looking at a project so we stayed in some super cool hotels
I ate everything, even the way up north mutton and other savory sorts!
But I also didn't golf, I did see one course and I'd rather scratch my eyes out than have played it or walk through the forbidden city.
I don't think I'd like more than a few of the courses in China

My question was sincere
There are lots of options for golf in this big world and lots of different things to do in China
Cheers

[Jaeger Kovich]

What courses are on Hainan island besides Shanqin bay?

Is it fair to say that currently the only course in China that could be considered "World 100" quality is Shanqin bay?

At the moment ... Yes, that is the only really good golf course at the moment. There are a few under construction that have the potential though... haven't played on the main land yet, just Hainan.

The Dunes at Shenzhou Peninsula by Weiskopf is solid. They have 36 holes there, and it is a better site than Shanqin Bay, however, you probably could have built 1 really good course, instead of 2 that dont quite get the most out of the property. http://www.shenzhougolf.com/

[Brad Tufts]

What courses are on Hainan island besides Shanqin bay?

Is it fair to say that currently the only course in China that could be considered "World 100" quality is Shanqin bay?

At the moment ... Yes, that is the only really good golf course at the moment. There are a few under construction that have the potential though... haven't played on the main land yet, just Hainan.

The Dunes at Shenzhou Peninsula by Weiskopf is solid. They have 36 holes there, and it is a better site than Shanqin Bay, however, you probably could have built 1 really good course, instead of 2 that dont quite get the most out of the property. http://www.shenzhougolf.com/

I can't decide whether Shenzhou from pictures looks really neat, or overindulgent and trying too hard.  Looks exciting either way.

[Jaeger Kovich]

Thanks Jaeger - what's your view on Stone Forest? The good thing is Shanqin is easily accessible from Hong Kong - a big advantage rather than being in the middle of nowhere.

Never been, its in Kunming, Tom has, I think he commented on them above.

[Jaeger Kovich]

What courses are on Hainan island besides Shanqin bay?

Is it fair to say that currently the only course in China that could be considered "World 100" quality is Shanqin bay?

At the moment ... Yes, that is the only really good golf course at the moment. There are a few under construction that have the potential though... haven't played on the main land yet, just Hainan.

The Dunes at Shenzhou Peninsula by Weiskopf is solid. They have 36 holes there, and it is a better site than Shanqin Bay, however, you probably could have built 1 really good course, instead of 2 that dont quite get the most out of the property. http://www.shenzhougolf.com/

I can't decide whether Shenzhou from pictures looks really neat, or overindulgent and trying too hard.  Looks exciting either way.

It is pretty neat. Perhaps not as good as it could have been by my architectural standards, but its an unbelievable site and worth a visit if you are on Hainan.. Its about 1 hr drive south of Shanqin, and from the captial of Haikou, its like 1:30 by train

[Kerry Gray]

I live in China and can add a few comments.
Hong Kong's Fanling, formerly "Royal Hong Kong" is certainly worth playing. The north and south courses at Kai Sai Island are worth playing, for the views if anything else.
Mission Hills Shenzhen is an experience but only a few courses are good as others have mentioned.
Nothing really good to play in Shanghai area, although Huzhou International (about 2 hours from Shanghai) is certainly fun.
Tiger Links in Qingdao was better than expected, and it's a nice city to visit.
I have not played in Hainan in a while and look forward to getting back there to sample all the new offerings.
Most/all courses have caddies and carts.
Personal safety is not really an issue, petty crime is common but taking steps to prevent bad situations is not difficult.
Beijing has the historical sites but aside from that I am not a great fan. I love Shanghai for its nightlife and food. Hong Kong is simply amazing.
If you have any questions, please fell free to PM me and I am happy to assist in any way.
Like most visitors, I suspect you will be amazed at the scale of development everywhere, the whole country appears to be a construction site.
Enjoy.

[Howard Riefs]

Interesting tidbit from an article about Jack in SI Golf Digital:

"Nicklaus has more than 40 layouts in varying stages of development in China alone..."

So much for that moratorium.

http://bit.ly/1jtJrTq (pg. 9)

[Tom_Doak]

Interesting tidbit from an article about Jack in SI Golf Digital:

"Nicklaus has more than 40 layouts in varying stages of development in China alone..."

So much for that moratorium.

Howard:

I just stopped through Beijing ten days ago on my way around the world.  The golf people there reported that the moratorium is being enforced a bit more strongly than before -- because the party officials who used to look the other way [for cash] are more afraid of doing so now that some have been ousted for just that.

Some projects are still moving forward, but I would guess that the principal "varying stage of development" is ... stalled.

[Quinn Thompson]

…there were days in January, February, and or March when I was on the island of Hainan and thought to myself, " this is the weather that makes sense…" It was spot on…the weather that makes Chicago in the Autumn look like fool's gold…that would be your best bet, then skip the boat over to Vietnam and try you hand at some of their new courses , where the weather will be just as grand and the smiles just as plentiful...

[Howard Riefs]

Howard:

I just stopped through Beijing ten days ago on my way around the world.  The golf people there reported that the moratorium is being enforced a bit more strongly than before -- because the party officials who used to look the other way [for cash] are more afraid of doing so now that some have been ousted for just that.

Some projects are still moving forward, but I would guess that the principal "varying stage of development" is ... stalled.

Very interesting. Thanks for the insight.

[John Percival]

J,
Have traveled to Beijing the last three years.
While it will likely have the best weather during your trip, the uncertainty of the air quality, and its distance from Shanghai and HK, should keep it off your list.
Have been there for good air (this year), so-so air (2012) and nasty air (2013). To understand, Google Beijing Air Quality and check out the pics. You really dont want to be outside for 4-5 hours in the bad stuff.
Shanghai and HK also have some air issues, but on a much smaller scale.
If you do visit Beijing, make a sidetrip to the Wall. Great doesn't begin to describe the achievement.
Agree with others' comments about the people, as they are reserved, but EXTREMELY receptive to engagement.

***The visa process takes some time, so allow at least 3-4 weeks AND your passport is with the documents during that time, so you wont have it.

[Lester George]

I just returned from China.  My project at Poyang Lake is being staked and cleared.  My client has made additional sizeable investments in the area, so, barring a major shift, it looks like we are going to open in 2016.

Lester