Dongguan Hillview (Master)

Architect Jim Engh completed his first Chinese commission at Dongguan Hillview Golf Club in 1993 when he fashioned the 18-hole Open layout. Six years later, he returned to complete the Master course, which is now widely acknowledged as the top track at a wonderful 36-hole golf facility.

Always a designer that dares to be different, Engh set out the course on rolling terrain with many of the holes characterised by split fairways, massive bunkers or rock-buttressed ponds. All of these features are, of course, designed to keep golfers on their toes as they work out the best way to get from tee to green at every hole.

Highlight holes include the spectacular 177-yard 2nd, which is played to a long shallow green that sits behind an intimidating sunken pond, and the short par four 9th, where water to the right of the fairway threatens the tee shot. On the inward half, the 233-yard downhill 16th is a really tough long par three with a green that’s fronted by another sunken pond.