Haesley Nine Bridges

David Dale, Kevin Ramsey and the Golfplan design team laid out the original Nine Bridges course on Jeju Island so it was only natural that the developers should call in the same architects a decade later to fashion Haesley Nine Bridges, the latest version of their golf course brand.

After all, as owner Jay H. Lee’s Jeju course achieved World Top 100 recognition in the golf magazine rankings, why would he not want to re-hire the same company?

With Marsh Benton – Augusta National’s director of agronomy – consulting, Dale installed state-of-the-art sub-air and hydronics systems in all eighteen T-1 bentgrass greens.This allows a) air to be inhaled from or injected into the soil under the putting surfaces, preventing a build-up of excess moisture, and b) the temperature of the soil to be increased or decreased via cold or hot water circulating through underground pipes.

Hardly any wonder then that the greens at Haesley Nine Bridges are renowned for their performance quality.

Stand out holes on the front nine include the par four 4th, requiring a forced carry to the green over a series of tumbling waterfalls and the par four 9th, played to a peninsula green that fronts a stunning, ultra-modern World Architecture Award-winning clubhouse.

On the back nine, the short par four 10th is truly spectacular, involving an island fairway and an island green, with a thirty foot waterfall framing a putting surface that’s completely surrounded by water.

The following article was written by Hwa Young, our Korean Correspondent and Chief Editor at Herald Sports.

Haesley means “The village with the rising sun”. The current location is surrounded by hills on all sides, and it is the most sunlit area in the basin. The site was named Haesley since the sunrise can be seen from everywhere on the course.

Haesley Nine Bridges (Par 72, 7,265yds) opened in September 2009 and is operated by CJ Group and it’s aiming to become the best private members club in the world. Haesley seeks to be a club with members’ communities, an active club culture and the best facilities.

Haesley has two leading maintenance tools: 1. Sub-Air System that inhales the air in the soil under the green or injects air into it through pipes installed underground using separate air-generating facility (vault) installed outside. The oxygen supplied to the soil under the green helps the grass grow consistently. 2. Hydronics system increases or decreases the temperature of the soil using the cold or warm water circulating through underground pipes. Haesley is the one and only course in the world that has these two systems installed on each of the 18 holes.

Efforts have also been made to conserve the ecosystem by planting eco-friendly native species, such as flame grasses, native grasses, and wild flowers around the property. Well-adapted to its natural environment, Haesley Nine Bridges is inhabited by elks and eagle-owls and the club is actively protecting nature by using eco-friendly fertilizers and designing a system for preventing contamination of the neighboring soils and water ways.

So, Haesley has been recognized for sustainability activities in the areas of environmental, social commitment and leadership in 2014. Holding the International Tournament “CJ Invitational hosted by KJ Choi”. The club held this tournament from 2011 to 2013, which unites the gallery and golfers as one heart, while the relationship with CJ Donors fosters a donation culture. The tournament is significant because it fosters commitment to sharing through golf – “Noblesse oblige” – a mantle pursued by Haesley.

Selected as “the best host venue” for its top-rated facilities and premium services in the 2012 Asian Tour Award Ceremony, Haesley Nine Bridges has solidified its status as the country’s best golf club.