Luxehills

JMP Golf Design has been active in the Asia-Pacific region for more than a couple of decades now – it has over twenty Chinese designs in its portfolio – and the Luxehills International Country Club course at Chengdu is recognised as one of the best layouts in the west of China.

Designed by lead architect Mark Hollinger and opened for play in 2005, the course is the sporting focus of attention within an upscale residential development, with fairways routed around substantial pockets of housing units.

Three of the four par threes on the card (at the 2nd, 5th and 12th) are spectacular short holes that demand intimidating tee shot carries across water whilst the 602-yard 18th hole also presents a formidable aquatic challenge, doglegging right as it does to an island green.

The course was chosen to host the 17th edition of the Volvo China Open in 2011, an event won by Belgium’s big hitting Ryder Cup player, Nicolas Colsaerts, with a four stroke margin of victory over the field.