Sandpine - South Korea

Ron Fream of Golfplan designed the course at Sandpine Golf Club, where the tree-lined fairways occupy sandy-soiled, undulating terrain just outside the city of Gangneung, home to the indoor events at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Opened for play in 2007, the course is set within a beautiful coastal pine forest, with the trees protecting golfers from the prevailing East Sea breezes. Extending to just over 7,000 yards from the back markers, the layout plays to a par of 72 from five tee positions.

Feature holes include water-laden par fours at the 6th and 7th and a terrific closing sequence that starts with the right doglegged par five 16th and ends with the uphill par four 18th, with the home green perched above an enormous protecting bunker.