Skyhill Jeju (Ocean & Sky)

One of several Korean projects undertaken by Robert Trent Jones Jnr since the late 1990s, the 36-hole golf complex at Sky Hill Jeju Country Club occupies a very serene setting, with the emerald waters beyond Seguipo Beach stretching out to the south and the mist-shrouded peak of Mount Sambang and its temple caves lying to the west.

Owned and operated by Lotte, one of Korea’s largest conglomerate companies, the golf facility at Sky Hill opened in 2005 and it now comprises four nines – Ocean, Sky, Hill and Forest – which are laid out on an undulating landscape that lends itself to the occasional blind tee shot or approach shot.

Some of the holes feature ancient rock formations and old stone walls lining dry streambeds, which were cleverly integrated into the design. As the architect explains, “during construction, we found granite and living rock that are unique Jeju elements and we enjoyed using them to create the artistic and functional character of Sky Hill Jeju Country Club”.

In the decade after it was first opened, the club hosted a number of male and female professional tournaments, including the Herald KYJ Tour Championship, ADT CAPS Championship, Lotte Mart Women's Open and Lotte Cantata Women's Open so it’s now a well-known tournament venue on the Korean circuit.