The course at Sunrise Golf & Country Club circulates around one of the higher hills in Northern Taiwan, providing the architect with natural elevation changes which have been worked into many of the holes.
The course at Sunrise Golf & Country Club circulates around one of the higher hills in Northern Taiwan, providing the architect with natural elevation changes which have been worked into many of the holes.
The course at Sunrise Golf & Country Club circulates around one of the higher hills in Northern Taiwan, providing the architect with natural elevation changes which have been worked into many of the holes. The elevation also exposes the fairways to some persistent breezes. Golf is often played into a one or two club breeze here, sometimes even more. In addition to these natural elements, Trent Jones Jr. has deployed the full panoply of man-made hazards. The course has a fair claim to be the toughest in Taiwan.
The 10th is a good example of the kind of test that Trent Jones has set. From an elevated tee the golfer can see every aspect of the hole below as the fairway sweeps round in a crescent. A lake lies between the golfer and any shot he or she cares to make so that the safest possible shot will entail playing left of water followed by a carry whereas the heroic shot is going to entail carry all the way. Bunkers lie on the far side of the fairway to punish the over cautious or the player who hooks to a hole that clearly calls for a fade. Water features on all but two of the last nine holes. On the front side it only really is brought into play from the pro tees on the 6th. Even a strong hitter can be embarrassed here as the 516 yard 6th is a stiff carry into the breeze from the back plates and then the fairway articulates upward. The haphazard array of bunkers short of the green introduces some chance elements to the golfer who tries to get close in two. Playing for three-on and taking the bunkers out of the equation will require at least an 8 or 7 iron from the safe lay-up point.
The 15th is another strong hole. The tee shot involves a carry over a gully from which there is no escape. The fairway beyond moves left sharply and narrows considerably. Out of bounds lurks just beyond the right side of the fairway as it does on many holes. Indeed it is extremely easy to let shots go on the breeze from elevated tees and see them carried out of bounds. A golfer with all the shots will find themselves playing the ball back in the stance on many occasions both with and against the wind – a rare requirement in continental Asia where the courses tend to be so soft and airless. Even relatively innocuous holes like the 3rd pack their punch. The fairway is pretty tight as you drive uphill – and there's certainly no room on the left. As the fairway arches upward, the second shot has to be long enough to make the surface and toward the right side to avoid the cluster of bunkers that intrude on the left.
The golf course at Sunrise is part of a residential complex that is only just getting into full swing. The surrounds are dominated by some pretty monumental architecture. The clubhouse-hotel is a huge, imposing and modern edifice. Despite this, it is the course that dominates the experience. There is a case for saying if you are going to play a Trent Jones Jr. course with its blend of heroic, penal and strategic characteristics you might as well play a course as tough as Sunrise.
Re-produced with kind permission from The Finest Golf Courses of Asia & Australasia by James Spence.
The latest ranking of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World serves as the ultimate global golf bucket list. Most members of our World Top 100 Panel are seasoned golfers, each playing 20-30 of these courses annually while travelling extensively over decades to form their opinions on others. We recognise that opinions vary—even among our panel members. Rankings are subjective, and there are undoubtedly 50 or more courses in the UK and USA alone that could easily fit onto this list. Links Golf Pilgrimages The rankings
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The Greater China golf landscape represents one of Asia's most diverse and rapidly evolving golf markets, combining world-class championship venues with exclusive private clubs and innovative modern designs. The 2026 rankings recognise 50 courses across the region through three separate national rankings: China's Top 30, Hong Kong's Top 5, and Taiwan's Top 15. These rankings reflect the assessments of dedicated regional panellists with extensive playing experience across each market. The region's golf scene continues to evolve despite distinct challenges in each territory. China's golf industry navigates ongoing government regulations while maintaining world-class facilities. Hong Kong's limited space creates intense competition for ranking positions among its handful of courses, and Taiwan's vibrant private club culture showcases some of Asia's most exclusive golf experiences. Together, these three markets demonstrate the breadth of golf course excellence across the Greater China region. 2026 Rankings: A Diverse Regional Landscape The combined rankings recognise three courses reaching Asia's Top 100, led by Shanqin Bay Golf Club, maintaining its position as China's premier championship venue at World #35. The rankings span from internationally recognised championship courses to exclusive private clubs that define each market's character. Additional courses across all three territories demonstrate championship-calibre quality while remaining outside the current ranking thresholds, suggesting depth throughout the region's golf infrastructure. Explore the complete China Rankings Explore the complete Hong Kong Rankings Explore the complete Taiwan Rankings China Top 30 At A Glance The Elite Pair 1. Shanqin Bay Golf Club - World #35 2. PGA Golf Club An Ying - Yangtze Dunes - World #99 The Rising Forces Topwin - Beijing - Up 35 positions to #7 (from #42) Wind Valley (Member) - Up 24 positions to #11 (from #35) Nicklaus Club Beijing - Up 20 positions to #10 (from #30) Shadow Creek - Beijing - Up 9 positions to #12 (from #21) Dongzhuang Beach (Linksland) - Up 4 positions to #8 (from #12) Notable Movements Mission Hills (Blackstone) - Down to #6 (from #3) Spring City (Mountain) - Down to #13 (from #7) Dunes at Shenzhou Peninsula (West) - Down to #14 (from #8) National Golf Country Club (Taiwan) - Down to #10 (from #5) Hong Kong Top 5 At A Glance Complete Stability 1. Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau (North) 2. Clearwater Bay 3. Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau (East) 4. Hong Kong (New) 5. Hong Kong (Eden) Hong Kong's ranking demonstrates remarkable consistency, with all five courses maintaining their positions from the previous ranking. This stability reflects the territory's limited golf infrastructure and the established quality of its existing venues. Taiwan Top 15 At A Glance The Unchanged Elite 1. Ta Shee (Kingfisher & Egret) 2. Taiwan Golf & Country Club The Rising Clubs North Bay - Up 4 positions to #9 (from #13) Tong Hwa - Up 3 positions to #8 (from #11) Chia Nan - Up 3 positions to #11 (from #14) Hsin Chu (East & West) - Up 3 positions to #12 (from #15) Sunrise - Up 2 positions to #7 (from #9) The New Entry 15. Miramar (South & East) - Debut in Top 15 Notable Movement National Golf Country Club - Down to #10 (from #5) Oriental Sunstar - Down to #14 (from #10) Explore the complete China Rankings Explore the complete Hong Kong Rankings Explore the complete Taiwan Rankings What the Rankings Tell Us Shanqin Bay's Continued Supremacy Shanqin Bay Golf Club maintains its position as China's premier golf destination and the highest-ranked course in the Greater China region. The Coore & Crenshaw design on Hainan Island has established itself among the world's elite courses since opening, combining natural coastal terrain with sophisticated strategic routing. Its ranking at World #35 represents the pinnacle of what China's golf industry can achieve when design excellence meets exceptional natural terrain. Beijing's Architectural Renaissance The capital region's dramatic rise in the rankings tells the story of China's golf evolution. Topwin - Beijing's 35-position leap to #7, Nicklaus Club Beijing's 20-position climb to #10, and Wind Valley's 24-position surge to #11 demonstrate how Beijing has emerged as China's most important golf destination beyond coastal resort markets. Shadow Creek - Beijing's 9-position rise to #12 further reinforces the capital's concentration of championship-quality courses. Hong Kong's Established Order Hong Kong's complete ranking stability reflects the territory's unique golf landscape, where limited supply creates minimal opportunity for change. The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau complex holds two of the five ranked positions, demonstrating the importance of this public facility in providing Hong Kong with accessible championship golf. Clearwater Bay and the Hong Kong Golf Club courses maintain their historical positions, preserving the hierarchy that has defined Hong Kong golf for generations. Taiwan's Private Club Excellence Taiwan's ranking movements showcase the vitality of the island's private club scene. North Bay's 4-position climb to #9, combined with strong rises from Tong Hwa, Chia Nan, and Hsin Chu. Looking Ahead The Greater China golf landscape continues to evolve despite each territory's distinct challenges. China's government policies toward golf remain restrictive, limiting new course development while existing facilities navigate complex regulatory environments. Several courses have faced closures or ownership changes in recent years, making the sustained quality of ranked courses particularly impressive. The market appears to be stabilising around a core group of established championship venues rather than pursuing continued expansion. Taiwan's geographic constraints limit new development, but ongoing course renovations and refinements could drive future ranking movements. Hong Kong's golf infrastructure remains essentially static, with no realistic prospects for new course development given land scarcity and regulatory hurdles. The territory's golf future likely centres on maintaining and upgrading existing facilities rather than expansion. Explore the complete China Rankings Explore the complete Hong Kong Rankings Explore the complete Taiwan Rankings
