Trans Strait

Situated beside the Formosa Straits that separate China from Taiwan, the part-woodland, part-seaside course at the Trans Strait Golf Club is a Robert Trent Jones Jnr design from the late 1990s which the local workforce literally built by hand.

The course appeared in The Rolex World’s Top 1000 Golf Courses with the following edited narrative extract:

“Trans Strait is one of those rare courses that traverse different and distinct types of topography [resulting] in one of the most memorable course you will find in China. The front nine holes weave through Casuarina trees (planted nearly twenty years ago by the local authorities to help reduce beach erosion) and require straight hitting due to the general narrowness of the landing area, and with approach shots to well-bunkered greens.

The back nine, which runs nearer the beach, is more open off the tee, but still no walk in the park, down to thoughtful use of water hazards (especially on the par threes) and wild native grasses that punish shots failing to find their target. This nine is also more affected by coastal breezes, so the ability to keep the ball low and under the wind will be rewarded.”