Yongpyong (Birch Hill) - South Korea

The Birch Hill Golf Club layout at the YongPyong resort comprises two nines, the Birch and the Hill, and this 18-hole set-up is regarded as the premier course at a marvellous 45-hole facility which also features ski slopes and a water park.

Designed by Ron Fream within a winter sports resort in the Taebaek mountain range dominated by Mount Balwangsan, Birch Hill is a luxurious golf experience with rarefied air, fine turf conditions and pretty golfing visuals.

Set in the mountains at around 500 metres above sea level, the downhill par five 10th is a striking hole visually, where a sea of bunkers flow like a cascade and the uphill par five 18th requires a heroic approach shot over bunkers.

Birch Hill is a solid enough course and it undeniably takes a pretty picture, but it’s a course that should have been more impressive. Nevertheless, it’s a well-liked venue on the LPGA of Korea Tour for the annual McCol YongPyong Resort Open and is fun to play.