Kimi Hoshiyama

The Country Club, Philippines, is a very challenging championship course on a gently rolling hill. The routing is unique where the front 9 goes out and comes back in the same relatively narrow terrain in the same way that classic links courses a routed “going out, coming in” for 18 holes, while the back 9 meanders through the other property and only two holes 12th and 13th move in the same direction with the other seven holes change directions each time. After two years of extensive remodeling which started in 2013, the distance is increased by nearly 500 yards to over 7,700 yards, but Weiskopf's original routing was retained. Weiskopf took advantage of the natural flow of the land and cleverly routed the course, taking advantage of major terrain features, without cutting or digging the terrain of the former sugar cane fields. Regarding the normally prevailing wind direction, 1st and 9th have diagonal cross winds, 2nd to 5th is set upwind, 6th to 8th downwind, and for 10th to 18th the wind directions change on almost every hole. The course crosses deep ravines on six holes, the Diezumo River and lakes come into play on seven holes, and the river and a creek crosses three fairways. The Diezumo River forms a formidable hazard and surrounds many of the front 9 holes. Nine greens are guarded by three to five bunkers, and some of them are as large as the green. The greens are joy to putt on. Though occasionally severely contoured, they are fair and can have multiple pin positions. The front 9 demands a lot of distance and accuracy. The fairways narrow as you approach the greens. On headwind holes, a fade or a draw can easily turn into a slice or a hook that finds itself in the hazard. The front is harder than the back 9, and is the hardest 9-hole stretch in the Philippines. The back 9, on the other hand, has a more open feeling, and the fairways are wider. Though well treed, there is a minimum of obstructive and annoying landscaping. The general feeling is one of wide, almost links-like open space. However, the testy nature of the 9 holes remains the same. The conditioning of both greens and fairways is immaculate, and one of the best of Southeast Asian courses. The Country Club hosted the Philippine Open for three consecutive years from 2017 to 2019.The par 5 558-yard 8th slightly doglegs to the right, and is an excellent “risk & reward” hole. The Diezumo River flows to the right off the tee as well as on the second shot, and the fairway bunkers are strategically positioned. The green is two-tiered with a decent elevation difference, and is guarded by a large & deep bunker on the right. A long hitter, who can drive beyond a big Acacia tree on the right and two bunkers on the left off the tee shot, has a chance to get on the green in two shots, but there is a risk because the right side faces the river. The par 4 476-yard 18th is a signature hole with a dogleg to the right. For the tee shot, a huge bunker like a beach bunker on the right side comes into play. A long drive that cuts the dogleg challenging both bunker and water all along the right side is necessary. The approach shot is over water onto the green facing the lake on the right and the right back. The green is two-tiered and is protected by the lake on the right and four bunkers around it. It will be more difficult when the pin is placed on the back tier. When you bail out left off the tee, a lay-up is in order. In that case, your third shot must be precise too, especially if the pin in located on the top tier. To read more about the course at The Country Club GC, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Philippines/The-Country-Club/(En)-The-Country-Club.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

I returned to Wack Wack Golf Club with Bob McCoy, so this is an update to my earlier review. I recently learned that the club name Wack Wack derives from the squawk of the large black crows, which used to inhabit the land, locally known as “Uwak-Uwak”. The East is one of the premier golf courses in the Philippines and The Philippine Open has been held here as many as 33 times from 1956 to 2014.The East Course has a vast layout whose challenge lies in elevated, small and often severely sloped greens, water hazards, and lengthy fairways flankered by mature trees. The fairways are nicely cut but they are Carabao grass, natural Philippines grass, which occasionally causes the iron heads to get stuck in the roots of the grass, and give players extra challenges compared to different fairway grass like Bermuda. The course has a major renovation recently and added some 200 additional yards now to an over 7,200-yard-long course by adding and reposition some of teeing boxes, notably Hole 8, 10 and 12. It has repositioned many of fairways bunkers that used be easily carried, making them come into play. Two water holes 7 &16 have changed to look more natural. The greens are faster with good rolling, and the greenside bunkers are larger & deeper. Overall, the East course has improved a lot and has become much tougher. To read more about the East Course at Wack Wack GC, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Philippines/Wack-Wack/Wack-Wack-E.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

Tagaytay Midlands GC is a highland resort course that is laid out on gentle terrains and rolling hills at the foot of the mountain, offering a spectacular view of Taal Lake. Located 460 meters (1,500 ft) above sea level at the foot of the mountain overlooking Taal Lake, it is cooler than the courses around Manila. In 2013, the 9-hole Lucky Course that is narrower with severe ups and downs was added, and the club now boosts a 27-hole golf course. To develop the course, more than 2 million plants of different plant of different varieties and 37,000 trees are planted to form a beautiful landscape within the course. Although three are only 30 bunkers in total, but many dogleg holes, the natural changes of elevation, some forced carries over valleys, and a couple of water hazards will help the course fun to play. Since the fairways are generous and there are few OB zones, you can hit each shot without big pressure, and expect a good score. The grain of the greens is strong always away from the mountain to Taal Lake 300 meters below the course, and downhill putts with the grain are very fast. Many greens are framed by the distant, majestic Mt. Makiling as the backdrop. The course maintenance is good.The par 4 463-yard 4th is a signature hole and a sharp dogleg to the left. A lake runs from the tee to the green on this demanding par four. On the tee shot, if you play away too safely from the water on the left and hit too much on the right side, it will be difficult to hit the green in regulation. The approach shot is over the lake. The green is long and sharply slopes to the left, with two bunkers at the back. Another demanding long par 4, the 460-yard 15th, is excellent. The tee shot is over a valley with a valley along the right side. Taking on the dogleg can cut the length in full sight of all the risks for such a play. The green, sharply sloping from back to font, is surrounded by trees and bushes and is guarded by a bunker on the right front. To read more about the course at Tagaytay Midlands GC, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Philippines/Tagaytay-Midlands/(EN)-Tagaytay-Midlands.htm">click here</a> to visit my website.

Tagaytay Highlands GC is a very hilly resort course with severe elevations changes. Located 700 meters (2300 ft) above sea level, it is cooler than courses around Manila. The courses can be quite fun with some unusual courses and lots of elevation changes. Although the overall distance is short, many holes are narrow, and five man-made ponds, some bunkers, numerous valleys & hills will come into play. So accuracy, not distance, is the key to success at Tagaytay Highlands. After playing good par-4 1st and par 3 2nd, par-4 3rd and par 5 4th are stunning downhillers. The two holes drops as much as 120 meters (400 ft). The remaining 5 holes in the front nine are fairly straightforward. The back 9 also has a lot of ups and downs and features two tough back-to-back par-5s, Fourteenth & Fifteenth. The routing is not that great as there are too many downhill holes, the difference in elevation between last and first holes of each nine is so huge, a gondola cable car lift will ferry players from 9th green to 10th tee. When the cable car is out of order, a big bus is a substitute. The Par 3 197-yard 2nd is built on a narrow ridge with valleys on the left and right. The green has drop-offs on both sides and an errant shot has a possibility of rolling down to the valley beyond. Hiding in the forest in front, you can't see the left side of the green off the tee sloping from back to front. The actual distance is much longer because of the uphill. The par 5 533-yard 4th is a slight dogleg with the very demanding tee shot. The green drops nearly 100 meters from the teeing ground where the fairway looks very narrow with the hazards both sides. In fact, the landing area off the tee is tight and the tee shot has an option anything from a driver to a seven iron. With the long & accurate tee shot, you can hit the green in two shots probably with an iron. When you decide to lay up, the landing area is tight as with trees and bushes on both sides. The green is wide and protected by two bunkers in the front. Tagaytay Highlands is not the course you would want to play every day, but sometimes you would like to play this hilly course to enjoy 360-degree panoramic views including Lake Taal in the cool air. To read more about the course at Tagaytay Highlands GC, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Philippines/Tagaytay-Highlands/(EN)-Tagaytay-Highlands.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

Jack Nicklaus GC Korea is a relatively flat course that is located near the sea. While the ocean is only partially visible from the second hole and new buildings surround the course, the scenery of these building blends quite well with the modern look of the course. The biggest feature of the course is the multiple water hazards that come into play throughout. The course makes good use of the hazards as they balance out the eight large and small ponds. Of the four par 3s, three of them are over a lake.<img src="/images/Jack-Nicklaus-Golf-Club-Korea.jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto;" alt="Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea" title="Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea">The club uses bent grasses from the tees all the way to the greens, and the maintenance of the grasses is quite spectacular. While there are no weak holes, it is also balanced out with short and long par 3s and par 4s. All par 5s are risk/reward holes. At the time of the course’s opening in 2010, the greens had more severe undulations. However, just before the hosting of Asia’s first Presidents Cup in 2015, the slopes of each green were revised to become more gradual, allowing more pinnable areas. All green complexes are quite nice. Holes 13, 14, 15 combine for an excellent stretch. The par 4 372-yard 14th is a signature hole and relatively short par four with a dogleg to the left. The fairway is divided into two by a creek. The fairway on the left side is much narrower and requires a carry of 240 yards in order to cross over a lake. If successful, the rest of the hole becomes a straight and easy up & down for a birdie. White the tee shot is demanding; the second becomes quite easy. Hitting towards the fairway on the right side is a safer route as the fairway is wider. However, if the pin is placed in the front, this route becomes much tougher, since the front of the green faces a creek. It is safer to aim towards the back left of the green, but there will few birdies from there, which means that while the tee shot is easy, the second will become very difficult depending on the pin position… it’s an excellent “risk and reward” hole. To read more about Jack Nicklaus GC Korea, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Korea/Jack-Nicklaus-Korea/Jack-Nicklaus-Korea-(en).htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

Anyang Country Club is considered to be the most prestigious club in Korea, and is a great parkland course with a relatively flat layout with only 10 meters (33 feet) of elevation change. When the course was first established in 1968, it spread out beautifully over the vast wilderness and there were no houses or buildings around the area. Nowadays various houses, buildings, and factories surround the course. However, the sections with poor scenery are blocked by tall trees making them completely invisible. Anyang CC is one of the flattest courses in Korea, and consists of a great routing, good flow from green to the next tee, and a very smooth and enjoyable walk throughout.<img src="/images/Anyang-Country-Club-SK.jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto;" alt="Anyang Country Club" title="Anyang Country Club">In 1997, RT Jones Jr. remodeled the course that was originally created by Mr. Chohei Miyazawa 50 years previously. The Japanese architect had adapted double greens for each hole, which was popular at that time in Japan in order to protect greens. However, RT Jones Jr. transformed them into one large and highly raised green, while the basic layout and routing of the holes were kept. He also converted the shape of each green to a more aesthetically wonderful look and feel. His upgrading includes newly built ponds on holes 6, 16, & 16, and the merger of two existing ponds on the par 3s 13 & 17 followed by spreading them closer to each green, and the various removals and additions of bunkers throughout the course. RT Jones Jr. remodeled Anyang CC to become a much more strategic and fun course to play. Various plants and trees, such as cherry blossoms, were planted and allowed the course to showcase a different appearance during each of the four seasons. This new transformation makes it feel that you are playing the course in a really beautiful garden.The par 3 172-yard 17h is a beautiful signature hole that is played over a pond. The green, elevated and horizontally long with the concaved center, is protected by bunkers in the front and at the rear, and a blind pond to the right. To read more about Anyang CC, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Korea/Anyang/Anyang-(en).htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

Natadola Bay Golf Club is a seaside and beachfront course in which fifteen holes can be played while watching the cobalt blue Pacific Ocean with beautiful coral shoreline. The course extends from a small hill to the coast. With multiple tight holes, with long fairways protected by thick rough on both sides, continuing throughout, accuracy will be a key factor on this beautiful course. Also, the intensity of the sea breeze needs to be put into consideration. The course is suitable for intermediate and advanced players, as it is a quite a challenging course. My favorite holes are the next four holes.The par 4 496-yard 1st is a downhill and long hole hitting toward the sea. The landing area off the tee is narrow with a bunker on the right and deep rough on both sides. A guarding greenside bunker on the front right will come into to play on the approach shot. The green is slightly elevated and slopes from right to left. The par 5 556-yard 5th is demanding with a dogleg to the right. The tee shot is dynamically downhill, and the landing area is narrow. With an uphill second shot, players will encounter a much steeper uphill third shot. Players should avoid at all costs an extremely deep bunker protecting the front side of the green.<img src="/images/Natadola-Bay-Golf-Club-12th.jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto;" alt="Natadola Bay Golf Club 12th hole" title="Natadola Bay Golf Club 12th hole">The par 4 328-yard 12th is a nice risk & reward hole. This short par four is reachable as it is downhill, but a small pond located just in front of the green will come into play. Players need to make a decision whether they use drivers or lay up off the tee. The par 3 220-yard 13th is a long par three in which the sea and coral reef on the left are beautifully aligned. There is a long bunker located on the left side stretching from the tee to the green protected by pot bunkers on both sides. To read more about the course at Natadola Bay <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Fiji/Natadola-Bay/Natadola-Bay-(En).htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

The course at the Pearl Championship GC&GC has a relatively flat parkland style setup, which is set among lush tropical rainforests and winding canals. While players can enjoy the scenery, they should be aware that the course is poorly maintained, especially with the condition of its fairways. The drainage system didn’t work well against the high rainfall in that area when I played, so the fairway grasses were needed to be kept very long. Apart from the conditions, there are some nice holes.<img src="/images/Pearl-South-PAcific-Golf-16.jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto;" alt="Pearl South Pacific Golf Fiji 16th hole" title="Pearl South Pacific Golf Fiji 16th hole">The par 5 577-yard 6th is long with a slight dogleg to the left. There are four cross bunkers located around the center of the fairway, which provides payers two routes, the left or right fairway. Off the second shot, there are also two additional bunkers to the left side to be aware of. Since the green slopes sharply from the back-right to the front-left, it’ll be smart to hit towards the right side of the pin on the approach shot. If the shot is shy of the green, a bunker in front will catch it. Par 3 210-yard 8th is over a pond covered by lotuses. The green is slightly elevated and guarded by a bunker to the left side. The beautiful par 4 370-yard 16th is straight and downhill with a river running along the left side. The second shot is over the river onto a green surrounded by three bunkers. To read more about The Pearl Golf Course <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Fiji/The-Pearl/The-Perl-(En).htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

Demarau Golf & Racket Club is a flat resort course located near the ocean. Although most holes are monotonous, some are strong holes due to the length and well-placed bunkers. All par 4s require water carries but greenside bunkers come much more into play than the water. Most water hazards are not strategically placed, since it is a resort course to promote good scores. This course is suitable for beginners and intermediate players. Various palm trees enhance the tropical atmosphere.<img src="/images/Denarau-Golf-Fiji18th.jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto;" alt="Denarau Golf & Racquet Club 18th hole" title="Denarau Golf & Racquet Club 18th hole">There are three interesting holes. The par 3 175-yard 3rd is beautiful and it crosses over a lake. The green is two-tired, vertically long, and surrounded by four bunkers. The par 4 400-yard 12th is a slight dogleg to the left. The tee shot is over a river, and another river runs in front of the green, sloping sharply from back to front, protected by bunkers to the left, front-left, and right sides. The par 5 517-yard 18th is a straight hole in which rivers cross the fairway twice. The second river crosses just in front of the green, adding to the difficulty of the final approach shot. To read more about Demarau, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Fiji/Denarau/Denarau-(En).htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

Higashi Hirono Golf Club is a hilly course which was designed by incorporating the surrounding elements of the natural landscape. The course also offers a fun challenge because of the variety of holes. With a total length of 7158 yards, the course offers a constant journey of breathtaking moments due to the variety of good holes. Especially four the par threes are superb. Yukichi Kobayashi picked the four good locations for par 3s first before completing the overall routing. The designer believed that the more distinctive par 3s are, the better the other par 4s and par 5s will stand out. The greens are fast with a lot of undulations. Higashi Hirono hosted the Panasonic Open in 2012 and 2019 on the Japan and Asian PGA Tour. Mr. T. Inui, who served as the president of the world famous Hirono GC for many years, tried to build something that is comparable to Hirono GC in 1980s. The course named as Higashi (east) Hirono because it is located only 2.5 miles east of Hirono GC. The par 3 183-yard 3rd is a signature hole. With a slightly downhill shot, players hit onto a shallow island green. Since the green is only 25 yards deep, the selection of the right club will be essential. The par 3 188-yard 7th is a beautiful hole where water as well as several bunkers guard the green. The green slopes from the back towards the pond in the foreground.<img src="/images/Higashi-Hirono-Golf-Club-7.jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto;" alt="Higashi Hirono Golf Club 7th hole" title="Higashi Hirono Golf Club 7th hole">The par 3 200-yard is another scenic par 3 over a pond. The green is shallow and triple tiered. The par 5 550-yard 18th is an excellent risk/reward hole. While the tee shot is not difficult, the second shot offers quite a challenge due to the narrowing fairway that are tightened by the ponds coming in on the both sides. The green is swung to the right, and is surrounded by a lake to its front and right sides. To read more about Higashi Hirono GC, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/japan/Higashihirono/Higashihirono-(En).htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

The course at Ono Golf club is a tree-lined parkland course set on a hill, surrounded by beautiful landscape. Each hole is completely separated by mature trees and sometimes by lakes. Almost all greens are elevated and protected by deep bunkers which require players to hit precise approach shots. The course makes full use of the indigenous local planting, making players feel as though they are in a Japanese garden. The front 9 is less undulating and utilizes large Lake Camo (in Japanese “duck”) to border on Hole 7, 8 and 9. The back 9 has more ups and downs, with fairways flanked by tall pine trees. All par 3s are good, all par 4s are strong, and all par 5s are set on dynamic terrain. The greens are nicely contoured, fast and firm. The designer, Osamu Ueda helped to build Hirono GC in 1932 as an assistant of C.H. Alison when he was a college boy. In 1934 Ueda was asked to go to Berlin Olympic as a swimming referee, and had a great opportunity to visit a lot of great courses in Europe, mainly in Great Britain to learn about links and heathland courses for several months. The experiences have surely helped him to establish his own course designing style, a mixture of British design philosophies and local Japanese ones. He eventually designed 56 good courses throughout Japan and one of the best is Ono Golf Club.<img src="/images/Ono-Golf-Club-12.jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto;" alt="Ono Golf Club" title="Ono Golf Club">The par 5 540-yard 9th is a great hole with a slight dogleg to the left. Off the tee, players will notice an OB lake on the right and a pine forest on the left. There is a lake from the 110-yard mark in front of the green to its front edge. The green complex together with water in front and the pine trees at rear loos beautiful. The par 5 570-yard 11th is an "S" shaped beautiful hole that bends slightly to the right before gently curving to the left. Players should note that on the second shot, the OB zone on the left is in play. The careful course management, where and how long to hit each shot, is needed to have a good score. The green is two-tiered with a strong slope. The par 3 185-yard par 3 is a little downhill, picturesque hole over a valley. Players will feel as though they are at a Japanese garden from the tee box. To read more about Ono Golf Club, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/japan/Ono/Ono-(En).htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

Rokko Kokusai Golf Club has 45 holes, the East and West courses and a 9-hole public course. Both East and West have a relatively flat and spacious layout in hilly terrain. The two courses have quite different personalities. East is a classic, tree-lined tough course over 7400 yards, originally designed by a Japanese architect, while West is more American in style, done by Nicklaus Design. The East Course is laid out in a hilly terrain surrounded by natural forest. Players will not only have to focus on their driver’s strength, hitting it long and straight, but also exercise good course management to avoid bunkers, lakes, rough and trees. It also requires clear judgment as to the most appropriate route to take. Most greens are elevated and surrounded by deep bunkers, and the aprons of the greens are narrow, so approach shots require a sense of distance and accuracy.<img src="/images/Rokko-Kokusai-golf-East.jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto;" alt="Rokko Kokusai Golf Club East course" title="Rokko Kokusai Golf Club East course">Players will enjoy the nice course layout, the beautifully curved fairways, undulating high quality putting greens with backdrop of the magnificent Rokko Mountain scenery. 20 years after opening, The East course was redesigned by Lee Schmidt of Nicklaus Design in 1996. Lee built The West from scratch in 1997 but changed only green complexes on the East Course. The renovation of the East has turned out well and has become a more challenging and sophisticated course. The East hosted the 1983 and 2015 Japan Open and the 2010 Panasonic Open, which is a joint Japan and Asian Tour event.The par 4 440-yard 9th is a straight hole. A huge bunker starching out into the half of the fairway form the left will come into play off the tee. If players lay up in front of the bunker, the approach shot will become very long. Moreover, the relatively fairway is flanked by thick pine trees, so the tee shot is demanding. Finally, players will face a strongly undulated green. The par 3 217-yard 12th is a beautiful and downhill hole set nicely in the middle of a forest. With a three-tiered green, players should also note that when the pin position is located left, a bunker on the left side will come into play. When the pin position is on the right, a bunker to the front right and a lake to the right will come into play. To read more about The East Course at Rokko Kokusai, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/japan/Rokkou-Kokusai/Rokko-Kokusai-East-(En).htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

Golden Valley GC is a hilly course with a series of formidable holes located in a valley canyon. The course is routed though pines and some mountain maple and cherry trees. A highlight of this course is that it has one of Japan's highest course ratings, 77.4. There are three major creeks flowing from the mountains and they are skillfully incorporated into the layout of the course. Numerous holes play alongside these rock-lined creeks. The creek’s stream eventually leads to a large lake bordering hole 18 located in front of the clubhouse. The course is very demanding, as the greens are surrounded by creeks, lakes, and bunkers, making it a challenge to hit a good score. While the routing and the course’s layout are superb, it is regrettable to say all creeks run along the left sides. The left to right players have a big advantage as they can play it safe towards the right side. Not vice versa. The draw hitters always face the same problem because all creeks along the narrow fairways are in play. Most greens are highly undulating, and very fast. Throughout much of the round, players will enjoy mountain and lake views.<img src="/images/Golden-Valley-Golf-Club-Japan.jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto;" alt="Golden Valley Golf Club Japan" title="Golden Valley Golf Club Japan">Since 2011, the green’s Stimpmeter speed has been increased to more than 10 feet, toughening the course since the time of opening in 1987, leading to a reassessment of the course's rating from 75.5 to 77. 4. Since Augusta National GC is 7,768 yards with a rating of "78.1", this will give a good understanding of how difficult Golden Valley’s 7,233 yards actually is (400 yards shorter than Augusta, with a rating of 77.4). RTJII designed 15 courses in Japan and Golden Valley seems to be one of the top three courses among them. The par 3 175-yard 17th has a peninsula-shaped beautiful green that projects into a lake. While distance isn’t so much of a problem, the lake on the left can offer a considerable pressure to players. The par 5 559-yard 18th is a signature hole which is a dogleg to the right with a large lake on the right. The tee shot is downhill over the lake, and a fairway bunker on the left and the lake on the right come into play. The second shot will force players to cross a lake, and since the water encroaches into the fairway, the landing area will become limited. There are bunkers that protect both the front, right, and back sides of the green. Since the right side of the green tilts toward water, it would be safer to aim towards the left half of the green. To read more about Golden Valley GC, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/japan/Golden-Valley/Golden-Valley-(En).htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

The Laguna Lang Co. is located in a setting sandwiched between the ocean and mountains. The golf course weaves nicely though wildernesses such as trees, natural streams and rice paddies and mountains. The land is relatively flat but the fairways are undulating and players will hit shots from various stances. A few of the holes are flanked by rice paddy fields that were brought back into existence during the construction. This feature not only influences the play from a visual and strategic perspective but tremendous amounts of rice are produced two harvests a year. The course offers a number of unique and interesting challenges that include holes that pass through natural rice fields, hit into edges of mountains, have bushes & trees nearby, and are surrounded by sandy wastelands. There are many strategically placed fairway ans greenside bunkers as well as huge sandy waste areas throughout the course. The greens are contoured quite a lot never feeling flat due to mounds, ridges and swales, making the putts difficult unless putting from the same level. The par 3s are excellent due to a variety of distances to test all aspects of a player’s game. This course is designed to put a premium on shot-making and course management rather than power golfing.The par 4 471-yard 4th is a strong dogleg to the left with the tee shot being over rice fields. It is important to cut the dogleg to shorten the approach on this long par 4. The green is elevated and shallow with its front side guarded by a long and wide bunker. The green’s left side is also surrounded by a rice paddy and its back protected by undergrowth. This is a hole that requires both distance and a high ball on the approach. Since the middle of the green has the swale, this will become a challenge to putt if the ball is located too far from the pin.The 167-yard 11th is an interesting downhill par 3 with a large stone, collapsed from the left mountain, acting as a noticeable hazard to the hole. The green is guarded by another rock to the right and a bush to the left. If the pin position is in the front, players will notice that the play will become easier due to the shorter distance, but the rock bordering the green is very close to the front pin position, thus the landing area will become much narrower. A long green has a large mound in the center, making putting a challenge if the ball is far from the pin. To read more about the Laguna Lang Co, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Vietnam/Laguna-Lang-Co/Laguna-Lang-Co-(En).htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

BRG Danang Golf Resort now boasts 27 holes, the Norman-designed Dunes course and the 9-hole Nicklaus-designed Bulkhead course, which opened in 2018 where the wooden bulkheads lines various trees, fairways and greens. The Dunes is a links style course with wide and firm fairways, allowing players to gain the extra driving distances. While there are barely any ponds, bunkers, rough of fescue grasses & wild seaside vegetation, sandy waste areas, swales and hollows are strategically placed. The greens are fast and undulating. Some of the holes incorporate dunes resembling the courses in Scotland, Ireland or Melbourne Sandbelt, the area of the designer's birth. The routing is fantastic and the flow of the 18 holes is excellent. Although the course has a limited sea view (only hole 16), I personally think the flow of all 18 holes is slightly better than The Bluffs Ho Tram and Cam Rahn (Links) by the same designer, although the other two use more dynamic terrain. The course is also routed to showcase a couple of war relics, reminders of the Vietnam War. The par 5 575-yard 6th is a relatively straight par four. There is a dune ridge appearing on the left side at around the 265 yards mark from the tee ground. The further players hit, the narrower the landing area becomes. With a slightly uphill second shot, players should notice the bunkers guarding the green in front and to its left. The green is two-tiered, and slopes from front to back. If the pin is located on the back tier, players must pay attention to the correct distance to avoid hitting over the green. A straight and a very short par 4 319-yard 4th has a cross bunker, nicely placed in the center of the relatively tight fairway, which is located between 245 to 265 yards. Big hitters will drive the ball over the bunker onto the green, due to the help as there's a gentle downward slope beyond the bunker. However, another very long bunker lies from the 275-yard mark off the tee to the front right side of the slightly elevated green. This is a typical a risk/reward hole.The par 3 148-yard 16th is a stunning signature hole, which plays slightly uphill to a green back-dropped by the East Sea. While this hole is quite short and easy, although playing into the wind, this par three is beautifully picturesque. The contrast between the blue ocean and the green offers a dazzling and colorful image. The green contour is nice as well. To read more about the Dunes at BRG Danang, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Vietnam/Danag/Danang-(En).htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

Montgomerie Links is, as the name suggests, a links-like course consisting of many features such as wide and hard fairways. The greens are generally large and undulating, and the bunkers are deep and challenging, and look appealing as their white color offers an interesting contrast to the green of the fairways and putting surfaces. The sandy-soil, wind-blown dunes and indigenous vegetation such as the pines and casuarinas combine in creating a nice landscape. Many water hazards and deep bunkers are strategically placed throughout the course, so accuracy is important on this course. My favorites are short par 4 4th, a pretty par 3 5th, a short par 5 5th, a very long par 4 9th, nice par 3 11th, a mid-length par 5 12th that has 18 FW bunkers, long par 4 13th, long par 3 14th and a short par 4 14th. The par 4 321-yard 4th is a very short par four with a dogleg bending to the right. With a downhill tee shot, long hitters will be able to carry the ball very close to the green. At around 235 yards from the tee ground, there is a pond that appears on the right side. Accuracy is more important over distance off the tee. The further the ball flies, the narrower the fairway guarded by bunkers becomes. Players can use a driver or lay-up with a utility or iron. The green is guarded with a lake to its right. A birdie is possible as long as players can hit a successful and accurate tee shot. This is a nice risk/reward hole. The par 13 455-13th is a straight, difficult, and long par four. The second shot will require a very demanding uphill shot. The dense trees come into play on the left side of the green, sloping steeply from left to right. When the pin is positioned to the left side, it will make the approach shot more difficult. The right side of the green is guarded by a sloping dune with a small pond strategically located just under the dune waiting for any errant shots.

Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club consists of a 27-hole golf course that is located in a relatively cool and flat hilly area, located at around 1,300 ft. (400 meters) above sea level. I will be reviewing their best 18-hole course combination of Mt. Makulot & Mt. Lobo Course. <img src="/images/mount-malarayat-golf-course-review-MOUM003.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Mount Malarayat Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Mount Malarayat Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> While each hole is relatively flat, the course offers a much more formidable challenge than it looks. Players will often encounter lakes and bunkers around the greens, not to mention the heavily undulated greens. Mount Malarayat is a walkable course with stunning mountain views, and is very fun to play.

The par 5 526-yard 7th is a dogleg to the right with the green sweeping further away to the right. Off the tee, a long fairway bunker that runs along the right corner of the fairway will come into play when players try to take a short cut. Carrying it is the only chance to hit the green in two. The green is shallow and double-tired with the lower left, which is sloping down toward a lake. The peninsula green is guarded by <img src="/images/mount-malarayat-golf-course-review-MOUM004.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Mount Malarayat Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Mount Malarayat Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> five deep bunkers, and is surrounded by the lake in the front and on the right, long hitters will be forced to decide whether to aim for the green on the second shot or lay-up safely. This hole has been selected as one of the best 500 holes in the world in 2000 by US GOLF Magazine.

Another interesting hole is the par 4 424-yard 9th, a dogleg to the left with a double fairway. While the fairway to the left offers itself as a shortcut, it is significantly narrower and faces a lake. Regardless of either route, the second shot will require the ball to cross over the lake, and if the pin position is in the left back section, the ball also needs to carry the waterfall that will make this hole more demanding. To read more about the course at Mount Malarayat G&CC, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Philippines/Mount-Malarayat/Mount-Malarayat-E.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

Sherwood Hills Golf Club is a strategic course that utilizes valleys, bunkers, and ponds, all on nearly flat terrain. Each hole is quite characteristic, so it is very fun to play. Because it is links-style with very little tall trees, wind passes easily though the course, making it <img src="/images/sherwood-hills-golf-course-review-SHEW001.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Sherwood Hills Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Sherwood Hills Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> very challenging, if players take into account the influence of the wind, the distance of over 7,200 yards, and a lot of well-placed bunkers. The fairways are wide throughout the course. However, the wider the fairways are laid out, the wider the hazards and bunkers are laid just beside it. Sherwood Hills’ greens are generally small and surrounded by the good use of sand.

The par 4 462-yard 9th is a signature hole that is an almost straight hole with both the tee and second shots requiring an over-the-lake crossing. The tee shot needs distance on this long par 4. The second shot is demanding with a greater challenge due to the diagonally penetrating pond in front of the green. The par 5 566-yard 5th is a double dogleg that first slightly <img src="/images/sherwood-hills-golf-course-review-SHEW002.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Sherwood Hills Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Sherwood Hills Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> bends to the right and then bends to the left. Off the tee, players will need a carry of 250 yards if they want to overcome the bunker on the right side of the fairway inclining to the left. A valley running along the left side of fairway and the green will come into play on the second and third shots. Players should avoid the deep bunkers to the left side of the green sloping from back to front. The par 3 192-yard 16th is another signature hole over a valley. The undulating green is guarded by two bunkers in a row in its front.

To read more about Sherwood Hills GC, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Philippines/Sherwood-Hills/Sherwood-Hills-E.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

The Alpine Golf Club course is located at a rare altitude on the outskirts of Bangkok. What was once a relatively flat paddy field, transformed into an exceptionally wonderful golf course. The course is often known for its strong rough turfs from where it is hard to hit the right distance. Players whose tee shots are not stable will often face trouble when landing outside of the fairway flanked by woods. The course consists of a series of strategic holes on slightly undulating terrain, and each hole is independent. The lakes, bunkers, and trees at every hole are all skillfully arranged. The greens are also well maintained and fast, with most of them being two tiered. The approach shot should be <img src="/images/alpine-golf-club-review-ALPI001.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Alpine Golf Club - Photo by reviewer" title="Alpine Golf Club - Photo by reviewer"> accurate to avoid a three-putt hitting from the different tier, or across a ridge or mound.
The Alpine hosted the 2004 Johnnie Walker Classic and Tiger Woods, the World Number 1 at that time, did not make the cut. The course could turn nasty even for the first-class pros when they lose accuracy.
I liked the par 3 238-yard 3rd. Not only do players have to be wary of the long distance, but they must also keep an eye out for the lake that stretches all the way to the green. Furthermore, the green sloping strongly from back to front is shallow, 45 yards wide, and is guarded by several bunkers to its left and right.
The par 4 412-yard 11th is a dogleg to the right. Players should be aware that a lake to its right and a forest to its left flank a relatively large fairway. Furthermore, the pond surrounds all three sides of the green, and a bunker on the right side awaits for too safe an approach shot intending to avoid the water. This is a hole in which an accurate approach shot will be required.
To read more about Alpine GC, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/thai/Alpine/Latest/Alpine.E.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

The Blackstone Course at Mission Hills Hainan is a championship layout designed on the spectacular black lava strata on Hainan Island. The distance is long, over 7,800 yards, the landing areas are tight, and the natural and ancient lava rocks, bunkers, and ponds are all strategically placed. This makes for a deadly and tough course combination.

It is clear that the architect took full advantage of the lava rocks and incorporated them into a prominent part of the design. The lava bed is used in forced carries creating dramatic <img src="/images/mission-hills-blackstone-golf-course-review-MISL011.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Mission Hills (Blackstone) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Mission Hills (Blackstone) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> contrast and the lava rock walls and village ruins created years ago remain as a testament to the site’s past.

The Blackstone course begins in a more heavily wooded portion of ground with a wide variety of hole lengths and green settings. The large and undulating greens are incredibly tricky to read. Amongst the 10 courses on Hainan Island Mission Hills and the 12 courses in Shenzhen Mission Hills, this is the signature course among them. If played from the 6,722-yard Blue Tee, players can expect anywhere from an additional 4 to 10 strokes increase in comparison to the other Mission Hills courses of similar distances. The Blackstone course held the 2011 World Cup and the 2015 World Ladies Championship, a part of European LPGA.

The par 3 172-yard 5th demands a carry over the lava rocks onto the two-tiered green surrounded by lava. The two-tiered green has a strong incline and it is difficult to putt from the other tier. When players lose a ball by hitting short, they will at least have a chance to see it clearly, white against black. The par 5 599-yard 6th is a signature hole with a double dogleg turning to the left before bending to the right. The landing area off the tee is narrow as it is sandwiched between a <img src="/images/mission-hills-blackstone-golf-course-review-MISL012.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Mission Hills (Blackstone) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Mission Hills (Blackstone) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> long bunker on the left and the OB line on the right. On the second shot, players should take note of a series of bunkers located on the right side. The green is strongly elevated, slopes sharply from back to front, and is protected by bunkers on both sides. Furthermore, it is a two-tiered green, left and right.

The par 4 453-yard 17th is an almost straight yet difficult hole with a pond coming into play on the left side for both the tee and the second shots. Bunkers guard the left and right sides of the green where a ridge crosses though the middle of the green. The par 5 539-yard 18th is a superb finishing hole with a dogleg to the right. Fairway bunkers on the left and the lava on the right comes into play off the tee. A carry of 190 yards is required in order to hit over the wetland and lava. The second shot is over the pond onto the fairway tilting from left to right, and gravitating towards the bunker and pond. The same pond also guards the right side of the green sloping to the right.

To read more about the Blackstone Course at Mission Hills Hainan, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/china/Mission-HIlls-Hainan/Blackstone(1)/Blackstone-E.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

The course at the Nanjing Zhongshan International Golf Club is a hilly course, developed at the foot of the mountain, Zhongshan. The club has three 9-hole courses; the Mountain, Lake, and Valley which was added in 2010. I highly recommend playing the 18-hole Mountain and Lake course combination. The Mountain course has both large elevation change and long distance, requiring strong power play. <img src="/images/nanjing-zhongshan-golf-course-review-NANJ002.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Nanjing Zhongshan Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Nanjing Zhongshan Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> The Lake course has ponds coming into play and there are many cleverly placed bunkers, urging players to focus on accuracy. The green and fairway maintenance is nice. The panoramic view of Zhongshan can be enjoyed as a wonderful addition to the overall experience.

The par 5 545-yard 2nd is a signature hole, the par 3 200-yard 17th in which the fairway is divided into two by a creek. Off the tee, players will notice that approaching the fairway on the right can shorten the overall distance of the hole. However, with the creek on the left and a forest on the right, players must also bear in mind the narrow fairway. Most choose the left wide fairway, and then the hole will become a double dogleg, first turning to the right before bending again to the left. <img src="/images/nanjing-zhingshan-review-NANJ003x.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Nanjing Zhongshan Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Nanjing Zhongshan Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> With an over-the-creek second shot, players should pay particular attention to the left pond which is semi-blind. The par 3 200-yard 17th is aesthetically beautiful as well as tough because seven bunkers surround the island green, which slopes down gently from the green center to the back.

The par 4 460-yard 9th and the par 4 435-yard 18th are quite strong holes. Players can see the magnificent clubhouse behind both greens. To read more about Nanjing Zhonshan International GC, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/china/Nanjing-Zhongshan-International/Nanjing-Zhongshan-E.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

Dongzhuang Beach Golf Club has 36 holes built on former tidal flats and marshes on the coastline near Pudong Airport. There's the Linksland and the scenic Parkland course, both designed by JMP group. This Linksland course is a classic Links style seaside course with artificially created dunes, long roughs to knee height and pot bunkers. <img src="/images/dongzhuang-beach-golf-course-review-DONG002.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Dongzhuang Beach (Linksland) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Dongzhuang Beach (Linksland) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> The course is quite long at 7,500 yards. Some ponds come into play and many bunkers are strategically placed. When the sea winds are strong, the course becomes really tough.

The clubhouse is temporary. The course now starts with the strong 447-yard par 4 and finishes with an ordinary 219-yard par 3. Don’t be fooled by the routing. With the new clubhouse planned to be built several years from now, the current par 5 570-yard 17th will become the opening hole, and the current par 5 557-yard par 5 will become the great finishing hole. Thus, each hole will move by two holes to end up with much nicer flow of 18 holes.

The 447-yard par 4 is a demanding slight <img src="/images/dongzhuang-beach-golf-course-review-DONG003.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Dongzhuang Beach (Linksland) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Dongzhuang Beach (Linksland) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> dogleg to the left. The fairway off the tee is narrow with a pond on the left and a fairway bunker on the right. The approach shot is gently uphill. The green is deep and double-tiered and is guarded by a deep bunker on its back right. The par 5 557-yard 16th is dogleg to the left. The fairway is relatively tight with a pond and a narrow bunker on the left and deep rough on both tee and second shots. The green is highly elevated with a deep bunker on the front left and the pond to the left of the green. When you hit the green in two, you should aim toward the right edge of the green to avoid the hazard.

Hoakalei is truly a championship course measuring over 7,400 yards with a lot of bunkers and water hazards. Players need not only distance but also accuracy. The greens are fast and undulating. The current clubhouse is temporary and the new one will be under construction starting this year. Currently, the 1st hole is strong par 5 and the 18th <img src="/images/hoakalei-golf-course-review-HOAK001.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Hoakalei Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Hoakalei Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> is long but ordinary par 3. With the clubhouse changing locations, the sequence of holes will alter to have strong finishing hole.
The par 4 383-yard 8th has split fairways. On the second shot, players hit over a creek onto the highly elevated shallow green protected by bunkers left & right. The signature hole is the par 3 195-yard 13th with an island green – the green is surrounded by water as well as 9 bunkers.
There are plans to build a few 5-star hotels around the course within 4 or 5 years and there is also a rumor that PGA Tour Sentry Tournament of Champions will be held here in the future replacing Kapalua Plantation.

The Turtle Bay resort is situated in North Shore that is a famous Mecca for surfers. The resort has two courses, Palmer for advanced players and Fazio for intermediates. Water comes into play on 13 out of 18 holes that makes the course demanding. The bunkering is nice <img src="/images/turtle-bay-palmer-golf-course-review-TURT001.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Turtle Bay (Palmer) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> but the landing areas are limited on a lot of holes. The courses measures 7,218 yards, which is long enough to satisfy even pros. The front 9 holes have a Scottish links flavor while the back 9 has many trees and a tropical atmosphere.
The signature hole is par 4 452-yard 17th, a gentle uphill dogleg to the right. You see as many as 10 bunkers as if they were covering up the hole. The beautiful Pacific Ocean spreads out behind the green. The closing 3 holes, with par 4 450-yard 16th and par 5 577-yard 18th are strong and among others are fun challenges.

Waialae Country Club is a flat seaside course. On the day a strong sea winds blows, the course is quite challenging. When it is calm, good players can score well. For example at Sony Open in Hawaii, Jimmy Walker hit -23 in 2015 and Justin Thomas -27 in 2017 for this 7,060-yard par-70 course. Tom Doak’s team was called in two years ago to <img src="/images/waialaw-golf-course-review-WAIA001.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Waialae Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Waialae Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> restore much of Raynor’s original design. I played a week after Doak’s team completed the renovation.
The par-3 194-yard 2nd is beautiful. You hit toward the ocean onto the elevated protected by two bunkers one the left and in the front (see the picture). The pa-3 186-yard 8th is “Redan” that could be a signature hole. The par-3 167-yard 16th is “short” with bunkers surrounding the front and sides. The members and guests are forced to finish the round within 4 hours, which is a good approach. Tom Doak has not made the course much harder. Still players can have reasonable test of golf. The course condition is excellent. The club facility across the road from the course is superb, too. Waialae CC is a great course which the lucky members can enjoy every week.

South Cape is a scenic seaside course situated along a dramatic cliff. Although the total length of this course is quite short, the combination of the difference in topography and numerous obstacles such as the steep cliffs makes this course quite a challenge for any <img src="/images/south-cape-owners-club-golf-course-review-SOUC007.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="South Cape Owners Club Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="South Cape Owners Club Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> player.

A special mention should be given to the two par threes on the 14th and 16th holes that are signature holes of the course. In addition, the two par fives on the 5th and 18th holes as these holes strategically adopted a risk/reward approach. The cobalt blue sea, especially on a sunny day, are so beautiful that players can feel as if they’re playing in utopia.

The par 3 136-yard 14th is a short, downhill, great hole (see the picture). The green is deep, and is surrounded by cliffs and the sea. Another par 3 204-yard 16th is superb and players will enjoy the view of a <img src="/images/south-cape-owners-club-golf-course-review-SOUC006.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="South Cape Owners Club Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="South Cape Owners Club Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> natural island green that is surrounded by cliffs. The green slopes to left and protected by four bunkers.

The par 5 533-yard 5th is downhill with a double dogleg that first bends to the right before turning left (see the picture). On the second shot, players are forced to choose whether to hit directly the green or layup safely. Hitting the green is quite a challenge as players must negotiate with a cliff and the sea in front of the green. When players decide to lay up, the third shot is uphill. The green, sloping from back to front, is surrounded by four bunkers, with big rocks scattered on both the left and right.

To read more about the South Cape Owners Club, <a href="http://kimigolf.com/Korea/South-Cape/E-South-Cape.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

Ilkley Golf Club is a beautiful parkland course with moderate slopes. I played in the summer of 2017. The distance is a little less than 6,300 yards which is short for today’s standards. The course is par 69 including five par 3s and one par 5. Still it is challenging thanks to relatively <img src="/images/ilkley-golf-course-review-ILKL013.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Ilkley Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Ilkley Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> tight tree-lined fairways and many strategically placed bunkers. In addition, the river is well utilized on Hole 1-7, 17 & 18. The surrounding views of Yorkshire’s hilly terrain are nice, too.
The 3rd 204-yard par 3 is nestled in a nice location as the river flanks the green. It is a pity that the river is hardly seen due to the thick trees on both sides. I felt that thoughtful removal of the trees is needed to make the river visible off the tee. The 4th 504-yard par 5 is a slight dogleg to the right with the river along the entire left side. Accuracy is needed on both the tee and second shots as the river comes into play on the left and trees on the right. The green is guarded by two bunkers, and slopes slightly from left to right. The club plans to move the green more toward the left river <img src="/images/ilkley-golf-course-review-ILKL014.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Ilkley Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Ilkley Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> within a couple of years, which I completely agree with. Again, I hope that the trees between the river and green should be removed, and that the green should be moved toward the river as close as possible. Then the hole will become a true risk/reward hole. I would like to come back to play this hole after the nice renovation a few years later. Nevertheless, it is a great hole.
The 18th 418-yard par 4 is a slight dogleg to the left. The tee shot is over a river with two fairway bunkers on the left and trees on the right. The green is vertically narrow with two bunkers on the left and a bunker on the right.
When you are in Yorkshire, I think that Ilkley is a must-play course together with Alwoodley GC and Ganton GC.

Los Inkas Golf Club is a parkland course with tight fairways. There are many strategic holes such as the demanding #4 and the over the pond #13 par 3s, the dogleg to the right #5 and the dogleg to the right long #15 par 4s, and par 5s the slight dogleg to the left narrow #3, <img src="/images/los-inkas-golf-coures-review-LOSI001.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Los Inkas Golf course - Photo by reviewer" title="Los Inkas Golf course - Photo by reviewer"> the sharp dogleg to the left short #8, & the slight dogleg to the left, long #16.
Two ancient ruins from the Inka period remain intact on the course. Eugenio Dunezat from Argentina designed the course. He was a pro in Peru and played 1958, 60 & 61 Canada Cup on behalf of Peru. Peru currently has 12 golf courses and 9 are in or around Lima. It is said that Los Inkas is the best course in Peru, which has hosted the Peru Open for the last 20 years in succession.
The dogleg to the left 3rd 517-yard par 5 is a good risk/reward hole. It is a relatively short par 5 and reachable in two shots. The tee shot needs to be accurate as the trees line the narrow fairway. The double-tiered green is guarded by bunkers on both sides and the left side of the upper tier borders a pond. Players need to make a decision to go for the green or lay up safely on the second shot.
Los Inkas Golf Club is a private club with great facilities and exclusive. I emailed the club to request for the game in English but the club didn’t reply. So I went directly to the golf club without a tee-time, and negotiated with a member of staff at the gate. He contacted the head pro who eventually allowed me to go inside the premises. When we communicated, the head pro didn’t speak English and I didn’t understand Spanish. However, we agreed – thanks to the translation by my smart phone – that I could <img src="/images/los-inkas-golf-course-review-LOSI002.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Lost City of the Inkas - Photo by reviewer" title="Lost City of the Inkas - Photo by reviewer"> play for a $100 green fee, $20 for rental clubs, and $30 for the caddie fee. It was a unique experience.
If you do come to Peru, I recommend you to visit the city of Cusco first, which was formerly the capital of the extensive Inca Empire, and is typically preserved in the foundations and lower stories of Spanish colonial structures. And then you take a train from Cusuco to Machu Picchu, “The Lost City of the Inkas”. It’s one of the most famous and spectacular historical sites in the world. This was my first time visit to South America, although I have played 1,200 golf courses around the world. The above two places are incredibly impressive despite my extensive travels.

Ta Shee Golf & Country Club is a hilly and forested course that’s located in naturally beautiful terrain surrounded by mountains. With a total of 27 holes, the course consists of three loops: East, Center, and West Course. The West is the shortest nine and relatively flat, and the East and Center usually becomes the main 18-hole course that represents the club. <img src="/images/ta-shee-kingfisher-and-egret-golf-course-review-TASH001.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Ta See (Kingfisher & Egret) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Ta See (Kingfisher & Egret) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> The ponds and the various deep bunkers are strategically placed, making the course challenging. Overall, this course is not only very well maintained, but is also enjoyable to play. It is regrettable that the greens are usually slow although the greens condition is not bad.
The par 5 601-yard 5th is a signature hole in which an OB line runs along the right side. The landing area, after driving over a pond, is protected by bunkers left and right. The green is blind on the approach due to the uphill slope.
The par 3 182-yard 16th plays over a lake and it’s astonishingly beautiful. Players should watch out for the three green-side bunkers skillfully placed. To read more about Ta Shee Golf & Country Club, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Taiwan/Ta-Shee/Ta-Shee-E.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

The course at Taiwan Golf & Country Club is laid out in undulating woodland. The century-old dense forest is positioned on both sides of the fairways. This oldest course in Taiwan is popular as its nickname, <img src="/images/taiwan-golf-and-country-club-review-TAIW001.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Taiwan Golf & Country Club - Photo by reviewer" title="Taiwan Golf & Country Club - Photo by reviewer">
	Old Tamusoi Course as the golf club is located at Tamusoi.
Established in 1914 with only 3 holes, it finally developed into 18 holes in 1929. It wasn’t until a Japanese course architect, Shiro Akaboshi redesigned and overhauled in 1936 that it became a full-fledged championship course. Accurate iron shots are necessary throughout the course as the greens are generally small and severely guarded by bunkers. Taking the strong sea winds into consideration, sweeping from the Taiwan Strait and the river mouth, solid course management is also required for a good score. All four par 5s are well designed.
The par 5 580-yard 6th is straight, downhill, and a signature hole. <img src="/images/taiwan-golf-and-country-club-review-TAIW002.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Taiwan Golf & Country Club - Photo by reviewer" title="Taiwan Golf & Country Club - Photo by reviewer"> Players will have to be careful when approaching the green at this hole as play is severely affected by sea winds as Tamusoi River estuary is just located behind the green. The players will hit the approach shot from the downhill lie onto the green heavily guarded by bunkers.
Another par 5 554-yard 5th is a slightly right dogleg with an OB line on the entire left side. The landing area for the tee shot and the approach shot are small due to the tight fairway flanked by trees and three narrow bunkers surround the flat green. To read more about <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Taiwan/Taiwan/Taiwan-E.htm" target="_blank">Taiwan Golf & Country Club</a>, click here to visit my website.

The Empire Hotel & Country Club is located along the coast and has moderate ups and downs. The course makes fantastic use of the natural terrain through the use of its tropical rainforest. Although the front 9 is not so difficult, the routing is very nice as each hole has been designed in a way that makes the course flow smoothly. The back 9 is a fascinating experience with an interesting and rich layout. Every hole on <img src="/images/empire-golf-course-review-EMPI005.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Empire Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Empire Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> the back 9 has character.
Since there are only a limited number of blind holes, players will be able to properly plan their play. The course is quite long as it exceeds over 7,000 yards with a total of par 71. It can also offer a unique level of difficulty since hazards, such as bunkers and ponds, are all skillfully placed throughout the course. Occasionally strong sea winds provide players with extra challenge. Players will also be able to enjoy the panoramic view of the emerald green South China Sea on some holes.
The par 5 549-yard 15th is a signature hole and a relatively straight and long par five that runs parallel to the coastline. The tee shot will require players to negotiate the notorious Sandy Waste, a gigantic bunker that looks like a pond or a wasteland. In addition, players will face a narrow landing area from the tee and second shot, as the left side of the hole is engulfed by a wasteland and the right side with a forest. <img src="/images/empire-golf-course-review-EMPI006.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Empire Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Empire Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> In order to score well, players will need to seriously consider the wind’s impact. The green is elevated and guarded by a deep bunker to its front. Since the green is shallow and not deep, players should do their best to spin the ball well on the approach in order to prevent the ball from rolling beyond the green.
The finishing hole is a straight and 476-yard long par four. The hole runs parallel to the coastline with its left side falling off towards the cliffs. Both accuracy and distance are needed to hit the green in regulation. The green is shared with the 9th and the combined green is very long. There are several bunkers that surround the green, offering players a final challenge. To read more about the course at The Empire Hotel & Country Club, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Brunei/Empire/Empire-E.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

The course at the Anvaya Cove Golf & Sports Club runs directly beside the West Philippine Sea, on bluffs looking straight down on the beach, and along ridges with long views across Subic Bay. The front 9 is a heavily sloping course that runs alongside a mountaintop ridge. On the other hand its back 9 is a relatively flat course that runs by the nearby seaside. <img src="/images/anvaya-cove-golf-course-review-ANVA006.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Anvaya Cove Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Anvaya Cove Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> The front 9 loops around while the back 9 loops inside and alongside the coastline. The spectacular view of the Subic Bay and the surrounding mountain landscape is nothing less than astonishing. Every hole is a challenge in itself as the course is filled with strategically placed bunkers, water hazards, cliffs, and forests. In addition, the well maintained greens and fairways make this course quite an enjoyable one to play too.
The par 5 598-yard 9th is a straight par five that consists of a downhill tee shot. The landing area of the fairway is narrow due to the bushes that engulf both the left and right side of the hole. Players will have to cross a creek and avoid the pond that extends to the left on their second shot. The pond itself surrounds the entire left side and parts of the front side of the green. Furthermore, there are several deep bunkers that are arranged to <img src="/images/anvaya-cove-golf-course-review-ANVA007.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Anvaya Cove Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Anvaya Cove Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> the green’s right side that may also serve as an obstacle. The par 4 332-yard 11th is a reachable four with a slight left dogleg bend. Players will be able to enjoy the superb view of the sea in the far distance. It is also important that players avoid the fairly large fairway bunker that is placed at around 250 yards from the teeing ground. Long hitters can potentially hit the green in one thanks to the short distance and the downhill fairway. There are bunkers that guard the left and right sides of the green.
The 16th 203-yard is a downhill par three that faces directly towards the sea. Several bunkers guard both the left and right side of the green. In addition, there is a sizable bush that is placed on the green’s left side. To read more about Anvaya Cove, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Philippines/Anvaya-Cove/Anvaya-Cove-(EN).htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

The Weihai Point Hotel & Golf Resort consists of a seaside course that is located on a sheer cliff. The course has many ups & downs and players can enjoy the various dramatic holes that are located along the edge of the ocean. Originally named the Pan China Golf Club, the course was renovated and overhauled 2008 by professional designer David Dale. The first nine holes are located at the end of a very narrow strip that protrudes into and back from the Yellow Sea. The 10th to 13th hole makes use of the right seashore line that can be seen from the clubhouse. Finally, the 14th to 18th holes utilize the left seashore line of the course. Sixteen of the <img src="/images/weihai-point-golf-course-review-WEIH001.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Weihai Point Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Weihai Point Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> eighteen holes are laid out alongside the shoreline. Four of those have dramatic greens where the ocean comes into play on both sides. Finally, there are two holes that consist of over-the-ocean tee shots. The greens often undulated and surrounded by strategically placed bunkers.
Due to the topographical limitations, the course consists of many narrow holes. The prevailing sea winds also give the player an additional challenge. However, the overall distance is not long (a little less than 6,500 yards) in comparison to today’s standards. This compensates for the fact that it is a narrow and windy course. It is possible for players to score well, as long as their course management is solid. Nevertheless, players must think a lot during the round. For example, when a lay-up is needed, players must think about choosing a side which they believe is safer for a bail-out area. In my opinion, there are more memorable holes on the back nine.
<img src="/images/weihai-point-golf-course-review-WEIH002.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Weihai Point Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Weihai Point Golf Course - Photo by reviewer">The par 4 370-yard 3rd is a drivable par four that consists of a slight dogleg to the right. Since the hole consists of a relatively strong downhill slope, players can drive down the narrow fairway landing close to the green. However, this is a risk/reward hole. The further a player hits, the narrower their landing area is. Players need to make a decision whether to lay-up before the green or not. The fact that both sides of the green, sloping from back to front, are guarded by the ocean makes this hole quite unique. The par 4 420-yard 12th is a signature hole that bends to the right. The tee shot must carry a ravine and over the ocean. This will require a carry of 180-230 yards. There are several trees that line up along the other side of the cliff, therefore, a high trajectory flight off the tee is required to clear them. The second shot is uphill and semi-blind to the green that is guarded by three bunkers on the left, a bunker at the back left, and the ocean on the right. Achieving a par here would be considered a good score.
<img src="/images/weihai-point-golf-course-review-WEIH003.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Weihai Point Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Weihai Point Golf Course - Photo by reviewer">The par 5 530-yard 16h is another signature hole. It is a dynamic hole that bends twice to the right. The tee shot is a downhill over the ocean that requires the ball to land onto the narrow fairway that is guarded by the same ocean on the left. If a player’s drive is over 230 yards, their ball will roll down the sharp down slope. From there, they will find their ball at about 50 feet below from the upper fairway and will enjoy the additional 100 yards or so. It is possible to reach the green in two shots. However the longer players hit off the tee, the narrower the landing area will be on this hole. Therefore, players will have to make a decision whether to use a driver for a two-shot or to lay-up safely. The approach shot can be quite demanding since the green is highly elevated as there are three deep bunkers in its front, four bunkers in its rear and right, and the ocean on its left. The putting can also be difficult as the green has several undulations.
Overall, the 6450-yard short distance shouldn’t be dismissed, as Weihai Point is a very challenging course. This course will impose a stern test on a player’s physical, as well as mental skills. Even if a player’s score is bad or they lose a lot of balls, the overall experience will be quite forgiving as the superb panoramic ocean views from the cliff tops more than make up for a poor round. I truly believe that no other golf course has the same, or a similar experience. To read more about Weihai Point, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/china/Weihai-Point/(En).Weihai-Point.htm" target="_blank">Click here</a> to visit my website.

The Erin Hills Golf Course is a hybrid set on rolling hills with a flavour somewhere between links and farmland. There are no trees to separate holes in this very natural layout set on a rugged landscape, and the views throughout the entire course are breathtaking. The fairways and greens are <img src="/images/erin-hills-golf-course-review-ERIH001.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Erin Hills Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Erin Hills Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> firmly protected by fescue grasses and/or a series of bunkers. The greens are huge and highly undulating. When you are on some of elevated teeing grounds or greens, you can see 360-degree views of the surrounding course. Erin Hill is a large-scale, wild, and windswept course. Although the course appears quite orthodox, each hole is very long and quite challenging, and the course offers each player a stern test of golf. This course hosted the Nationwide Amateur Open in 2012, and was selected for the 2017 US Open.
The relatively short par 3 165-yard 9th is nice. The green, sloping from the <img src="/images/erin-hills-golf-course-review-ERIH002.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Erin Hills Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Erin Hills Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> center to the right, is deep, elevated, and surrounded by seven bunkers. The long par 4 504-yard 10th is a dogleg to the right. Although the tee shot is blind, the ball will probably land safely since the fairway is quite generous. Long hitters will get an extra bonus, as they will be able to hit long enough to catch the downhill fairway. The green is wide and is double-tired. Approaching becomes difficult when the pin position is on the right, two guard bunkers placed in the right front of the green will come into play.
The finishing 663-yard 18th is straight for the first 400 yards followed by a dogleg to the left for the last 200 yards. This is a very long and difficult hole. The fairway on the second shot slopes to the left, and the third shot is uphill. If players hit towards the left side of the green, they may find their ball rolling down to the bottom of a long slope. There are six bunkers that protect the green’s front side. To read more about Erin Hills, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/America/Wisconshin/Erin-Hills/Erin-Hills.(En).htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

The Golf Club at Nine Bridges is a hillside course that consists of strategically placed trees, valleys, ponds, creeks and bunkers. The course has a variety of doglegs, up and down hills, and a mix of short and long par three, fours, and fives. Moreover, the course’s well designed routing will allow players to enjoy their play with a good rhythm and flow. Players will also be impressed by the astonishing and picturesque views at places such as the 4th hole’s green, skyline at the 8th hole’s, and the view from the <img src="/images/nine-bridges-golf-course-review-NINE010.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Nine Bridges Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Nine Bridges Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> 10th, 13th, and 18th hole of the highest mountain of Korea, the 1950-meter tall Mt. Halla. The greens generally have moderate undulations, allowing for smooth putting. The bent grasses are not only used on the greens but also on the fairways, making the course aesthetically pleasing.
The 414-yard par four 4th is a demanding hole with a sharp dogleg to the left. An ideal location to aim towards is to the right side of the left corner large fairway bunker. The second shot will require the ball to be hit over thick brush in order to reach the green. The view during this second shot can be quite picturesque, especially during the autumn season. The long and narrow green is surrounded by three bunkers, a series of trees, and a creek that runs along the right side of the green. The par 5 551-yard 18th is a signature hole that consists of a dogleg that bends to the left. If long hitters hit over 280 yards off the tee, the ball will continue roll downhill. This will not only let players gain additional distance, but also will help them avoid the two fairway bunkers on the left, allowing long hitters to reach the green in two shots. Regular players will end up hitting a downhill second shot, and an island green shot on the third. The strong and complicated undulations of the green will make putting difficult on this final hole. To read more about the Nine Bridges, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Korea/Nine-Bridges/E-Nine-Bridges.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

Grand Phnom Penh Golf Club is a flat course with six large and small man-made lakes. The greens are undulating and the fairways are generous allowing for good scoring. The condition of both the fairways and the <img src="/images/grand-phnom-penh-golf-course-review-GRAO001.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Grand Phnom Penh Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Grand Phnom Penh Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> greens is good. The front 9 is routed in a clockwise direction while the back 9 runs counter clockwise.
The layout of the front 9 is rather monotonous but there are some impressive holes on the back 9 such as par 4s 399-yard 12th, 332-yard 14th, and 407-yard 15th. The 15th bends slightly to the left with water along the entire left side. The fairway is tight and the green is narrow, it’s a hole where accuracy is essential for both the tee and second shots. The greens and fairways conditioning is good. I think that Grand Phnom Penh Golf Club is suitable for beginners or high handicappers and not the best golfing test for advanced or seasoned players.

I finished playing all four courses in Phnom Penh a week ago. Garden City Golf Club is the best course in Phnom Penh. It is a beautiful parkland course on a flat terrain, featuring large, undulating greens and strategically placed bunkers and water hazards. There are a lot of good holes on the <img src="/images/garden-city-golf-course-review-GARE002.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Garden City - Phnom Penh Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Garden City - Phnom Penh Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> front 9 such as the 564-yard par 5 2nd, the demanding 439-yard par 4 6th, the unique 604-yard par 5 8th and the challenging 444-yard par 4 9th. All of these holes offer players risk/reward options. On the back 9, the dramatic green of 176-yard par 3 15th is surrounded on three sides by a lake.
The course conditioning from the use of Seashore Paspalum turf is superb, I felt as if I was walking on carpet. I have played around eight hundred great courses in Asia and the quality of Garden City’s fairways are perhaps within the top 5 in Asia. The greens conditioning is very good too, while thoughtful planting of shrubs and trees help to create an engaging golfing experience. The adjoining hotel is nice and comfortable with spacious rooms and great golf course views. The Thai course architect also designed reputable courses such as Suwan G&CC and Sea Pines GC in Thailand.

Long Vien Golf Club currently offers 27 holes on a flat terrain. The Long Thanh & Lao-Viet course (7,534 yards) opened in 2012. Another 9 holes, the Vientiane course (3,520 yards) was added in 2016. The each 9 holes of the original 18-hole layout resemble one another because of water coming <img src="/images/long-vien-vientiane-and-long-thanh-golf-course-review-LONV002.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Long Vien (Vientiane & Long Thanh) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Long Vien (Vientiane & Long Thanh) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> into play on many holes, the same long distance, and the similar layout with mature trees. On the other hand, the Vientiane course not only offers players water hazards but also dunes that help to enhance the interest of the course. Besides, the new 9 has the nicest layout among three 9-hole courses, although it is a little shorter than the other two. The Vientiane and Long Thanh course is the best 18-hole combination at Long Vien Golf Club at the moment.
The par 6 738-yard 4th is unique. It is over 700 yards curving to the left and further to the left. Parallel ponds flank the fairway for the tee and second shot and the landing area for the second shot is narrow. Players must make a decision on the third shot whether lay-up short of the pond crossing 150-200 yards in front of the green or hit heroically over the pond. The green slopes from back to front and is protected by bunkers on the front left and the back right. Big dunes run along the entire left side.

I played the highland resort course at Luang Prabang Golf Club yesterday. The course is located 700 meters (2,300 feet) above sea level, so it is cooler than the capital, Vientiane. The course is laid out across relatively <img src="/images/luang-prabang-golf-course-review-LUAN001.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Luang Prabang Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Luang Prabang Golf Course - Photo by reviewer">flat land in the mountain region. Players can enjoy an abundance of lush vegetation and panoramic mountain views.
The fairways are generous on most holes and the layout is not that difficult. Holes 14 to 17 run parallel the riverbank of the magnificent Mekong River and there are superb river views of the 16th green and the 17th hole.
Water is evident on nine of the eighteen holes but really only comes into play on holes 3, 5, 7, and 14. There are many interesting holes on the back 9. The Korean course designer, Tea Hwa, died several years ago and used to work in a shipping company. As an amateur designer he did a great job choosing the course routing, shaping the land, placing the well-positioned bunkers and water hazards, and making nice green complexes.<img src="/images/luang-prabang-golf-course-review-LUAN002.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Luang Prabang Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Luang Prabang Golf Course - Photo by reviewer">The Par 3 202-yard 17th is the signature hole playing right along Mekong River’s edge. The tee shot is slightly downhill over a tributary of the river onto the gently sloped two-tiered green that is protected by a bunker and the river on the right. You will enjoy not only the powerful Mekong River but also a steep mountain slope beyond the green on this charming hole.
Luang Prabang is a World Heritage town. The quiet Luan Pabang streets form the spiritual capital of Laos – scintillating architecture and fine dining are found in abundance. Luang Prabang Golf Club is a 15 to 20-minute drive from the town to the golf course.

Naruo Golf Club is one of the most historic courses in the whole of Japan that has 2,400 courses in total. It features small Kourai (Japanese lawn grass) greens. If they were changed to bent grasses, the course’s rating would be a little higher. Kourai grasses are much slower than bent grass surfaces. At Naruo, almost all holes are separated by big trees and utilize the natural, hilly rolling terrain, and each hole is unique. All four par threes are difficult and challenging. Although the course in not long, it is hard to card a good score because almost all the greens are small, elevated and fully guarded by deep bunkers. The course is not only narrow, flanked by trees, but also has a lot of uneven lies. Additionally, some holes might tempt you to make aggressive shots, which could put you in the designer’s traps, and accordingly hit high scores. However, no single hole is overly tricky and you can play fairly against the course designer.<img src="/images/naruo-golf-course-review-NARU013.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Naruo Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Naruo Golf Course - Photo by reviewer">The par four 476-yard 10th is downhill and long with an excellent view from the tee. The second shot is over a deep hollow which used to be a river many years ago. You had better carry over the wide bunker 50 – 60 yards from the center of the green, and then you can have an easier approach shot to the pin from a flat lie even if you don’t hit the green in regulation. If you are short of the flat area, even if only slightly, the next approach shot will be difficult because the ball will roll back down to the bottom of the steep slope or will be caught in a bunker where a long bunker shot is needed. This hole was selected as one of the best 500 holes in the world by GOLF Magazine in 2000 (the latest version to date).<img src="/images/naruo-golf-course-review-NARU014.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Naruo Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Naruo Golf Course - Photo by reviewer">The par three 189-yard 15th is a beautiful signature hole over a valley. The green slopes from back to front and is protected by bunkers on all four sides of the green. You can’t hit the green in regulation unless your shot is not only the right distance but also very accurate. If you hit left to right too much, the ball will roll down the valley on the right side of the fairway, which leads to the OB.

Oarai Golf Club is a seaside forest course facing the Pacific Ocean. The course is characterized by long fairways lined by age-old tall pine trees, some very difficult dog-leg holes and undulating big greens. Relentless wind from the ocean influences the game. All holes except the 16th par 3 are set parallel to the seashore. Years of sea winds blowing through each hole created artistic designs on the pine branches. As a result, the big pines hang over fairways severely on many holes and act as “hazards in the air”, limiting the fairways. Consequently, you are forced under <img src="/images/oarai-golf-course-review-OARA001.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Oarai Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Oarai Golf Course - Photo by reviewer">considerable visual pressure. Fairway bunkers are very few in spite of the Seiichi Inoue design. This is due to the fact that pines seemingly form more severe hazards than fairway bunkers. Also he did not have to make them because in fact the course was developed on the seashore and sea sands were chopped out everywhere through the greens. You need to not only hit very accurate tee shots to either half of the narrow fairways but also have full command of low balls, fades and draws in order to make a good score.
The par 4 450-yard 5th is a tough hole that bends slightly to the right. You will be very happy with a par on this hole. Big pines hang over the right side of the fairway. If you slice your tee shot (for right-hand hitters), even a little, you will find the ball in the trees and end up losing a stroke. Unless you drive to the left half of the fairway, you can’t aim at the green on the second shot. If you hit the green in regulation and the ball is far away from the pin, there is a high risk of a 3-putt because of the strong slope from back to the front.
Seiichi Inoue is the most famous Japanese golf course architect who designed 40 courses in Japan and 2 courses overseas. The Oarai GC is his best work. Seiichi was greatly inspired by Charles Alison, a designer of the world-famous Hirono and Kawana. (Fuji Course). Seiichi stayed at Kawana Hotel for his medical treatment at 22 years old, and Charles coincidentally just completed the Fuji Course. They didn’t meet but the greatness of Fuji Course made him aspire to be a course designer. While influenced by Charles Alison, Seiichi perused his own original course designs to complement the natural features of Japan.

Royal Gems Golf City offers players nine internationally well-known holes on the front 9 while the back 9 is a replica of Augusta National. The first nine replica holes are so well connected and combined that it almost feels as if it is a new and perfectly designed golf course. Some major differences between this replica course and Augusta National are the tree sizes, the <img src="/images/royal-gems-golf-city-golf-course-review-ROGE001.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Royal Gems Golf City - Photo by reviewer" title="Royal Gems Golf City - Photo by reviewer">green shapes and surfaces, and green speeds. Still, players can simulate the experience as if they were at August National.
The opening hole is a tough par four 423-yard with a relatively straight fairway. It is the replica of Oakmont Hole 3. There is a huge bunker that is placed on the left side of the fairway. The grasses are planted on top of several narrowly raised soil mounds in the bunker, which look like church pew benches from the teeing ground. The contrast of the white bunker sand and the green grass makes the fairway look narrower, giving players more pressure off the tee box. The tee shot is downhill while the second shot is uphill. The last hole is a tough 459-yard uphill par four with a dogleg that bends to the right. The tee shot will require the ball to fly through the narrow corridor of the tee boxes flanked by the trees, even though the <img src="/images/royal-gems-golf-city-golf-course-review-ROGE002.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Royal Gems Golf City - Photo by reviewer" title="Royal Gems Golf City - Photo by reviewer">trees are currently young and rather small. Players are encouraged to aim at the fairway bunker that is placed 290 yards off the tee. A left to right ball flight is also good. The second is an uphill blind shot towards the green. There is also a deep bunker that is placed near the front left side of green. The biggest difference players realize when they play this hole after they watch the Masters on television is the actual steepness of the course. On TV, the 18th of August National looks relatively flat or slightly uphill, but the hole in fact, is sharp, not less than 70 feet, uphill from the tee to the green.
Although the course is a replica of various famous international holes, the layout is quite interesting. You should try to play this fun course once while you are in Bangkok. To read more about Royal Gems Golf City, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/thai/Royal-Gems-City/E-Royal-Gems-City.htm">click here</a> to visit my website.

The Black Mountain Golf Club is a desert-like course that has many beautiful features including its lakes. Despite its beauty, the course is very challenging and consists of quite a number of large bunkers and strongly undulated fairways. The course is surrounded by a nice natural landscape.<img src="/images/black-mountain-golf-course-review-BLAU018.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Black Mountain Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Black Mountain Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> The small problem to play The Black Mountain is the simplicity of its layout which lacks a variety of holes. Out of 14 par 4s and 5s, Hole 1, 2, 9, 12, 13, 15 and 17 are straight or almost straight holes. The fairways of holes 10, 15, 1 and 9, as well as holes 4, 5 along with holes 12 and 13 are parallel to one another respectively. Overall, players are more impressed by the views and well-maintained fairways and greens. The course was built between several mountains and has astonishing views of a series of black rocks.
<img src="/images/black-mountain-golf-course-review-BLAU019.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Black Mountain Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Black Mountain Golf Course - Photo by reviewer">The par 5 639-yard 6th is a downhill par five with a dogleg that first bends slightly to the right, then to the left. This hole plays much shorter than the real yardage. Long hitters will need to make a decision to either hit their ball over the water or to take the safe route to the right. The green is deep and slopes from back to front. The par 3 232-yard 11th is the signature hole. This long and downhill par three has a body of water that surrounds the green on its front, back and right sides. There is a waterfall on the left side of the green. Although this waterfall doesn’t come into play, the presence of such a natural feature helps enhance the aesthetic beauty of this hole.

Banyan Golf Club was built amongst a pineapple plantation with some of most spectacular mountain views. The designer has made full use of its natural terrain, most of which is remained in the course. It is not so difficult to play from the front tees due to thr shorter distance while very demanding to play from back tees as lots of water hazards, bunkers and the other <img src="/images/banyan-golf-course-review-BANY013.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Banyan Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Banyan Golf Course - Photo by reviewer">traps will come into play. The front 9 is exceptionally good. Most greens are wide but not deep, so approach shots should be of the right distance.
The par 4 377-yard 5th is a dogleg to the right, short par 4. The tee shot is downhill and the fairway slopes from right to left, so a bunker on the right corner 250 yards from the tee will come into play. The approach shot is over a stream. The green is smallish sloping from back to front. The par 5 546-yard 8th is a slight dogleg to the right. The second is over a creek and uphill. Four bunkers are strategically placed in the landing area of the second shots. The wide green wide is double-tiered with a higher left side. <img src="/images/banyan-golf-course-review-BANY014.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Banyan Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Banyan Golf Course - Photo by reviewer">The green is not deep, so an accurate wedge shot is required on the third shot.
The par 3 147-yard 15th is a signature hole. The hole is not long or difficult and offers players picturesque views of the spectacular ocean to your left and the valley and mountains to your right. From the elevated tee you will slightly hit down onto the shallow but wide green. When the pin position is on the left, the difficulty level will increase as the green become narrower toward to the left, perhaps only some 10 yards in depth, and the bunker in front of the green is in play.

Amata Spring Country Club is developed on almost flat terrain with a lot of water hazards and strategically placed bunkers. While power play is required on the longer front 9 holes, accuracy is a must on the shorter and hazard-filled back 9 holes. The course plays to a length of over 7,400 yards, ensuring that even advanced players will be severely tested. Although, the club has a short history, the course has already hosted one of world’s major tournaments, the first Royal Trophy in 2006 and later again in 2010.The tournament was known for its Ryder Cup-style shootout held between Asia and Europe. The Thailand Golf Championship, which is the flagship event for the Asian Tour was held annually from 2011 to 2014 at this course as well. The par 5 617-yard 7th is a dogleg to the right and it’s a demanding long hole. Players should avoid three bunkers in a row guarding the right off the tee. Fairway bunkers located in the landing area of the second shot will test your club selection and how to play the shot. Since the green is sloping slightly from back to front and moreover the rear left side of the green faces a lake, the rear left pin position will be more difficult.The par 3 145-yard 17th is an island green hole. The green slopes slightly toward the back. This charming par 3 is not long, so it is not that difficult except on a strong windy day. It is a completely floating green and one that can be lengthened and shortened using underwater pulleys. You must use a boat to get there, which is unique. The par 4 477-yard 18th is a long and almost straight hole. Water is visible down the entire left side, so you must hit an accurate tee and second shot to achieve a good score. This is a hole where you are content with a par. The green is triple-tiered with waterfalls on the left. To read more about Amata Spring Country Club, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/thai/Amata-Spring/E-Amata-Spring.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

The Dalat Palace Golf Club is Vietnam’s oldest golf course. This resort course is located in the highland where there is an altitude of over 1500 meters. The course is spread out over a hill that overlooks Dalat city and the Xuan Huong Lake. Every hole is arranged exquisitely and the course has made good use of the natural terrain. The buildings that surround the golf courses are so unique and different that it makes it seem as if players are playing in the French region of Provence. About ten to twenty years ago, the American Golf Digest rated the Dalat Palace Golf Club as having one of the most beautiful courses in all of Asia. With low humidity and an average temperature of about 20 to 25 degrees Celsius, players will find it difficult to believe that they are in Vietnam as they are surrounded, not by the typical hot and tropical Vietnamese weather, but instead, a cool and comfortable atmosphere. This old and charming course features small and well-guarded greens and fairways flanked by pine trees.The par 5 519-yard 6th has a gentle downhill and a dogleg that bends toward the left. Players should be careful on the tee shot as there is a body of water that runs all along the left side and a series of pine trees and OB lines that scatter the right side. The landing area of both the tee and second shots are quite narrow, making accuracy an important factor. Approaching the green will be quite a challenge since players must look out for the lake on the left and a bunker on the right side of the green.With an uphill tee shot and a sharp dogleg bend to the right, the demanding par 4 399-yard 7th has two playing routes off the tee: driving aggressively over the pond and playing safely to hit onto the left fairway bordering the pond. The route over the pond requires an accurate carry of 185-230 yards. When successful, players can shorten the overall distance quite a lot. Another route to hit onto the left of the pond is not difficult but the second shot will become extremely long. A bunker is placed on the front right side of the green sloping sharply from back to front. To read more about Dalat Palace, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Vietnam/Dalat-Palace/E-Dalat-Palace.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip Golf Club’s seaside links course is extremely well built and is designed and routed over and around impressive seaside sand dunes. There are moderate differences in height throughout the course and since there are no roughs beyond the fairways, the balls will land directly inside the dune instead in the case of erra<IMG alt="Bluffs Ho Tram Strip Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" hspace=5 src="https://www.top100golfcourses.com/images/bluffs-ho-tram-strip-golf-course-review-BLUF001.jpg" align=right vspace=5 border=1>nt shots. There is a good mix of five Par 3s, long & short and with and against the wind, all of which are characteristic with nice views. Like many seaside courses, players should be aware of strong winds. The par 4 172-yard 4th is a downhill and spectacular par three with superb views. A cliff and several bushes run alongside the green, starting from the green’s front, all the way to the holes back left side. If players do decide to aim towards the right side of the green, they should be aware of the guard bunker that is strategically placed on the green’s right. The par 5 651-yard 16th is a long hole that consists of an S-shaped curve. The view on this hole is superb as towering dunes lines the fairways on the left and Vietnam’s beautiful southern coastline spreads out in front. Both the tee shot and the second shot are downhill and a humongous bunker surrounds the entire left section of the highly undulated green.

The Ayodhya Links Golf Course is located above a vast marshland has been dug up and turned into an undulating terrain. The streams and lakes, which lie throughout the course, are made by pumping up water from under the ground. Although the land is large enough to build 36 holes, this course only has a total of 18 holes. The course consists of quite a lot of memorable and impressive holes, many of which end up being unique in their own special way. The course distance itself totals more than 7,600 yards. There are many strategically placed bunkers and water hazards throughout this extremely long course making it very challenging for both amateurs and professionals. The greens’ surfaces are boldly undulated and highly contoured, making the overall putting experience very difficult. Players won't be able to see any man-made structures except for the clubhouse. The playing intervals off the first tee are every 15 minutes, double that of many other regular courses. Players will seldom encounter the front and back groups during their play, making the players feel as if they are occupying the entire course themselves. A combination of solitude and natural beauty will make players feel as if they are playing in a paradise & utopian world. Ayodhya Links proves to be at the frontier of eco-friendliness, as the club only uses organic fertilizers, as supposed to chemically produced ones, when maintaining their course. During the winter, migratory birds, some traveling from as far as Alaska, may be seen at this golf course. While regular courses just install a few kilometer-long drainage, Ayodhya Links has a whopping 70 kilometer-long drainage system underneath the entire course, allowing golf carts to be able to be driven onto the fairway, even during heavy rains.The par 4 496-yard 9th is very long with a dogleg to the left. A large mound in the center will force players to decide whether to hit towards the left or right. Aiming towards the left will allow a shorter play, but at a higher risk as the narrow fairway borders a lake and a long beach bunker. Aiming towards the right will require a longer play but be less of a risk as there is only one bunker that is placed about 270 yards from the tee. Despite the direction, the longer the tee shot is hit, the narrower both the fairway and the landing area becomes. The second shot will be very demanding due to the fact that the green is guarded by a huge bunker both at the front and right hand sides. There is also a body of water in front of the green which players should avoid. Players will need to make a decision whether to carry their ball over the hazards, or to play it safe and hit towards the right side of the green. <img border="1" hspace="5" alt="Ayodhya Links Golf Course " vspace="5" src="https://www.top100golfcourses.com/images/Ayodhya-Links-Golf.jpg" align="right">The green slopes from the top left to the bottom right and has a horizontal ridge that runs through the center, making it very difficult to putt. If the ball lands on the opposite side of the ridge in relation to the hole, putting will become a big challenge. The par 3 188-yard 12th is a picturesque hole that is designed on top of an island green. The green is surrounded by a body of water and a total of three bunkers; two on the right and one at the back. The green is deep and around 40-yard wide. There are three distinct putting surfaces; two higher levels on the left and right, and a concave center. The putting from different levels offers another challenge to players. Though Peter Thomson and Ross Perrett were the original creators of the course’s ground plan, it was Pitak Intrawityanunt, the current owner/chairman, who completed the detailed design of the course. I am highly impressed that Mr. Intrawityanunt, back then an amateur course designer, was able to create a course that ultimately ended up being what is generally accepted as one of the top hundred courses in the world. Over the past couple of years, I’ve had the honor of getting to know Chairman Pitak and have managed to understand and highly respect his knowledge on topics such as the architectural complexity of course design and his wealth of insight on the importance of green and fairway maintenance. To read more about the Ayodhya Links, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/thai/Ayodhya/E-Ayodhya-Links.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

Woo Jeong Hills Country Club is a hillside course with good views. All par 3s are superb and demanding. Undulating fairways, a lot of waters hazards & deep bunkers protecting greens, an island green, all of which are peculiar to Dye’s design, are adapted in this course, too. It hosted the Korean Open in 2004. A grass clad, natural amphitheatre is made around the 18th green and its slope can accommodate many people without requiring the construction of spectator stands. <IMG border=1 hspace=5 alt="Woo Jeonh Hills 13th hole - photo by Kimi" vspace=5 align=right src="/images/Woo-Jeong-Hills-350.jpg"> The par 3 221-yard 13th is played onto a gently downhill green surrounded by water. The island green is high in the middle and slopes to the back. Personally speaking, I don’t like island greens as I sometimes feel they are too artificial. However this hole is an exception because it is challenging as well as very beautiful, so I enjoyed playing it. The par 5 561-yard 18th starts straight first and then doglegs to the left 100 yards in front of the green. A bunker on the left comes into play off the tee. The sloping landing area of the second shot is squeezed by water and a bunker on the left and bunkers on the right. A bunker protecting the front side of the green should be avoided on the approach shot as it is deep. To read more about the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Korea/Woo-Jeong-Hills/Woo-Jeong-Hills-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

Wack Wack Golf & Country Club is an old flat course with each hole separated by trees. There are 2 courses, East and West. This East Course is a championship course while the recently built West course is a resort course. The East course staged the 1977 World Cup. A feature of the course is that each green is elevated and slopes from the back to the front and the landscaping of the greens is excellent. You might feel that the course is a little shorter than its 7000 yards par 72 because there are only two par 3s and seven par 4s less than 400 yards.
The par 3 168-yard 8th is a signature hole with an elevated green more than 5 meters high. The green is narrow & deep and slants from the back to the front, so putting is demanding, too. If your shot doesn’t bite, it will be likely to roll down to the one of 6 bunkers guarding the green. Needless to say, an accurate shot is required on this hole. The par 5 515-yard 13th is a straight hole reachable in 2 shots. Seve Ballesteros made eagles for 2 days in succession at the World Cup in 1977 after he successfully reached the green on the second shot with a 2 Iron. The second shot is downhill, which in fact makes the actual distance of this hole about 20 yards shorter. This is a relatively short par 5 but the front side of the green is guarded by water, which enhances the difficulty. If you decide to lay up in front of the pond, the third shot needs to be hit from a downhill lie. The green is narrow in depth and guarded by bunkers on both sides. To read more about the East Course at Wack Wack Golf & Country Club, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Philippines/Wack-Wack/Wack-Wack-E.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

The Isao Aoki Course at Eagle Ridge Golf & Country Club has relatively wide fairways but hazards, ravines and bunkers come into play at key points, which makes the course challenging. It is spacious except for a few tight holes and it is easy to understand playing routes off the tees as you can see the hazards ahead of you. The par 4 285-yard 5th is very short with a sharp dogleg to the left. You can see all the challenges and possibilities from an elevated tee. 12 bunkers line the fairway. The tee shot is over a ravine & the bunkers to cut off the dogleg, and needs a carry of 220 yards to reach the fairway. Long hitters can reach the green in 1 shot but must be prepared to pay the price as the front and left sides of the green border the ravine. The green is elevated and slopes steeply to the left. The par 4 460-yard 18th consists of a long, dogleg to the left. Water extends from the fairway to the green on the left and an OB line on the right also awaits your errant shot, which requires both distance and accuracy on the tee and second shots. A carry of 220 yards is needed to clear a bunker on the left. A small bunker on the front left of the green and a large bunker on the right side of the green are strategically placed. To read more about the Isao Aoki Course at Eagle Ridge Golf & Country Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Philippines/Eagle-Ridge/Eagle-Ridge-Aoki/Eagle-Ridge-Aoki-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

The Greg Norman Course features ample rolling fairways, sculptured bunkers and large undulating greens. Deep ravines run along some holes, which enhance the beauty of the course as well as the strategic layout. The par 5 574-yard 3rd is a demanding dogleg to the right followed by one to the left. A creek on the right and a bunker on the left, 250 yards from the tee, come into play off the tee. Two bunkers on the left of the fairway make the landing area on the second shot very narrow. The green is small and heavily contoured with a ridge from top to bottom. The par 4 432-yard 16th is a dogleg to the right. A ravine runs along the right side of the fairway and then crosses in front of the green. Not only the ravine in front of the green but also a bunker guarding the front left of the green come into play on the second shot. The green is deep with a distinct ridge in the center, so make sure you use enough club if the pin is at the back. To read more about the Greg Norman Course at Eagle Ridge Golf & Country Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Philippines/Eagle-Ridge/Eagle-Ridge-Norman/Eagle-Ridge-Norman-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

The Eagle Ridge Golf & Country Club boasts&nbsp;four interesting championship courses designed by: Andy Dye, <A href="/golf-course/eagle-ridge-nick-faldo" target=_self>Nick Faldo</A>,&nbsp; <A href="/golf-course/eagle-ridge-greg-norman" target=_self>Greg Norman</A> & <A href="/golf-course/eagle-ridge-isao-aoki" target=_self>Isao Aoki</A>. The Andy Dye Course is suitable for low handicappers who can hit accurate shots. Without a doubt, it is the most controversial layout at Eagle Ridge. It is a long course of more than 7300 yards and full of challenges. Golfers simply love it or hate it. Not only accuracy & distance but also full knowledge of the layout and proper course management are needed to shoot low scores. All par 4s & 5s are distinct and it’s fun to attack them. Most greens are narrow with one or both sides being protected by water, hazards or ravines, so pinpoint accuracy is needed on approach shots. Fairway undulations make flat lies unlikely while rolls on the relatively small greens make 2 putt pars difficult. I have played around 20 Pete & Andy Dye designed courses mainly in Asia and some other countries. This course is by far the most difficult among them. I have heard that Andy Dye daringly designed it very tough to provide Frankie Minoza, the most famous player in the Philippines, with challenging practice rounds. It is also the practice course for the Filipino amateur national team. The par 5 574-yard 3rd is difficult with a dogleg to the right followed by one to the left. A creek on the right and a bunker on the left, 250 yards from the tee, come into play off the tee. Two bunkers on the left of the fairway make the landing area on the second shot very narrow. The green is small and heavily contoured with a ridge from top to bottom. The par 3 181-yard 8th is a superb hole over a ravine. The front & right sides of the green border the deep ravine. There is a deep bunker guarding the right side of the green. You need to hit the green in regulation to make par. The par 4 432-yard 16th is a dogleg to the right where a ravine runs along the right side of the fairway and then crosses in front of the green. There’s not only the ravine in front of the green but also a bunker guarding the front left of the green that comes into play on the second shot. The green is deep with a distinct ridge in the center, so make sure you use enough club if the pin is at the back. To read more about the Andy Dye Course at Eagle Ridge Golf & Country Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Philippines/Eagle-Ridge/Eagle-Ridge-Dye/Eagle-Ridge-Dye-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

The Orchard Golf & Country Club has two championship courses, this Palmer Course and the Player Course designed by Gary Player. They used to be a mango orchard, so mango trees are abundant all over the courses. The Palmer Course is a little more famous and the Johnnie Walker Classic was held there in 1995. There are no easy holes and each hole has strategically placed bunkers and water hazards, so you will never get bored playing here. The par 3 199-yard 7th is challenging over a lake. The green is surrounded by water, bunkers and mango trees. The green slopes down to the back bunkers, leaving a demanding shot downhill toward the pond for those who hit long. The par 4 404-yard 8th consists of a dogleg to the left. The mango trees are positioned at the left corner, so you need to hit to the right half of the fairway in order to have a clear angle to the green on the second shot. The green is guarded by water in front and bunkers on both sides and at the back. The par 5 537-yard 18th is a very challenging, a dogleg to the right. There is a big bunker in the middle of the fairway. When you hit to the left of the bunker, the fairway is wider and it is a safe route but the remaining distance to the green is far. To make a short cut, you need to hit to the right side of the fairway but it is narrower with the lake bordering on the right, so you need to hit a very accurate drive. The second and third shots become moderately uphill with well-positioned fairway bunkers. The double-tiered green is further raised and you should hit the green long rather than short because the bunker in front is very deep. To read more about Palmer Course at The Orchard Golf & Country Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Philippines/Orchard/Orchard-Palmer-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

Riviera Golf Club has two valley courses set along the ridges where you can enjoy the scenery of the Philippine countryside. There are 36 holes, this more challenging Langer Course and the easier Couples Course designed by Bernhard Langer and Fred Couples respectively. The Langer Course has adequate length, over 7,000 yards par 71 with a lot of natural hazards such as ravines, cliffs, creeks and trees, strategically guarding each hole, so it is a very demanding layout. Even the single handicapper might hit over 90 easily. This course best suits advanced players while the beginners can still enjoy playing in the great outdoors where you never have any man-made structures in your sight at all except for the clubhouse, because it is surrounded by natural scenery. There are steep slopes on many holes, so you should know beforehand which side of the fairway to hit. The short and long combinations of par 3s, 4s and 5s are good. The course is located on a hillside and the winds further add to the difficulty. This course frequently hosts professional events including the 2000 and 2004 Philippine Open. The par 5 604-yard 5th has a cliff on the left and the fairway slopes from right toward the cliff, so you should hit the tee shot to the right edge of the fairway. The shape of the green is unique because it is double-tiered sloping from the front to the back. When the pin is on the back tier, you can’t aim at the pin directly because the slope causes a really nice shot landing around the pin to roll off the green. This hole is excellent unless the pin position is on the back tier. The par 3 175-yard 8th is a challenging par 3 with a ravine facing the front and left sides of the green. A right to left player needs to be careful because with too much draw the ball could end up in big trouble. There are many par 3s with hazards facing some sides of the greens. Most of the hazards are man-made lakes, but the holes make full use of natural elements, so it is very charming. The par 4 367-yard 11th is a short par 4. You need a carry of 200 yards to clear the bunkers on the right half of the fairway. The green is well below the fairway. The green is wide and double-tiered to the back, and its front side borders a river. When the pin is on the front tier, only 10 yards wide, the approach shot is difficult. If you hit short, it will be in the bottom of the river. If you hit long, it will be on the back tier where you will face a risk of 3 putts because of the downhill slope. Needless to say an accurate approach shot is a “must” on this hole. To read more about the Langer Course at Riviera Golf Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Philippines/Riviera/Riviera-Langer-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

The Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club is composed of two flat 18-hole courses, the Masters Course and the <A href="/golf-course/manila-southwoods-legends" target=_self>Legends Course</A>. The Masters Course design strategy is punctuated by traps and water hazards while high mounds characterize the Legends course. The Masters Course’s layout is demanding because the total length is over 7,200 yards, with well–positioned lakes, creeks and bunkers. Water comes into play on 15 out of 18 holes. Another feature is that many hazards are placed on the left side of the fairways and the greens, as often seen in Nicklaus designed courses. So, this course is suitable for fade ball hitters with high trajectories. <IMG alt="Manila Southwoods (Masters) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" hspace=5 src="https://www.top100golfcourses.com/images/manila-southwoods-masters-golf-course-review-MANI001.jpg" align=right vspace=5 border=1>The par 4 415-yard 6th is a dogleg to the right, handicap-1 hole. The bunkers on both sides of the narrow fairway come into play off the tee. There is a pond on the right side of the fairway and a river beyond it. The approach shot is over the river to a deep green guarded on both sides by deep bunkers. The best angle to the green is hitting from the right half of the fairway to avoid carrying over the very deep bunker protecting the left side of the green. The par 4 429-yard 10th consists of a slight dogleg to the left. A shallow creek runs along the fairway on the right and forms a pond in front of the green. Compounding the difficulty is that the pond guards the entire right side of the green. There isn’t a single bunker on this hole but it is still a good hole and difficult too. This hole was selected as one of the best 500 holes in the world by US Golf Magazine in 2000. The championship tee is unique as it floats on a pond. The par 5 541-yard 18th is a neat, slight dogleg to the right. There is a creek and a pond on the right. A bunker 30 yards in front of the green comes into play for long hitters. The bunkers around the green are strategically placed. To read more about the Masters Course at Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Philippines/Manila-Southwoods/Manila-southwoods-Masters-E.htm" target=_self>click here</A> to visit my website.

Sta. Elena Golf & Country Club is a 27-hole championship facility: 1st, 2nd & 3rd nine holes and it’s one of masterpieces designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. The best 18-hole combination is called Sierra Mardre Course (3rd and 1st nine) that is the most fun to play among 27 holes. The course is relatively flat in lush forests with good scenery and a rural atmosphere, which blends perfectly with the surrounding environment. Water comes into play on many holes on the front 9 while there is a lot of variation with doglegs left & right on the back 9. No hole really stands out as “a signature hole.” Rather, the holes seem to flow harmoniously together, taking full advantage of the ravines and gently rolling terrain. The greens are good and fast, which surely attracts advanced players. The par 5 550-yard 4th is an almost straight hole with river on the right. The green is swung to the right and the river crosses in front of it. The approach shot is intimidating because at the edge of the green is a wall bordering the river. The par 3 196-yard 11th is a beautiful par 3. A bunker in front of the green comes into play. A lake and its surrounding scenery seen from the green are excellent. The par 4 420-yard 14th is a difficult and straight hole. The tee shot is intimidating because overhanging trees squeeze the right side of the fairway. The second shot is over the river and you should hit long rather than short because the front side of the green faces the water. However, if you hit over the green, the downhill approach shot is demanding because it slopes to the river. The key to success on this hole is an accurate second shot. This is a hole where you are very happy saving par. To read more about Sta. Elena Golf Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Philippines/Sta.Elena/Sta-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

Bintan Lagoon Resort is a 36-hole golf club with an Ian Baker-Finch Woodlands course and a Jack Nicklaus-designed <A href="/golf-course/bintan-lagoon-sea-view" target=_self>Sea View course</A>. Carefully carved out of a genuine rainforest, Ian Baker-Finch’s course becomes more interesting the further you get away from the clubhouse and into the forest. The natural woods come into play on almost every hole and there are adequate ups and downs, so it seems that the course is suitable for medium to advanced players. All courses on Bintan Island except for this course utilize the ocean, but it is nevertheless a great forest course without the sea. The par 5 517-yard 8th is reachable in two shots for long hitters with a good drive. In order to hit the green in two, the pond in front of the green must be cleared, so a long and accurate second is required. The par 4 406-yard 9th is slightly uphill with a pond on the right of the hole. The second shot needs to carry the pond and miss the well-positioned bunker in front of the green. The green is gently undulating, and it is a fun surface to putt on. The par 3 193-yard 14th is challenging with the water facing the front and left sides of the green. To read more about the Ian Baker-Finch Woodlands course <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/indonesia/Bintan-Lagoon/Bintan-lagoon-Ian-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

The front nine of the Jack Nicklaus-designed Sea View course at Bintan Lagoon Resort is an average design except for the very nice 5th hole, while the back nine is the more challenging and interesting to play where water and the ocean comes into play on most holes. The fairways are relatively generous, so you can hit hard with the driver. The par 5 522-yard 5th consists of a dogleg to the left with various impressive bunkers in front of the green. The drive is a little downhill from the elevated tee and the second and third shots are uphill. The second shot offers many options. The most risky one is to take a short cut over the bunkers. The less risky one is to hit to the fairway on the left, 70-80 off the green and go for birdie with good approach shot. The safest one is to lay up in front of the bunkers and hit a 120-yard uphill approach shot and go for par. The par 3 173-yard 12th is a very beautiful “signature hole”. The tee shot is over natural sand beach that becomes a huge bunker when you are short of the green. There is a great ocean behind the green and on the right side of the hole. The green is deep, guarded by the bunker on the left and by the coastline on the right, and is as narrow as 20 yards. A very precise shot is required and moreover you need to read the sea wind. This is the hole of “no rose without a thorn”. To read more about the Jack Nicklaus Sea View course <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/indonesia/Bintan-Lagoon/Bintan-lagoon-Jack-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

Ria Bintan Golf Club (Ocean Blue & Ocean Green Course) is a wonderfully designed ocean course, making full use of the natural seaside terrain. It offers not only excellent views but also good challenges. The very scenic and challenging 7th 8th & 9th holes where the ocean comes into play are especially impressive. There are 27 holes in total including 9 holes called the Forest. The par 5 500-yard 5th is a gentle downhill, dogleg to the right. A long hitter can reach the green in two, but the key to success is how to manage the pond in front of the green. There is also a hazard behind the green, guarded at the back by borders which have the South China Sea as a backdrop. The par 4 396-yard 8th is an excellent hole with a sharp dogleg to the left. You do not need to drive more than 250 yards to avoid the hazard. The second shot is sharply downhill with the green 14 meters (50 ft.) lower. The green is 50 yards deep with the ocean in the immediate background The par 3 171-yard 9th is a signature hole over a sea inlet. The double-tiered green is deep and it features a bunker to the left. To the left of the bunker, rocks cascade down to the sea. It’s very beautiful, the views will take away your breath. To read more about Ria Bintan Golf Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/indonesia/Ria-Bintan/Ria-Bintan-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

Nirwana Bali Golf Club features wonderful views overlooking the Indian Ocean. There are many rice terraces positioned on roughs and creeks crossing fairways on some holes. The rugged cliffs with three holes running along the Indian Ocean, terraced rice paddies and coastal landscape, have all been preserved to provide spectacular natural hazards. When the prevailing strong sea winds blow, the course becomes more difficult. The par 5 hole 6, the par 3 hole 7, the par 4 hole 13 and the par 3 hole 14 are superb, these holes are not only beautiful but also the ocean comes into play. The par 5 501-yard 6th is a relatively short dogleg to the left. The second shot is gently downhill with a great view of the blue Indian Ocean. It is easy and reachable in two shots but the green is well protected by a front left bunker. To avoid the bunker you tend to hit to the right where another deep bunker awaits your shot, which makes it difficult to get a birdie. The ocean lies very close to the green, so you can hear the waves and enjoy the comfortable sea breeze as you putt. The par 3 214-yard 7th is the signature hole over the ocean. As you aim for the green, the famous temple of “Tanah Lot” floating in the ocean is the backdrop, with water on the left and the front and bushes on the right. This hole is devilish enough to forgive your bad shots to the ocean or bush because the scenery is just like a postcard. The short par 4 337-yrd 12th is slightly uphill and a dogleg to the right. It is an easy hole but is framed perfectly with great views of the Indian Ocean. To read more about Nirwana Bali Golf Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/indonesia/nirwana/nirwana-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

Nuwara Eliya Golf Club lies on a pristine hillside. The course is rich in tradition with over 110 year’s history. The course is short, 6,070–yard par 71 but the fairways are very tight and bordered by mature trees and thick bushes, which makes it a highly challenging course with the hilly 12th, 13th and 14th holes amongst the most daunting. It also demands skilful “position play” so players can cope with uphill & downhill lies. The course is located at 1,859 meters (6100 ft.) above sea level, it is much cooler than Colombo on level ground and balls can travel some 10% farther than normal thanks to the high elevation. You can enjoy the views of Mt. Pidurutalagala which is 2,525 meters (8,300 ft.) above sea level and the highest mountain in Sri Lanka. Moreover, the views inside the course are superb, so it is worth playing here. It also features public paths & roads crossing through the golf course. The par 4 388-yard 12th is a straight hole with a downhill tee shot and an uphill approach. The tee shot is intimidating as trees on both sides guard the tight fairway well. But in fact, the fairway opens up when you hit 230 yards or longer off the tee and the landing area is generous. The fairway slopes steeply to the right, and half of the fairway is shared with the 14th hole. The second shot is an uphill hit toward a mountain. The par 3 193-yard 13th over a ravine is challenging. The apron in front of the green falls off sharply and an approach shot from there is difficult. Bunkers and sticky rough protects the green on both sides. You need to hit the green in regulation on this challenging hole. The par 4 439-yard 14th consists of slight dogleg to the left with the downhill tee shot. You need to hit onto a narrow fairway surrounded by a forest, so a precise shot is needed. The fairway is shared with the 12th and slopes steeply to the left which is the opposite slopes on the 12th, you must hit onto the right half of the tight fairway. When you hit the tee shot to the left, you can’t aim at the green on your approach because the trees in front will block a clear view & a route to the green. To read more about Nuwara Eliya Golf Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/SriLanka/Nuwara-Eliya/Nuwara-Eliya-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

Angkor Golf Resort is a flat and very challenging course. Water comes into play on 17 out of 18 holes and the course length is long nearing 7,300 yards with strategically placed bunkers throughout the course. <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Cambodia/Angkor/Angkor-E.htm" target=_blank><IMG border=0 hspace=5 alt="Angkor Golf Resort - photo by Kimi" vspace=5 align=right src="https://www.top100golfcourses.com/images/Angkor-Golf-350-Kimi.jpg" width=352 height=237></A>The beautifully designed contours around the greens are one of the Faldo’s features and are impressive. The greens have plenty of subtle undulations, so your abilities to read the putting lines are tested. Some holes are narrow and lined with high palm trees, which are used in Cambodian national flags. The condition was superb as Paspalum grass made in America was used on the greens and the fairways. The par 4 376-yrd 2nd is a dogleg to the right and a relatively short par 4. Plenty of high palms line the fairway as with the rest of the holes, which resemble the neighboring view of Angkor Wat. Two massive fairway bunkers are positioned on both sides squeezing the fairway. The green is small and elevated with two mounds in the center. The par 4 440-yard 18th is a slight dogleg to the left and a demanding finishing hole. Water runs the entire left side from the tee to the green, thus pressuring both the tee shot and the approach shot. The green is elevated. To read more about Angkor Golf Resort, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Cambodia/Angkor/Angkor-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

Phokeethra Country Club is a flat course with water on every hole except for one. The fairways are relatively generous, thus no big pressures off the tees but approach shots are demanding as most greens are elevated and guarded by deep bunkers or/and water hazards. Many greens aren’t deep, so your skills to hit the ball onto the greens with irons and fairway woods are tested. The four holes from 15th on 18th are called “Phokeethra Corner” as challenging holes continue. For four years through to 2010 it staged the Asia PGA tour event Johnnie Walker Classic Cambodia Open.
The par 4 431-yard 16th consists of a dogleg to the left. The tee shot is over a creek requiring a 210-yard carry and accuracy as the fairway is surrounded by water. There is another fairway on the left, separated by the creek, reachable 260 yards from the tee but it is narrower and so the right island fairway is recommended. The second shot is over water, too. The green is shallow and slopes to left. A bunker guarding the front of the green is in play. The par 5 608-yard 18th is a challenging signature hole that is almost straight, requiring a double water carry. The fairway off the tee is narrow with a lake along the right. The double fairways are provided right & left. On the second shot and you must make a decision whether to go for the right fairway across the water or lay-up safely short of the water onto the left fairway. If you decide to lay-up, the third shot is over the water to the elevated green. The green is wide with ridge in the center. The sharp slope divides the green in half. To read more about Phokeethra Country Club, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/Cambodia/Phokeethra/Phokeethra-E.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

Victoria Golf & Country Resort is set in Sri Lanka’s central mountains right on the shores of the Victoria Reservoir. It blends into a splendid landscape of rolling terrain and undulating hillsides with a beautiful backdrop of the Victoria Reservoir. Natural outcrops of rocks punctuate vistas of palms and stately trees. The impressive natural outcrops of rocks are a distinctive feature and indeed a hazard on the course. It is a challenging and unforgiving course featuring narrow fairways with lots of thick rough and trees. When you’re in the rough, recovery shots are tough. You must drive the fairways in order to hit the greens in regulation. It is the second newest of the four golf courses in Sri Lanka. Completed in 1999, it was the first to be built in 100 years. The course is set 550 meters (1,800 ft.) above sea level, so the weather is little cooler than Colombo.The long par 4 473-yard 6th is a slight dogleg to the left, which is a challenging as well as exhilarating signature hole on this course. The tee shot is monstrously downhill. The landing area off the tee is limited as trees on both sides hang over the narrow fairway, requiring both accuracy and distance. A creek crosses the fairway 300 – 330 yards from the tee. It is downhill to the creek and slightly uphill beyond it. The second shot is demanding as well. One needs to aim at the green around 200 yards away while hitting from a downhill lie. The downhill par 4 393-yard 14th is a dogleg to the left. From the tee, combined views of the green, the Victoria Reservoir & Mountains behind the green create a very beautiful picture. To read more about Victoria Golf & Country Resort, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/SriLanka/Victoria/Victoria-E.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

Sheshan International Golf Club is a top-notch golf course built on a gentle rolling hill. The punctuating and undulating tree-lined fairways, raised greens, water hazards and bunkers are all strategically placed in order to maximize the challenge. In order to score well on this course, a strong technique and decent course management is necessary. Throughout the course there is a good mix of both easy and difficult holes, ranging from short to long. Right after the course was opened, the Sheshan Golf Club proudly hosted the 2005 & 2006 HSBC Champions in which Tiger Woods came to play. This really helped boost the course’s publicity. Unlike many of the golf courses in Shanghai, which are flat, this golf course moved a total of 2 million square yards of earth and sand in order to create its undulations.
The par 4 550-yard 2nd contains a sharp dogleg that bends towards the right. The tee shot is placed over a creek that guards the left side of the relatively narrow fairway. An accurate tee shot is necessary in order to avoid the row of six bunkers that are all lined up on the right side of the hole. In addition, the creek that is on the left hand side eventually leads into a lake that sits near the end of the hole. This will give the players some pressure on their second and third shorts. The very short par 4 288-yard 16th is superb. The tee shot will hover over a body of water, bushes a large front bunker, and two back bunkers that are all strategically placed over the course of 250 yards. It is very tempting for long hitters to try to hit the green with one shot but players must be careful, as the green is small and surround by hazards. Therefore, at the tee ground, players must make a decision whether go for the green or a lay-up. It is said that Tiger Woods played this hole cleverly during the 2006 HSBC Champions. During his play, he used a number 3 wood club and managed to hit safely short left side of the green with easy one chip and one putt. One the other hand, Japanese Hideki Matsuyama ended up with a triple bogey on a 2014 tournament when his aggressive drive became a lost ball. The 212-yard par 3 requires you to hit your ball over a ravine. The bunkers that are placed on the left, right and back sections are something to look out for. Finally the green slopes sharply to the right so the player must aim accordingly to where the pin is located on that day. To read more about Sheshan International GC, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/china/Sheshan/E-Sheshan.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

Dongguan Hillview Golf Club combines 36 championship golf holes, the Master Course and Open Course, which are set in a beautiful valley. The Master course is rolling and the hollows are invariably filled with ponds and lakes. It features a couple of split fairways, and massive and deep bunkers, most of which are 2 to 3 meters (6 to 10 ft.) deep, are scattered around the course. You can enjoy figuring out your own best route to attack the flag while avoiding the deep bunkers. It could be a bit difficult for beginners who are not good bunker players. The holes 1-9 have an excellent layout that gives you good challenge on every hole. Putting is fun as well because the greens are fast compared to average golf courses in China. The par 5 577-yard 6th offers multiple routes to attack the flag. If you hit very accurately, it will be a straightforward hole and you can shorten the distance quite a lot and aim to hit the green in two for long hitters. If you decide to lay up, the hole will become “S” shaped. No matter which route you choose, deep bunkers could catch your errant shots, which are designed to make it difficult to hit the green in regulation. The par 3 233-yard 16th is long and beautiful. It plays downhill to the green with water and a bunker in play. To read more about Dongguan Hillview (Master Course), <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/china/donggguan-hillview/Dongguan-hillview-CD-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

Sunshine Golf Club is designed to utilize the natural terrain, and is surrounded by natural & man-made charms such as ponds, rocks, pine woods, fruit trees or caves. Each hole is different with doglegs to the right & to the left and uphill & downhill holes, whose variations will surely fascinate experienced golfers. Although some holes are much too demanding, all players would love this course thanks to its beautiful landscape no matter what your high scores are. The views from the clubhouse are superb, too. The dogleg to the right Par 5 549-yard 9th is tough. The elevated tee can give you a clear picture of the entire hole. There is water on the both sides of the fairway off the tee and the water faces the right side of the fairway for the second shot, too. The clubhouse and the cottages that can be seen from the fairway are really beautiful. The Par 4 369-yard 16th is an uphill dogleg to the left. Some large beautiful fairway bunkers are strategically placed. The second shot plays sharp uphill over the hollow. To read more about Sunshine Golf Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/china/Sunshine/Sunshine-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

The Norman course is a magnificent hillside course that blends in beautifully with the surrounding environment. Despite having no ponds, lakes or ocean, the course still offers true aesthetic beauty and enjoyment. However despite its beauty, the course itself can be very challenging. The rough can be very thick (thick enough to lose your ball), bunkers are strategically placed throughout the course, and finally the greens are elevated and steam-bun typed. All of these factors will require you to make accurate shots and approaches. This course not only requires patience but a lot of golf balls, so make sure you stock up before playing. In addition, the holes 10 to 18 are very tough as the tight fairways tread though the ravines with various traps and hazards. The Par 3 147-yard 4th is short but challenging over a ravine. The deep green is guarded by a sharp drop-off on the right. In order to get your ball on the green, your shot must be precise since the green is very narrow (a little over 10 yards). The Par 4 486-yard 12th is a very long par 4 that has a slight dogleg to right. The tee shot must travel over the water and a carry of 220 yards is needed to reach the fairway. The second shot is gently uphill. There is a large bunker protecting the front side of the green. Players should try to avoid this bunker at all costs. Be aware that when you lay up on the second shot, the landing area is narrow. The green is small and elevated, therefore an accurate approach shot is needed. In addition, unless you can drive 270-280 yards, it is difficult to reach the green in two shots. The Par 5 588-yard 18th consists of a dogleg to the right with the downhill tee shot. There are two separate creeks that cross the fairway, therefore precise shots are needed to ensure that your ball will reach the green. To read more about the Norman course at Mission Hills Golf Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/china/mission-hills/Mission-Hills-Norman/E.-Mission-Hills-Norman.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

The East course is a mountainous course surrounded by the beautiful ocean. This public course has a total of three 18-hole courses. These include the <A href="/golf-course/jockey-club-kau-sai-chau-north" target=_self>North</A>, South and East courses. The North & South courses were designed by Gary Player and the East course was designed by Nelson & Haworth. Unlike the North and South courses, the East course was built on steep terrain. In addition, the distances between the holes can be quite far, which is quite annoying as it can disrupt the continuity of the 18 holes. However the mandatory golf carts will help solve this problem by helping you travel quickly throughout the course. While the North is known to be the most challenging, and a true championship course, the real prize has to be given to the East course, too, as majority of the holes in the East comes with a beautiful and dynamic view of the South China Sea. The landing areas are relatively small on many of holes, and the entire course is affected by sea winds, so the East course is quite challenging especially for those high handicap golfers. Nevertheless, I can guarantee that, despite your end score, the spectacular and memorable views will surely take your breath away and make you enjoy playing at this course. The short Par 4 366-yard 4th, a slight dogleg to the right, has its fairway and green protruding into the ocean. You hit onto the extreme downhill slopes on the tee and second shots and require high accuracy as the fairway is only 50 yards wide. Furthermore the hazards and the ocean on both the left and right side are things to look out for. The relatively long Par 3 211-yard 5th hovers over the ocean. You must choose the right club to hit onto the green. If your ball is short of the front green edge, it will disappear over the cliff guarding the front of the wide green. Another short Par 4 366-yard 14th (coincidentally the same distance as the 4th), a dogleg to the left, is considered as a signature hole. The peninsula shaped fairway is protruding into the ocean like the 4th hole. Make sure you pay attention to the cliff that is placed close to the left side of the green. To read more about the East course at Kai Sai Chau Golf Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/hongkong/Kai-Sau-Chau-East/E%20-Kai-Sau-Chau-East.html" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

Tiger Beach Golf Links is a links course laid out on flat, coastal terrain. It is amazing that a Taiwanese owner himself designed this course after he became inspired by the great links courses in Great Britain and Ireland. In preparing to design the course, he visited, played and photographed a great many of the classic Scottish and Irish links courses. I think the results are really quite spectacular and Tiger Beach will give players a comfortable feeling that they are playing a genuine links course – and I’ve also played some of those British links courses. Tiger Beach features picturesque views overlooking the Yellow Sea, rough sand dunes covered in wild fescue, rolling fairways punctuated by pot bunkers and undulating greens. The thick fescue flanks the relatively tight fairways, which requires accurate shots. The strong winds, if any, will add greatly to the degree of difficulty. You can play great links courses on Hainan Island but this course is currently the only links in mainland China. The shoreline seen from the second green is beautiful. Some views of the Yellow Sea are fantastic, equal to Scotland. When I played there, it was fun to watch over 20 goats led by a shepherd that were allowed to roam around the course in the late afternoon, which is surely unique when you encounter them during playing. The Par 3 204-yard 6th is a charming hole where the green, slightly elevated and surrounded by bunkers, looks like it's floating in the rough, so the right club selection is important. The Par 4 460-yard 7th is really tough. Two pot bunkers are placed on the right side of the green that is steeply undulating and double-tiered. You can also enjoy a superb ocean view off the tee. To read more about Tiger Beach Golf Links, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/china/Tiger-Beach/Tiger-Beach-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

The course is long, over 7,300 yards, over an almost flat terrain. You can see greens from tees on many holes, which gives you a good impression. Overall the course is not too tough and its fairways are relatively generous, so you don’t feel it is as difficult as the total yardage might indicate. However, the course provides an excellent layout where good shots are rewarded and bad shots are penalized. The last 9 holes are especially great and you can enjoy all kinds of golf challenges with each hole varying dramatically. The Par 5 539-yard 16th is excellent and can be reached in two shots. A precise and long drive is required down the narrow fairway guarded by bunkers. Bunkers are also well positioned on the second shot. A lake bordering the right side of the narrow fairway extends to greenside, so watch out on left to right balls. If you hit every shot accurately, you will be rewarded by a birdie. But if you slice or hook the ball, you end up with a bogey easily. This hole has undergone a big change in 2004. In the past, the landing area for drives used to be a lake and bushes, and you had to hit the fairway to the right of the lake, which does not exist under the current layout. Then, the second or third shot is across the lake to the green whose front is guarded by water, which made it a stunning dogleg to the left. The former layout was selected as one of the best 500 holes in the world in 2000 by US Golf Magazine. I don’t know whether or not the new hole will be selected again (surely not) but the club maintains that the new hole is even more difficult. Personally I prefer the old hole but I can still completely enjoy playing the new one. To read more about World Cup course at Mission Hills Golf Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/china/mission-hills/Mission-hills-Worldcup/Mission-Hills-Worldcup-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

The Olazabal course at Mission Hills Golf Club has numerous majestic vistas of untouched jungle. Natural lakes and streams create an outstanding backdrop throughout the course. The undulating concave fairways are another distinguishing feature. The course also features many bunkers on all holes and also numerous contoured greens which makes putting very challenging. The curves of the greens and the bunkers create an artistic beauty. There are five par 5s, all of them are super quality. You will often be faced&nbsp;with the question how to play each hole? Take the safe and conservative route, or the risk/reward route. The 2007 World Cup was held on this course. The Par 5 580-yard 15th is a signature hole. The view from the tee is breathtaking for both playing and scenic beauty. The tight fairway is a dogleg to the left and further to the left around an enormous reservoir. Water guards a series of bunkers all the way to the green. The second shot has two options: First laying up short of the creek 150 yards in front of the green and leaving an approach shot of about 170 yards over water. In this case an accurate middle iron shot is required. The second option is to clear the creek with a fairway wood, then you can use a short iron or a wedge on the approach shot and the water doesn’t come into play so much. However, the second fairway shot should be long and precise, otherwise you could be in the bunkers guarding both sides of the fairway or in the lake on the left side of the fairway. The green has some interesting contours, so putting is also demanding. The hole has 24 bunkers and I think that all the bunkers on the course are strategically placed and provide the course with a charming appearance, while some others think the bunkers are too artificial and look rather Mickey Mouse. There are pros and cons. I am looking forward to hearing form readers’ comments on the bunkering. My most favorite is the Par 4 460-yard 18th, which is a long dogleg to the left with the green swung further to the left. It’s a very demanding and intimidating hole. Water comes into play from the tee to the green and rock walls support the edge of the fairway. The tee shot is over water and you are tempted to cut off the dogleg in order to avoid the very long second shot. However, if you drive from right to left too much your ball could disappear into water. The second shot is to hit onto the peninsula shaped, slightly elevated green, protruding into the lake. It is guarded by water on the left and by a bunker on the right. If in any doubt about reaching the green in two, then playing short of the bunker is the safe option. Make par here, you'll feel ready to celebrate. To read more about The Olazabal course at Mission Hills Golf Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/china/mission-hills/Misssion-hills-olazabal/mission-hills-olazabal-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

Shanghai Links Golf & Country Club is a&nbsp;seaside course laid out on flat terrain along the Yangtze River. Some tees and greens are elevated, providing minor ups & downs through the course. Wind plays a significant factor. Sometimes you may feel strong winds on the elevated tees but only a minor breeze on your second shot. Don’t let this fool you as strong winds are actually prevailing up in the air and you might end up with the wrong club selections. Likewise, when you hit down to lower greens, you will feel strong winds but your shot won’t be too affected by strong winds because of the lighter breezes lower down. Overall, the course is interesting and creates many illusions to players. Even if there is no wind, the course is a very high quality, challenging layout. You will feel like you’re playing in Scotland thanks to a links style atmosphere and testing winds throughout the entire course. There are 5 par 4s over 450 yards and they become extremely difficult on head winds. The landing areas of the tee shots are generous, but closer to the green more hazards will come into play to pressure you on the approaches. I think Shanghai Links is one of the best of the Nicklaus designed courses in the world regarding its great layout and the above mentioned magical illusions. The par 3 173-yard 4th is a difficult hole over a lake. The green has two faces which divide into left and right with a much lower left side. When the pin is on the left, the hole becomes very demanding as the left of the green borders the lake. When you take precaution of the left lake and hit safely to the right side of the green, you might have a risk of 3 or 4 putts because of strong undulations. A bunker in front of the green also comes into play. Another great hole is the signature 401-yard par 4 14th, which is a slight dogleg to the left. Both the tee and second shots require you to clear water. If you are short of the green on the approach, the lake will catch your ball, and if you are long over the green, you are likely to hit a demanding shot from the heavy rough. The Par 4 453-yard 13th is a favorite, as this long hole is very challenging as wind often blows against you. You can drive hard as the fairway is wide but the demanding second shot needs the distance as well as accuracy because a lake makes inroads into the fairway in front of the green. This is a hole where you are very happy with a par. To read more about Shanghai Links Golf & Country Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/china/Shanghai-Links/Shanghai-Links-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

Sitting 2,000 meters (6,500 ft.) above sea level, the Mountain course at Spring City Golf & Lake Resort has a year round spring-like climate with a huge and beautiful lake creating a perfect backdrop. I personally think that the goodness of layout is not only one of the best in China but in Asia. Relatively generous fairways allow you to let loose with your driver, but a lot of strategically placed sand bunkers and grassy hollows demand precise approach shots and the large, seriously contoured greens make for challenging putting. The surrounding superb views coupled with the lovely curves of the fairways and greens across the course, which is unique to Nicklaus designed courses, create an artistic beauty. The course conditions are excellent: the greens are fast and the fairways are like carpets. The Par 4 416-yard 7th is a beautiful hole with a drive over a lake. The lake crosses the entire width of the fairway and a carry of 240 yards is needed to clear the right side of the lake to the fairway. The fairway is tight and bush on the left and the creek on the right come into play. The green is big and has a severely contoured putting surface, so you might have 3 putts if your ball is far from the pin. The Par 5 597-yard 9th is a gentle dogleg to the left with the downhill second & third shots. The second shot must be strategically placed as a series of bunkers down the middle split this into a double fairway. Going left will leave an easier chip for the third shot, but going right to the wider part of the fairway will force you into a harder approach over deep bunkers. The Par 4 465-yard 18th is a very long “signature hole”. The approach shot is extremely difficult. A long iron or a fairway wood must carry over the intimidating ravine that runs 10 yards short of the elevated green. If in any doubt about reaching it in 2, laying up short of the ravine is the safe option. To read more about the Mountain course at Spring City <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/china/Spring-City/Spring-City-mountain-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

Sitting 2,000 meters (6,500 ft.) above sea level, the Lake course at Spring City Golf & Lake Resort has a year-round spring-like climate with a huge and beautiful lake creating a perfect backdrop. The course is designed to accentuate the delicate beauty and tranquility of the surrounding natural landscape. Preserving the pine trees, rocky outcrops and undulating terrain, the course allows players to enjoy beautiful nature first hand. At the same time, it is a very challenging course unlike typical golf resorts with easy layouts and slow greens. All 18 holes provide good views of the lake. Because the course is laid out on a slope leading up from the lake, the holes 1-9 descend step by step toward the lake below. The front nine has a 150-yard elevation drop from Hole 1 on the hill to Hole 9 by the lake side and then holes 10-18 ascend step by step. There is bush either right or left on all 18 holes with a cliff on the opposite side. Missing the generally narrow fairways will often mean having to play another ball. Overall it best suits advanced players but the great views and landscaping are guaranteed to please all golfers. The steep downhill par 3 172-yard 8th is the signature hole with the green 30 meters (100 ft.) lower than the tee. The narrow green is bordered by water along the right and rear. This is a difficult club selection hole. The relatively short par 5 468-yard 9th has a narrow fairway guarded by water on the right and rugged rock cliffs on the left. A long hitter can reach the green in 2 but water on three sides of the green will make this a risky option. The view of this hole from behind the green is fantastic. My favorite is a gentle dogleg to the left par 4 428-yard 13th. You can drive hard due to a wide fairway, but the approach shot must be accurate because the left half of the green runs into a cliff falling to the lake below. The beauty of the uniquely shaped green and the lake behind it seen on your second shot is really spectacular. To read more about the Lake course at Spring City Golf & Lake Resort, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/china/Spring-City/Spring-City-lake-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

The North course is excellent, making full use of the natural terrain with great views. It is as if the designer, Gary Player, was asking each&nbsp;golfer at each hole “How should you attack this hole?” On the tee shots, you need to use not just a driver but also fairway woods or long irons, and the demanding layout forces you to use most of your 14 clubs. Another feature of this course is that it has 3 world-class par 3s out of 4. This course definitely presents an excellent challenge with spectacular views. The Par 3 210-yard 11th is intimidating because bushes on the both sides reduce the fairway in front of the green. Furthermore you need to hit a precise shot because five bunkers guard the green. This hole is not only difficult but also spectacularly beautiful. It is as if you are not playing a golf course, it has the illusion of standing in a great natural setting. The Par 3 205-yard 14th not only has&nbsp;breathtakingly beautiful scenery, but it's also&nbsp;a highly demanding hole. The green, which is surrounded by the ocean on three directions, is wide and there are steep slopes, which may make the ball roll down to hazards if you are unlucky, both in the front and at the back of the green. The safe landing area is only 30 yards long. Besides, the green is more than 20 meters (65 ft.) lower than the tee, so the tee shot is greatly influenced by the sea wind. You might have a high score unless you hit accurately with the right club. There is an old saying “there is no rose without a thorn”, which also describes this hole. Artificial island greens are usually beautiful but this island green superbly uses the natural terrain and is exceptionally pretty. To read more about the North course at Kau Sai Chau Golf Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/hongkong/kau-sai-chau/kau-sai-chau-north-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

The course at Clearwater Bay is located on a remote rock outcrop at the southernmost part of the Sai Kung peninsula on the cliff top along the coastline. The scenery seen from the course is breathtakingly spectacular, like Pebble Beach, Cypress Point in California or New South Wales GC in Australia. The 3rd and 18th are world-class excellent holes and some par 3s are impressive. Due to the constraints of the severe terrain, the original design made by two unknown Japanese architects, was not good. However, the extensive renovation done by Peter Thomson & Ross Perrett in 2006, extended the course length from 6,115 yards to 6,571 yards, some 200 yards longer for each 9 holes. The par 70 remained the same, but the course rating increased from 70.5 to 73.4, which becomes very challenging. The first 9 and the back 9 are reversed, and the routing of the first 9 holes was changed. Many holes were overhauled with new additions of strategically placed bunkers and water hazards. The course becomes much harder in the winter due to stronger sea winds. The par 4 402-yard 3rd is the signature hole, which is a spectacular sharp dogleg to the right over the ocean. The tee shot is downhill and must carry over a cliff to hit a protruding small peninsula with 3 bunkers on both sides of the narrow fairway from 220 to yards off the tee. Moreover, the fairway is very tight and if your ball is right to left, even a little, the ball will disappear into the rocks and the ocean or bushes. You need a clear plan of where to land the ball by calculating the effect of strong costal winds on your ball line. The club selection on the approach is crucial as the wind plays a big part with a large bunker short that will take any miss-hit and the ocean surrounds the green. The sharp dogleg to the left Par 5 543-yard 18th is another great hole. The more you cut off the dogleg, the longer carry is needed. The landing area on the downhill tee shot is narrow. If you choose a shortcut and aim too much to the left side of the fairway, you may find your ball in the valley. If you take too much to be safe to the right side, the ball has a high chance of going into a grove and being lost. The landing area of the second is also narrow as there is a ravine on the left, trees on the right and a large bunker 60 yards short of the green. The third shot will test your club selection and accuracy as the green is severely elevated with steep slopes and features three-tiered sections. Putting will become very difficult when your ball is away from the pin or on a different tier. To read more about Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/hongkong/clearwater-bay/clearwater-bay-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

Discovery Bay is a challenging course located on a hill along the coastline of Lantau Island, which is the largest island in Hong Kong. The course is well designed on difficult terrain and it provides a superb view of mountains and the ocean. The course offers 360-degree panoramic views in which one can enjoy breath-taking vistas of Lantau Peak cliff on the mountain side and Kowloon, Hong Kong Island & Disney Land over the bay on the ocean side. You never get tired of the layout, as it offers new challenges each time you play. The harder the winds blow, the more difficult it is to select the right club.There are three distinct 9 holes, Diamond, Ruby & Jade. Diamond & Ruby is a tournament course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. in his early stage and the Diamond Course is the most distinguished among them. Jade is a little tricky designed by a local pro but still fun to play. My three favorite holes on the Diamond & Ruby course are as follows:The Par 3 159-yard 2nd is short, dropping 15 yards from tee to green. The distance is very short and looks deceptively easy. But the right club selection from PW to middle irons is very important on this hole because the wind shifts frequently. If the flag position is on the left of this wide green, this hole becomes very difficult, as there is only 20 yards from a deep bunker in front of the green to the OB line at the back of the green. The Par 4 419-yard 3rd is a challenging hole, uphill for the first shot and slightly downhill for the second. On the approach, you need a middle iron to aim at the double tier green which is 20 yards deep by 50 yards wide. It also has a big slope from right to left. If the flag position is on the left, a pond in front of the green intimidates you and if it is on the right, where green becomes elevated, you need to hit a high ball and stop it: otherwise, you can’t stop the ball on the green, When the professional tournament is held on this hole, the length becomes more than 460 yards, which is perhaps the most difficult par 4 in Hong Kong.The Par 5 536-yard 18th is slightly dogleg to the left, a great par 5. A cliff on the right side runs from the tee to the green. When you hit the tee shot, you need to be careful of OB to your left, too. It is a slightly uphill for the second shot. When you decide to lay up, two large fairway bunkers on the left come into play. This finishing hole not only has style but also the views are excellent. Within Jade 9 holes, my favorite is the Par 5 545-yard 1st, perhaps the most difficult par 5 in Hong Kong, which is a double dogleg and a demanding hole with initially a sharp dogleg to the left followed by another gentle one to the right. The green, protected by a large bunker in front, is wide and slopes severely from right to left. You need to hit 3 good shots to get a birdie on this great par 5, or you end up easily with a bogey or double-bogey. To read more about Discovery Bay Golf Club, <a href="http://www.kimigolf.com/hongkong/discovery-bay/Discovery-Bay-E.htm" target="_blank">click here</a> to visit my website.

The New course is flatter than the Eden course; it’s also the longest of the three courses at Hong Kong Golf Club and the most pleasant one to play. The trees on the New are fully mature and give the course a great feeling of its tradition. The dogleg to the left 3rd is a 530-yard par 5 and it’s excellent with great views. If you hook the ball to the left from the tee, it goes onto an adjoining fairway or into a pond strategically placed at the left corner. If you hit too much to the right side, it is not good either, because it is further to the green or it might even go into a hazard. Three bunkers each on the right and the left, around 50 to 100 yards from the green, are tactically placed and the closer to the green, the narrower the landing area of the fairway becomes. So, the accurate tee & second shot are required on this challenging par 5. The par 3 197-yard 8th is charming and a precise shot is required as the left side of the green has a sharp slope and a bunker and another bunker on the right is in play, too. Moreover, the green isn’t wide but deep, severely sloping from back to front. At the long & difficult par 4 466-yard 12th, a tight fairway is lined with mature trees and OB on both sides. My favorite is the relatively short par 4 395-yard 15th which is a slight dogleg to the left, and you tend to choose the most direct route off the tee to the green. But if you flight the ball a little bit to the left, it will land in a deep bunker or in trees on the left side of the fairway, both of which are no-go zones. Then, if your tee shot is too far right, the distance to the green becomes much longer and sometimes trees block the way to the green. The green is highly elevated, 10 yards in height, and a bunker in the front of the green is in play. Furthermore, the green isn’t big, so the approach shot becomes very nerve-wracking. To read more about the New course at Hong Kong Golf Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/hongkong/hong-kong/hong-kong-new-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.

The Hong Kong Golf Club&nbsp;has three 18-hole courses, the Old, New & Eden courses. The Eden is short; 6,060 yards for par 70 but many holes are intimidating because there are narrow fairways and big trees bordering both sides. The par 5s are not that good but some of par 3s are really impressive. For example the downhill 148-yard par 3 5th is very short but charming and surrounded by natural trees and vegetation. You hit over a valley to the green which is a very wide, not deep, and double-tired from left to right. The signature hole is the par 4 410-yard 18th. The fully-grown trees stand on both sides of the tight fairway. The approach shot is also demanding as it clears the water and the bunker in front of the green, shaped like a natural amphitheater. It’s not advantageous for long hitters on this demanding hole. When the drive is too long, the approach shot is played from a steep downhill lie. There was a miracle shot hit by Jose Maria Olazabal on this hole, which helped him win the 2001 Hong Kong Open by only one shot with a birdie on the last hole. His drive sliced into the thick rough close to the right edge of the fairway. Then, hitting from a downhill lie in the rough, he had 140 yards to the pin, making it hard to stop the ball onto the green. He needed to calculate the distance of flying and rolling. Moreover, there were big trees in front of him and even professional golfers might have found it difficult to fly over the trees. Luckily I was watching in front of him. When he hit the 9 iron shot and opened the face a lot, the ball not only went over the trees but also landed just 2 feet away from the pin, checked and stopped. This great shot showed top-class professional technique, and also his toughness of mind and concentration. He did it in a very important situation that would never come again. Kimi. To read more about the Eden course at Hong Kong Golf Club, <A href="http://www.kimigolf.com/hongkong/hong-kong/Hong-Kong-Eden-E.htm" target=_blank>click here</A> to visit my website.