The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club
清水灣郷村倶樂部

Course Data
Location Hong Kong
Yardage 6571 yards Par 70
Course Rating 73.4
Playing Date 2 Aug. 2003 & 6 Oct. 2007
DesignerT. Sawai & A.Furukawa
Opened1982
Caddie No
Golf CartYes
Rating
Overall Rating
4.55
Course Layout
4
Difficulty Level
4
Greens Condition
4
Fairways Condition
4
Landscaping & Views
6
Level of Satisfaction
5

   
The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club is located at the southernmost part of the Sai Kung peninsula and designed on top of a remote rock outcrop, which runs on top a cliff that, in turn, runs along the coastline. The scenery seen from the course is breathtakingly spectacular. It resembles similarities to courses such as the Pebble Beach / Cypress Point GCs in California or even the New South Wales GC in Australia. The 3rd and 18th holes are known to be world-class excellent holes internationally, and many of the par 3s are also highly respected. I was very disappointed when I first played at CWBGC because of the poor course design and the constraint of severe terrain. However, after the extensive renovation in 2006, the course length was extended from 6115 to 6571 yards. Although the new design maintained the same amount of points as the old design (par 70), the Kimigolf course rating significantly increased from 70.5 into 73.4 and now I can say in confidence that the course has become more of a challenge. After the renovation, the first 9 and the back 9 holes were reversed, and the order of play changed since many of the holes were shifted around. Many holes were overhauled and new additions of strategically placed bunkers and water hazards were added. The course became much more harder on the day of strong sea winds.

View from 1st tee

View of 3rd hole


View

View

Website of playing in 2003

   
 
1st Par 3 224 yards

1st Par 3 224 yards (2)

1st Par 3 224 yards (1)
The opening hole is a long and downhill par 3 and has a spectacular view of the ocean beyond the green. This extremely tough hole is surrounded with bushes that run down alongside the right side of the course and then snakes around the back of the green. In addition, there are two deep bunkers that guard the left side of the green. Playing from the back pin is more difficult since the further up the pin is placed from the green, the smaller the target area becomes. Putting can be quite a challenge as the green slopes from back to the front.
 
2nd Par 5 537 yards

2nd Par 5 537 yards (2)

2nd Par 5 537 yards (1)
The 2nd hole is par 5 with a dogleg that bend to the right. Players should watch out for the hazard that stretches out and around the fairway, and an ocean that engulfs the right side of the hole. The ideal position to aim off the tee is towards the center left in order to avoid the three fairway bunkers on the right. The second and third shots are downhill and there are several greenside bunkers that guard the front and the right side of the slightly elevated green.
 
3rd Par 4 402 yards
This par 4 is one of the most spectacular holes in this course. After the renovation in 2006, this has become the most picturesque hole in all of Clearwater Bay. In order to increase the difficulty of the original design, a distance of 47 yards was added to extend the length of the hole. The new design added a dogleg that bends towards the right and a downhill element off the tee shot. This par 3 is now very challenging since players will need their ball to carry over a cliff and land on top of a protruding small peninsula, and avoid the bunkers on both sides of the narrow fairway, 220 yards off the tee. To make matters more difficult, the fairway is very tight, and if players slice their ball even a little, the ball will disappear beyond the rocks and into the ocean or bushes. Players will need to elaborate a plan of where to land the ball by calculating the effect of strong costal winds on their ball line. The club selection on the second shot is crucial as the wind plays a big part to outcome of the ball’s landing position. Players should be aware of the large bunker and ocean that surrounds the entire hole. Despite the challenge, this course is known to be one of the best in the world, and even US Golf Magazine selected this hole as one of the best 500 holes in the world in its 2000 edition.
 

3rd Par 4 402 yards (3)

3rd Par 4 402 yards (2)

3rd Par 4 402 yards (1)
 
10th Par 4 468 yards
This long par 4 runs parallel to a ravine of the South China Sea. To carry the dogleg that bends leftwards, players will need to hit 280 yards off the tee shot. The ideal approach is to aim for the mound that is placed at the center of the fairway. From there, a long and precise second shot is required in order to avoid the ball from falling off towards the left side or into the right bunker off the deceptively long green. Players must be careful if there is a back pin position since the green slope heavily from the center to back.
 

10th Par 4 468 yards (3)

10th Par 4 468 yards (2)

10th Par 4 468 yards (1)
 
11th Par 3 216 yards

11th Par 3 216 yards
The 11th hole is a beautifully designed par 3 that has a valley and ocean that covers the entire left side of the hole. Both an accurate club selection, and reading of the brunt of the sea wind is necessary in order to negotiate a good score on this long and well-bunkered hole. The green features a deep false front that guards a front pin position. There is a deep bunker placed by the already narrow portion of the right side of the green, which awaits many players misfortune. Since the green is big with undulations, even if the players can hit the green in regulation, putting may be a disaster and potentially ruin a good score.
 
12th Par 4 460 yards
This demanding par 4 consists of a slight dogleg to the left. There is a bunker on both the left and right sides the fairway, which requires either a carry of 230 yards (left) or 280 yards (right) to overcome from the tee shot. The prevailing winds from the left side may affect the position where the ball lands. This is something to be aware of as there is a heavy rough and a bunker on the right that come into play 260 yards off the tee. The green is like a semi-island as the entire left side borders a body of water. Players should aim towards the right center section of the green in order to play it safe.
 

12th Par 4 460 yards (3)

12th Par 4 460 yards (2)

12th Par 4 460 yards (1)
 
13th Par 4 446 yards

13th Par 4 446 yards (2)

13th Par 4 446 yards (1)
The 13th hole is a dogleg left par 4 that has a spectacular view of the ocean and Hong Kong Island, which can be seen on a sunny and clear day. The tee shot is demanding since the landing area is quite narrow. A tee shot of 180 yards is required in order to clear a ravine. However, this is only part of the challenge, as the prevailing winds will push the ball towards the two bunkers and the small lake that is placed on the right side of the hole. The green is elevated and consists of multiple undulations.
 
18th Par 5 543 yards
This spectacular 543-yard hole consists of a sharp dogleg to the left. The more the players cut off the dogleg, the longer a carry is needed. Accuracy is an important factor since the landing area off the downhill tee shot is narrow. If players choose to use a shortcut and aim too much towards the left side of the fairway, they may find themselves looking for their ball inside the valley. However, if players decide to try and play it safe by hitting their ball too much to the right, there is a high chance that the ball will be lost inside a grove. The landing area off the second is quite narrow as there is a ravine on its left, and a large bunker, 60 yards short of the green, on its right, that squeezes the fairway. The third shot will test the players’ accuracy and club selection choice due to the fact that the green is severely elevated, and consists of slopes, with features of a three-tiered section. Putting will become very difficult if the players’ ball lands far away from the pin, or on a different tier.
 

12th Par 4 460 yards (3)

12th Par 4 460 yards (2)

12th Par 4 460 yards (1)
 
19th hole

restaurant

It takes a 40 drive minutes from Central, the center of Hong Kong, to get to Clearwater Bay G&CCb. The clubhouse is very nice and the golf club offers a spectacular ocean view from the pro shop and restaurants. Visitors can play in the morning of weekdays.

Peter Thomson & Ross Perrett ‘s designed golf courses in China are Beijing Links (北京北辰) GC Beijing Yaoshang (北京窑上) GC, Shanghai Binhai (上海濱海) GC, Shanghai Golfking (上海银涛) GC, CITIC Shantou (中信汕頭) GC etc. In Hong Kong they designed Hong Kong GC – Eden Course.