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The California County Golf Club is a flat but distinct course with an
official theme of “desert & canyon”. The CCGC has a total of 27 holes
that are all divided up into three 9-hole courses: the A Course, B Course
and C Course. The A Course, known as the “Forest Nine”, features tight
tree-lined fairways. The B Course, known as the “River Nine”, is a course
that is highlighted by heavily undulating greens. The C Course has has
a desert-style theme due to the fact that there are several dunes that
run alongside the arid riverbed. I personally believe that the B&C
courses are the most enjoyable 18-holes to play. Although the steepness
of some of the greens can distract the play, strategically placed obstacles
such as bunkers, bush water hazards and natural small hills makes up for
it as each of these obstacles offers quite a challenge. Since there is
an abundance of natural sand dunes, players will feel as if they are playing
in an Arizona or Nevada desert. There are talks that the club plans to
double its existing size and create a golf club with a total of 54 holes
long in the near future.
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| A par five that opens up with a dogleg bend to the left, followed
by a bend to the right. Both sides of the narrow landing area face bodies
of waters. This will require both the tee and second shots to have a great
deal of accuracy. The tee shot can be quite difficult due to the fact that
the landing area is very narrow. Players should also look out for the fairway
bunker that is strategically placed about 255 yards off the tee. Finally,
the small green is and guarded by a bunker on its left and a creek and slope
on its right. |
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| This forth hole is a long par five that consists of a dogleg
that bends to the right with an over-the-lake tee shot. Although aiming
towards the right side would be the easier decision, a carry of 240 yards
is necessary in order to clear a strategically fairway bunker. Players should
look out for a series of trees that are placed on the right side of the
relatively deep green. |
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The seventh hole is a par three that will require the ball to be hit over
a bus field. Players should watch out for the series trees that are placed
on the left side of the green. The green itself is deep and strongly slopes
from back to front. |
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This hole is a par four that consists of a dogleg that bends to the left.
The slightly downhill tee shot has a limited landing area on the right side
due to a strategically placed hill some 230 yards off the tee. If players
decide to conquer this hill on their tee shot, they must also take into
consideration the second hill that is about 260 yards off the left side
of the tee. The green slopes slightly from back to front and is surrounded
by bunkers on its front, left and right sides. |
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| The eleventh hole is deigned with a dogleg that first bends
to the left, and then another that bends towards the right. The tee shot
will either require players to conquer, or play short the hill that is strategically
placed some 235 yards off the tee. The players must be careful on the second
shot, as there are several obstacles that are placed on the left side on
the hole. These obstacles include bunkers, a limestone hill, and bush stretching
out short of the deep green. |
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A two hundred yard long par three with an over-the-lake tee shot. Players
should watch out for the ridge that runs along the center. The green slopes
from front to back. |
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This par three is a downhill over-the-lake short. The bunkers and the green
of this hole are designed to look like a giant’s footmark. If the pin is
placed on the left side, players will need to look out for the bush that
comes into play. The green consists strong undulations, making putting quite
difficult. |
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| The finishing hole is a difficult par four that consists of
a dogleg that bends to the right. The second shot will require the ball
to be hit on a slightly uphill slope and land on a deep and narrow green
that is guarded by a well-placed bunker on its right. |
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It is an hour and ten-minute drive to get to the California County Golf
Club from central Beijing. Visitors are able to play at this course though
golf booking agencies. The longest tees are open to anyone.
The designer is Taiwanese and his other designed courses in China are
Shaanxi Royal International GC and Yinchuan Yellow River Wetland
(银川黄河) GC, among others.
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2nd Par 5 588 yards(3)