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| It is a flat course developed
near the ocean with a really neat layout of lakes and bunkers. Over 100 bunkers
make this course strategic and the north wind from the ocean makes it even more
challenging. Also, precision approach shots are needed to ensure a good score
here because most greens are a little elevated and many fairways in front of the
greens are squeezed by the bunkers on both sides protecting the greens. Each hole
is separated by water or trees, which is good. It is a long and difficult course
but a fair course because there are few blind holes and you know where to hit,
so it is fun to play. |
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When you drive off the tee, the
trees ahead give you some visual pressure. Bunkers are superbly positioned around
the green swung to the left, so you need to make a high shot dead at the pin.
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| Various bunkers are visually and
strategically well-placed. |
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A long dogleg right with water
along the right side. The left side of the lake is this 9th hole and the right
side is the 18th, sharing the same lake. The luxurious and luminous clubhouse
behind the green always comes into sight on this hole. |
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A nice and demanding par 3 with
trees on the left and bunkers and water on the right. An accurate fairway wood
shot is needed on this hole. |
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| Another
neat hole with nicely positioned bunkers. It combines the natural landscape, local
trees and soil. The green is elevated and the bunkers on both sides come into
play. There is also a water hazard further left bordering the left bunker. |
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| A very short par 4 but it demands
your “A” game plan. From the tee you must decide whether to play safe to the left
with an iron or a fairway wood, or go for it with a driver over the water. The
layout deceives you because it looks easy to carry over the water. But in fact
you need to hit a carry of 280 yards. Even a pro can’t reach the fairway bordering
the pond especially when hitting against the wind. |
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It takes 30 minutes from Haikou Airport and 15 minutes from
Haikou city by car. There is a 5 star hotel inside the clubhouse, which looks
like a palace. There is West
Coast (西海岸) GC next to the club, sharing the same scenic
coastline. I arrived at the airport at 12:10 from Hong Kong. I went directly
to the course after the immigration and could finish 18 holes without difficulty.
I finished at 5:40 p.m. and no lighting was needed. If your former groups play
very slowly or your starting time is late, you can still finish playing because
the back 9 holes are floodlight. I was able to play from the longest tees without
communicating with the caddie master.
The other Colin Montgomery designed courses in Asia are Golden
Gulf (金湾) GC in China, Raon GC in Korea, and
Montgomery
Golf Links in Vietnam.
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A coastline seen from 11th