It takes around 25 minutes by car from Kunming Airport. Because the course
is almost 2000 meters (6000 ft.) above see level, the ball flies about 10%
farther.
The golf course is really excellent. However, it was unfortunate for
me not to be able to play from the 7186-yard black tees. So, I have no
choice but to play from the blue tees of 6372 yards, which is 800 yards
shorter from the officially distance. Because the ball flies higher thanks
to the high altitude, the real distance of the blue tees should be just
around 6000 yards, which is very short for advanced players. To play from
the blue tees is still challenging because of the great layout. However,
it would appeal to advanced players much more if they could play from
the black tees. When I played from the blue tees, the hazards, like the
fairway bunkers, were almost not in play. There are 2 tee placements that
are longer than the blue tees, i.e., the gold and black tees. So, I tried
to hit from the black tee ground without the tees but I was not allowed
to do so. The caddie master told me that the club has never permitted
players including even the members to play from the gold or black tees.
I think that the club should allow good players to use the black tees
as long as they bring single- handicap certificates and promise the club
not to lag behind players in front of them. When I told the caddie master
my opinion, she said that it was a good idea and asked me to write a letter
to the managing director. The club recently opened and the members are
new, so it seems that no one has requested this before. Because I am just
a visitor and don’t know when I’ll visit next, I hope that the club and
the members talk about this issue and solve it.
The other Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed courses in China are Spring
City (春城) G&LR – Lake Course, Shanghai
International (上海國際) CC, Harbour Plaza
(東筦海逸) GC, Trans Strait (海峡奥林匹克) GC, Yalong
Bay (亞龍灣) GC and in Hong Kong Discovery
Bay (愉景灣) GC.
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3rd Par 4 463 yards (3)