ABOUT GOLF IN CHINA
Most are aware that over the past 10 to 15 years China’s economy has grown enormously and with that growth and resultant increase in wealth the rapidly expanding middle class have taken up golf at a prodigious rate.
This growth in golf means that as at 2008 there were over 400 championship golf courses in China spread throughout all the provinces. Based on our experience we can say that golfers would enjoy playing each and every one of them.
CTS Tours in collaboration with very experienced Australian golf operators who have specialised in China, have developed a series of tours that focus primarily in the southern and western provinces of China. This is because typically the year round weather is more suited to golf in these areas and these areas also feature the highest density of awesome quality courses. CTS Tours can arrange golf for you throughout China and can arrange tours for 2 to 200 people.
Guangdong Province
Guangdong Province is the southernmost province on the Chinese mainland and alone features over 130 golf courses and golf resorts. The capital of Guangdong Province, in the northern part, is Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton). There are some 15 excellent golf courses within the immediate city area of Guangzhou.
Based around the Pearl River delta Guangdong has a sub tropical climate (much like southern Queensland) and golf is played 12 months of the year. Shenzhen is the largest city in the south of the province (about a 2 hour freeway drive south of Guangzhou). Shenzhen borders Hong Kong and the New Territories.
30 minutes north of Shenzhen is the officially rated world’s No. 1 golf complex – the redoubtable Mission Hills. Visit the Mission Hills website - http://www.missionhillsgroup.com Mission Hills is essentially a very exclusive private members club that allows international hotel guests to stay, play and enjoy the amazing facilities. Missions Hills is home to two 5 star hotels and 12 full championship golf courses (the 12 courses are over 3 separate complexes, each with their own spectacular clubhouse). Ten of these fabulous courses are available for play to international and resort guests.
In addition Mission Hills boasts 4 health and day spas, 54 tennis courts, 16 restaurants, 3 golfing academies
(including the famous David Leadbetter academy), 3 driving ranges and practice areas, and much more. An absolute “must do” for all lovers of golf.
Approximately one hour north of Mission Hills is the city of Dongguan, one of the wealthiest cities in China,and home to the Sofitel Golf Resort which features Hillview Golf & Country Club. The accommodation is superb and Hillview is rated in the top 10 courses in China. Hillview features 36 holes made up of four separate and unique 9 hole configurations. Night golf is an unforgettable experience and very widely used in China. Night golf at Hillview is an experience every golfer should enjoy. Visit the Hillview Golf Club website and the Sofitel Golf Resort at - http://www.hillviewgolf.com & http://www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-6586-sofitel-dongguan-golfresort
Hainan Island
Off the south west coast of China and off the eastern coast of Vietnam Hainan Island is China’s tropical paradise. Sanya, the main city on the southern most part of the island is often referred to as the Hawaii or Barbados of China. Hainan is largely an undiscovered jewel for most Australians and not the type of tropical wonderland you would normally associate with China.
Yalong Bay is approximately 20 minutes up the coast form Sanya and is home to more than 10 international 5 star resorts which are all mostly situated right on the beach. This is a truly beautiful part of the world.
Golfers are well catered for with 10 courses in the Sanya area. Two of the very best are in Yalong Bay, Yalong Bay Country Club (designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr) and Sun Valley Golf and Country Club (which features the only par 6 hole in China – 824 yards long off the back tees!)
A visit to Hainan Island and Sanya ensures a very relaxed, stress free golfing break with a host of other resort style activities. You can relax with a soothing beach massage while sipping a cold drink, snorkel, scuba dive, wind surf, para-glide, enjoy incredible seafood and some of the best golf you can image.
Yunnan Province
At western extremity of China Yunnan Province is rapidly becoming the golf mecca of China. The weather all year round is ideal for golf, with low humidity, temperatures that average around 22 to 25 Celsius and crystal clear skies. It doesn’t get any better. The capital and main city is Kunming (about a 2 hour flight form Guangzhou or Hong Kong). Kunming has a number of superb golf courses, but the undisputed best is Spring City Resort(approx 30 minutes out of Kunming).
Spring City is so named because of the ideal weather; it is like spring all year. The resort has two golf courses, the Lakeside – designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr and the Mountainside – designed by Jack Nicklaus. These two courses are constantly rated No.1 and No. 2 in China, which places them amongst the very best anywhere in the world. Spring City is at 5,000 feet altitude and set beside a magnificent clear volcanic
lake. The vistas are breathtaking and the courses and their year round conditioning just have to be seen to be believed. The courses are maintained so well, you may even think you are playing Augusta.
A visit to Spring City is an absolute “must do” for anyone who enjoys golf.
A forty minute flight north of Kunming is the city of Lijang. A truly unique city which stills maintains the dress and culture of the local indigenous population. Only 20 minutes north of this amazing city is Jade Dragon Mountain Golf Course. This is the highest and longest golf course in the world. At 10,000 feet above sea level, you will hit the ball much further than you can imagine. Reaching another 5,000 feet into the sky and overlooking the course is the snow capped Jade Dragon Mountain. The only way to really appreciate this totally unique experience is to come with us and play Jade Dragon Mountain.