HONG KONG
Between the heights of Victoria Peak and the pressures of land
acquisition in downtown sky-rise Hong Kong, there is little free space for
anything as large as a golf course and golfers will consequently find the best satisfaction
in the New Territories and Lantau Island.
There are, however, a few driving ranges and
golf courses on Hong Kong Island, such as the 9-hole Deepwater Bay Course run
by Hong Kong Golf Club, though visitor access is restricted to weekdays. The only
18-hole course on the island is the Shek O Golf and Country Club, but unavailable for play unless
you are a member or can acquire an invitation.
By contrast, the uninhabited island of Kau Sai Chau
offers three 18 hole public golf courses, run by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, being the
6,796 yard North and 5,906 yard south courses, designed by Gary Player and the
newer 6.640 yard East Course by Nelson and Haworth.
On Lantau Island, sited on its northeast coast, the 27-
hole Robert Trent Jones Jr Discovery Bay Golf Club is the most easily
accessible of Hong Kong’s golf courses, if you’re staying downtown. Comprised
of three very satisfying and often challenging 9-hole layouts, the 3,341 yard
Diamond, 3,348 yard Ruby and 3,257 Jade courses sit together at 230 metres above sea
level and offer splendid views of the South China Sea, Victoria Harbour and
Sunset Peak.
Also at Lantau, adjacent to Hong Kong International
Airport, the 9-hole 1,671 yard Sky City Nine Eagles Golf Course features a heavily
bunkered 3rd hole and an island green at the 7th, and is also usefully playable at night.
In the New Territories, Clearwater Bay Golf and Country
Club is a very scenic 18-hole 6,571 yard championship course, jutting
picturesquely out to sea on a craggy peninsula and comprises a highland nine
and Ocean Nine and provides for an interesting and sometimes challenging round.
Other than their 9-hole layout at Deepwater Bay, Hong
Kong Golf Club have a further championship facility at Fanling in the New
Territories, home of the Hong Kong Open and comprised of the 6,060 yard Eden
Course and the 6,531 yard New Course. As with Deepwater, non-member access is restricted
to weekdays and the dress code is very strict.
MACAU
Although diminutive Macau has unsurprisingly few choices
for golfing, it nevertheless offers some opportunities for play, the best of which can be
found at Macau Golf and Country Club, home to a beautiful, interesting and
challenging 18-hole 6,263 yard championship parkland course.
Situated at the
Westin Resort on Coloane Island, with some holes bordering the shore, and
providing good views over Hac Sa Beach and the South China Sea, the course is a pleasure to play, though it should be
noted that the course is open only to guests staying at the resort. Also on Coloane Island, the Orient Golf Club has a worthy
18-hole 7,183 yard links style course.
Alternatively, Caesar’s Golf Macau is a tough
18-hole 6,889 yard links style course situated at the southern end of the Cotai
entertainment district, with water a strong feature of play on fourteen of its
holes, and is also home to the Butch Harmon School of Golf.