Address | Tang Zhi, Yi Liang, Yunnan, China |
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007 booking hotline | +852 2180 2963 or book-on-line |
Number of holes | 18 |
Par / Length | 72 / 7,453 yards (Back Tee) |
Designer | Jack Nicklaus |
On Course Traffic | Buggy (may access fairway on dry weather) |
Scorecard / Starter / Resort(1, 2, 3)
Introduction
Spring City has been rated as Number one golf course in China by US Golf Digest. From Hong Kong, the flying hours to Kunming is around 2 hours 15 mins. Then another one hour ride from airport to Spring City. Here you find 36 holes – Mountainview course by Jack Nicklaus and Lakeview course by Robert Trent Jones Jr.
As a China’s number one , how good will it be?
Club Facilities & Service
The clubhouse is quite big and comfortable. It consisted of 2 restaurants, lobby lounge, proshop, Spa treatment, foot and body massage, conference room etc. There are also hotel rooms and villas. The service is not bad.
Fairway & Green maintenance
It was absolutely perfect when my last visit on 2005. You don’t even see a divot on next morning as they replaced them with new turf.
This time (July 2009) I’m a bit disappointed though the quality is still very high. I’d been told that they are under maintenance and it will last for a few week.
The quality of the turf can be seen here. rare or done?
Caddy Service & knowledge
Very informative and helpful
Course Design
Mountain course was opened at 1992 and designed by Jack Nicklaus. This is my favourite Jack’s design course so far I played. It is less forgiving than the others (reasonably wide fairways) and very interesting features with doglegs hole, Island green, long carry holes, a lot of elevation change. The challenge also comes from the wind when it blows. The lightning greens isn’t easy to handle if you get use to the slow one in Guangdong’s courses.
Photos
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Upslope fairway. Landing area is quite tight. Not an easy hole especially when wind blows.
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Downslope teeshot. The elevated green is guarded by numerous bunkers.
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A short Par 3
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Downslope teeshot. Ideal shot is to get over the left bunker which require a 250 yards drive. The two tiers green is elevated.
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Dogleg right, downslope fairway. Teeshot aim left of bunker. Keep away from the right greenside bunker, could be very troublesome.
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Dogleg left, 230 yards over left bunkers.
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Need 210 yards carry if you go for the right. The fairway then goes downslope to green.
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Short but windy Par 3
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Aim bunker (210 yards clear), you will gain some rolling as the fairway goes downward.
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Dogleg right. Downslope teeshot. Main defense from right greenside bunkers.
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Downslope teeshot, the landing area is surrounded by bunkers.
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Downslope straight forward hole
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Downhill Mid range Par 3
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Short Par 4, the water force you to aim right, a decent drive will only leave yourself less than 100 yards to green.
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The fairway is generous and stretches downslope.
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Mid range Par 3 with a two tiers green
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Downslope dogleg right, green is surrounded by bunkers. Beautiful hole, isn’t it?
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An interesting closing hole. You need to drive as close as you can to the edge in order to leave yourself an easier approaching which require to clear ravern.
007’s Rating
Good weather, interesting course, high quality course maintenance (Though not perfect as before), what can I want more?
If I have to say, there are rooms of improvement off the course e.g. hotel rooms and villas, more facilities.
The best season to visit is arouns August to September where the flower blooms.
Overall, due to maintenance, drawback to an Ace! 07/09 and sure I will not hesistate to give back an Albatross when the condition back to perfect!
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