.gif) HONG KONG
Golfing in the "City of
Life"
 Where to play
During the British occupation, golfing on
the exclusive Royal Hong Kong Golf Club course was a privilege.
Nowadays golf has become more popular and there are already
5 golf clubs (4 private and one public):
- the Hong Kong Golf Club at Deep Water Bay (9 hole)
- the Hong Kong Golf Club at Fanling (3 x 18 hole)
- Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club (18 hole)
- The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau (public) (2 x 18 hole)
- Discovery Bay Golf Club at Lantau (27 hole)
and two driving range : OGC Golf City and City Golf Club.
First of all, the most ancient 9-hole located in the
backyard of the famous Deep Water Bay beach is still
there with its strict centenial British club-house decorated with old pictures from the
opening times in 1898. Even private, visitors are welcome on Monday through Friday. The
layout of the nine holes par-28 (8 par-3 and one par-4) is a test of short game with no
margin for error as almost every shot has to be at the flag. Do not underestimate this
little course which is the oldest part of the exclusive Hong
Kong Golf Club which opened in 1911 its first of three 18-holes at about
an hour drive from there, at Fanling in the New
Territories. Even reserved to its 2500 members, visitors are welcome but only on weekdays
and they have to comply as all members with the strict dress codes of the club. Due to the
number of players admitted every day on the courses, playing times are strictly controlled
by marshals who trip all around the courses and admonish slow players. The three courses
are known as the "Old Course", the "New Course" opened in 1931 and the
"Eden Course" in 1970. Hong Kong Golf Club is the home of the Hong Kong Open and
Arnold Palmer, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer among many others have played its fairways
lined by beautiful high trees (which is very pleasant even if shots have to be more
accurate). Unfortunately some of those magnificent trees will have to be cut down to
enlarge the very busy main road to Canton which goes alongside some of the holes of the
Eden course.
The gorgeous
Clear Water Bay Golf and Country Club has been conceived by keen members
of the Hong Kong Golf Club and is located in the outskirts of Hong Kong along the Saikung
Peninsula where they usually anchored their boats. The trip takes about 45 minutes drive
over the new bridges and new settlements but it is worth, Clearwater Bay being blessed by
a stunning environment removed from the hustle and bustle of the Hong Kong's city life. It
is said that it has a touch of Pebble Beach or Cypress Point. In fact, the 18-hole course
takes advantage of a rugged natural landscape which offers breathtaking views of mountains
and sea. It is also said that the Ocean Nine has the reputation of being
"perhaps" the most beautiful nine in the world. Let's say they are exciting and
challenging. The back nine called Highland requires accuracy in all shots for successful
score. But wind forms a major element at any hole. Number 14 is the signature hole and has
been ranked in the 500 best holes in the world and the 24th in Asia. In the elegant
club-house, the Horizons restaurant overlooks course and landscape. Visitors are welcome
on weekdays but on weekends, guests are only allowed when signed in by a member.
(Continuation on next page)
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The former "Royal" logo is
still at Deep Water Bay
and
Fanling Hong Kong Club
Clear Water Bay has two sides: sea and mountain
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