Birdies, eagles ... and ducks
Pine Valley Sports & Country Club is located about an hour's drive from the Zhuhai pier in a mountainous setting near Wushan town. It features both a gun club and a bird farm with thousands of ducks, turkeys, pheasants and other wild fowl roaming around the course. With some dramatic elevation changes and some good use of water, this championship course is one of the hidden gems of Guangdong province. Until the end of August, the Pine Valley Sports & Country Club is offering a weekday Stay and Play package (twin sharing) for 600 yuan a person that includes unlimited golf. A mandatory caddie and electric cart split between two people will cost another 360 yuan. Transport to the course will cost extra. A weekend package with caddie, cart and transport costs 880 yuan. To enjoy this package, a minimum of four golfers is required. A similar deal that includes accommodation costs 1,050 yuan, while two rounds and a night's stay at the on-course hotel is 1,830 yuan. (Tel: 28278307)
Dramatic edge to the design
With 13 courses on the island, Hainan has quickly become a golfer's paradise for its variety of excellent layouts. The West Coast Golf Club, located outside the northern city of Haikou, was the first mainland course created by the Dye Design Group, a company headed by the daughter of famed US designer Pete Dye. The two-year-old hillside layout features dramatic views of the harbour, sea and city skyline in the distance, and has been designed with the goal of becoming one of the top 100 courses in the world. The spectacular par-five 17th is the standout hole with its views of the harbour and the city beyond, making for a memorable finish. The Meritus Mandarin Hotel in Haikou is offering a stay-and-play package that includes a night's accommodation (twin sharing), an American breakfast buffet and a round of golf with caddie for 1,350 yuan for two. For single players, the price is 890 yuan. (Tel: +86 898 68521318)
Golf getaways for Thai-fliers