Challenging courses place Sanya at the heart of golf in Asia
Players visit in the spring, summer and autumn to test their skills on some of the most toughest and beautiful greens in the region
With abundant sunshine and more than a dozen top courses, it’s no wonder that Sanya is at the beating heart of golf in Asia. While a majority of golfers come from mainland China, others from Hong Kong and South Korea comprise the majority of foreign visitors, says Julian Wong, general manager of the Sanya Marriott Hotel Dadonghai Bay.
“Opposite to Sheraton Sanya Resort, the Yalong Bay Golf Club is the leading 18-hole course,” says Ulf Pauschardt, general manager of the Sheraton Sanya Resort at Yalong Bay. A host of other courses offer layouts that are equally challenging and beautiful. The nearby Sun Valley Golf Course offers expansive greens and what is billed as China’s first par-six hole. The Hainan Sanya International Golf Club is also well-regarded.
Other courses worth a visit include the Dragon Valley Golf Course, the Mystic Springs Golf Club and the Sanya Luhuitou Golf Club, according to Christophe Hazebrouck, area general manager for Accor Hotels in Hainan (Luxury and Upscale Brands) and general manager of Sofitel Sanya Leeman Resort. Course fees in the area typically start at just north of 800 yuan (HK$934) per player for a twosome, including green fees and a caddie, and depending on the season. Golf packages that include lodging at a nearby premium resort can sweeten the deal for many avid golfers.
“We have groups that come and we can make tailor-made packages including transportation, dinner and packed lunches,” says Stephan Stoss, general manager of the Hilton Sanya Yalong Bay Resort and Spa and Hainan South Cluster general manager.
Golf groups tend to buy packages in combinations of twosomes and foursomes. “It’s typically eight to 12 golfers, a group of friends who travel to different destinations, China one year, Australia the next,” Stoss says.
For people who want to try [golf], clubs offer training courses and time on the driving range
Players tend to visit in the spring, summer and autumn, says Wong. While the number of golfers dwindles in the winter, “clubs provide compelling packages to attract local golf lovers and learners”, Wong adds.
While the sport has been regarded in China as something of an elite activity, local officials and courses are working hard to change that perception and to widen the pool of golfers. Changing preconceptions and growing the market will involve “a marketing team approach to be borne by both hotels and the Sanya Tourism Bureau”, Hazebrouck says.
As a part of the outreach effort, the Yalong Bay Golf Club each autumn hosts the Sanya Ladies Open, which is sanctioned by golf tours in both Asia and Europe. Besides providing exposure for Sanya golf overseas, the tournament provides a beacon showcasing the sport for women in China and beyond.
“Courses are catering more and more to newcomers,” Stoss says. “For people who want to try it, clubs offer training courses and time on the driving range. It’s a very mixed group that comes and you often see women in their golfing outfits in the hotel.”
In order to develop a new generation of golfers, clubs are actively reaching out to young learners. “Some golf courses open learning courses for students in middle school, aiming to promote the sport to the younger generation,” Wong notes.
