Discovering a city's illustrious history is as good an excuse as any to go golfing
Two of the province's newest and most spectacular courses are located at the Agile Golf & Country Club, which opened in 1999. Boasting two world-class courses and a luxurious clubhouse, Agile is building a premium luxury five-star hotel - yet to be named - which is scheduled to open at year's end. It will have fewer than 100 rooms.
The club is located in the Changjiang Tourist Area of the beautiful Eastern district , where many suburban-type housing projects are under development (see page 19). Designed by the JMP Golf Design Group and Schmidt Curly Golf, respectively, the two courses have been named Golf Club with the Best Fairway Maintenance for three consecutive years. Agile was ranked one of China's Top Ten Golf Clubs in 2001. One of its holes was ranked as one of the world's best the year before. The clubhouse has been ranked the best in Southeast Asia.
One of Agile's two courses is built in hilly terrain; the other is flatter, built around the hills. Tony Yee, sales and marketing manager, explains: 'Beginning golfers will find Course A - with its steeper slopes and water - more difficult. Golfers with lower handicaps, however, tend to find Course B more difficult, interesting, and challenging.'
Both courses are open to members only, but visitors are welcome at the club's Chinese and Western restaurants ('Where to play and eat' below).
The Zhongshan Hot Spring Resort Golf Course also boasts two 18-hole golf courses, both of which are open to the public. A round costs 550 yuan. The first course, completed in 1984, was the first international standard golf course to be built on the mainland post-1949. It was designed by Arnold Palmer. A second course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, was added in 1993.