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This is a seaside, not links, course laid out on a flat terrain along
Yangtze River. Some tees and greens are elevated, providing minor ups & downs through the course. Wind plays a significant factor. Sometimes
you may feel strong winds on the elevated tees but only a minor breeze
on your second shot. Don't let this fool you as strong winds are actually
prevailing up in the air and you might end up with the wrong club selections.
Likewise, when you hit down to lower greens, you will feel strong winds
but your shot won't be too affected by strong winds because of the lighter
breezes lower down. Overall, the course is interesting and creates many
illusions to players. Even if there is no wind, the course is a very high
quality, challenging layout. You will feel like you're playing in Scotland
thanks to a links style atmosphere and testing winds throughout the entire
course. There are 5 par 4s over 450 yards and they become extremely difficult
on head winds. The landing areas of the tee shots are generous, but closer
to the green more hazards will come into play to pressure you on the approaches.
I think Shanghai Links is one of the best of the Nicklaus designed courses
in the world regarding its great layout and the above mentioned magical
illusions.
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A slight dogleg to the left with the green swung further to the left. The
left side of the fairway touches a lake. The lake squeezes the fairway in
front of the green, so the approach shot is over water. |
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| A difficult hole over a lake. The green has two faces which
divide into left and right with a much lower left side. When the pin is
on the left, the hole becomes very demanding as the left of the green borders
the lake. When you take precaution of the left lake and hit safely to the
right side of the green, you might have a risk of 3 or 4 putts because of
strong undulations. A bunker in front of the green also comes into play |
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A gentle uphill, long par 3. It is actually much longer due to a head wind.
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| A relatively short par 5. It is possible to hit the green
in 2 as you play with a tail wind. The hole doglegs slightly to the right
100 yards in front of the green. |
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| A long straight hole. The tee shot requires you to clear
a water. A long hitter can aim the route over bunkers on the right side.
To play safe, you should hit the left half of the fairway. The left side
of the green is protected by a bunker. |
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A long par 4. This hole is very challenging as wind often blows against
you. You can drive hard as the fairway is wide but the demanding second shot needs the distance as well as accuracy because a lake makes inroads into the fairway in front of the green. |
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| A signature hole, a slight dogleg to the left. Both the tee
and second shots require you to clear water. If you are short of the green
on the approach, the lake will catch your ball, and if you are long over
the green, you are likely to hit a demanding shot from the heavy rough.
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| An almost straight hole. The layout of bunkers on the tee
shot is excellent. The tee shot from the elevated tee is gentle downhill
and the approach shot is gentle uphill. |
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You need to have a member’s introduction or to be accompanied by a member
to play here. The club is very close to the Shanghai international airport,
just a 15 minute-drive, so I saw a lot of airplanes while playing. It
takes 50 minutes from ai by car and free shuttle buses are available from
the downtown.
The official clubhouse has not yet been completed for the last 6 years
since the opening, but the restaurant in the temporary clubhouse was comfortable.
I could freely choose which tees to play.
The other Jack Nicklaus designed courses in China are Chung
Shan Hot Spring (中山溫泉)GC – Jack Nicklaus Course,
Pine Valley International (華彬國際)GC, Spring
City (春城) G&LR – Mountain Course, Palm
Island (棕櫚島) GC, Wuyi Fountain Palm (江門五邑蒲蔡)
GC, Hangzhou West Lake International (杭州西湖國際) G&CC,
Suzhou Sunrise (蘇州中興) GC, Nanhu
(南湖) GCC, Mission
Hill (觀蘭湖) GC – World Cup Course.
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3rd Par 4 410 yards (2)