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Mission Hills Golf Club – Olazabal Course
觀瀾湖高爾夫球會、奧拉沙寶球場
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| Numerous majestic vistas of untouched jungle and natural streams create outstanding backdrop throughout the course. The undulating concave fairways are another distinguishing feature. The course also features many bunkers on all holes. The 15th hole has 24 bunkers and all the bunkers in the course are strategically placed and provide the course with a charming appearance. It also features numerous contoured greens which makes putting very challenging. The curves of the greens and the bunkers create an artistic beauty. There are five par 5s, all of them are super quality. You will often be faced on how to play each hole - take the safe and conservative route, or the risk/reward route. The 2007 was held on this course. |
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| A downhill par 5 reachable in 2. Bunkers guarding the left side of the fairway are 260 yards away off the tee. A creek runs 60-90 yards in front of the green and might stop your attempt to aim for the green in 2. The green is shallow and well guarded in the front by a big bunker. | |||
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| Almost a straight hole with a downhill second shot. Bunkers and bushes on the right side of the fairway come into play off the tee. Bunkers surrounding the green look intimidating. | |||
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| A signature hole. The view from the tee is breathtaking for both playing and scenic beauty. The tight fairway is a dogleg to the left and further to the left around an enormous reservoir. Water guards a series of bunkers all the way to the green. The second shot has 2 options. Laying up short of the creek 150 yards in front of the green and leaving an approach shot of about 170 yards over water. In this case an aureate middle iron shot is required. The second option is to clear the creek with a fairway wood then you can use a short iron or a wedge on the approach shot and the water doesn’t come into play so much. However, the second fairway shot should be long and precise otherwise, you could be in the bunkers guarding both sides of the fairway or in the lake on the left side of the fairway. The green has some interesting contours, so putting is also demanding. | |||
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| A long dogleg to the left with the green swung further to the left, a very demanding and intimidating hole. Water comes into paly from the tee to the green and rock walls support the edge of the fairway. The tee shot is over water and you are tempted to cut off the dogleg in order to avoid the very long second shot. However, if you draw it too much your ball could be in water. The second shot is to hit to the peninsula shaped, slihgtly elevated green, protruding into the lake. It is guarded by water on the left and by a bunker on the right. If in any doubt about reaching the green in 2, then playing short of the bunker is the safe option. Make par her, you'll feel ready to celebrate. | |||
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The course is one of 5 that were competed in Dungguan in 2003 and 2004. It takes 20 minutes from Mission Hill Hotel in Shenzhen by a shuttle bus. I could play from the black tees, the longest tees, after I showed a starter a single-handicap certificate. | ||
Mission Hills GC is the world’s biggest golf complex with 10 courses or 180 holes as of 2004, overtaking the huge Pinehurst resort in North Carolina, which has eight 18-hole courses. The picture shows the 10 designers who are all world-famous players or a teaching pro. The 10 courses are designed by Jack Nicklaus, Vijay Singh, Nick Faldo, Jumbo Ozaki, Ernie Els, Annika Sorenstam, David Duval, Jose Maria Olazabal, David Leadbetter and Greg Norman. Co-designers, Lee Schmidt & Brian Curley are the principal architects behind the 8 of the 10 courses. They designed the other courses in Asia, Amata Spring CC, Muang Kaew GC (remodeled), Chiang Mai Highlands G＆SR, Amata Spring CC in Thailand, Grande Hamanako GC in Japan and Agile (雅居楽長江) G&CC - B Course in China. Their joint designs with
Jack Nicklaus in Asia are Spring
City (春城) Ｇ＆ＬＲ - Mountain Course, Chung
Shan Hot Spring (中山温泉) GC - Jack Nicklaus Course in
China, Ishioka GC, Rokkou Kokusai GC (remodeled), The Tradition GC, President
GC, Sanyo GC (remodeled), New Capital GG, Sun Belgravia GC, Bear Paws Japan GC
in Japan, Sungai Long CC in Malaysia, and Springfield Royal CC in Thailand. | ||
3rd Par 5 548 yards (3)