JUSTINE MOSS treads the well-mown fairways of the region’s recommended courses

WITH A NUMBER OF EXCELLENT COURSES IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD AND MORE springing up at a rapid pace, golfers in Asia Paci? c have long been spoilt for choice. Established gol? ng meccas like Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia have increased course numbers, while Vietnam and China, and to a certain extent Cambodia, have made quantum leaps in their status as serious golf destinations. Here are the ones which deserve a special mention:

MISSION HILLS Shenzhen, China

Mission Hills Golf Club, the world’s largest golf club according to the Guinness Book of Records, is spread out over 15 sq km, between Shenzhen and Dongguan. Its 12 courses, including 216 holes, were designed by some of the best names in the business, including Singh, Faldo, Nicklaus, Sorenstam and Els. The resort-like, Nicklaus-designed World Cup course is a good one to get started on, but if you’re in need of a challenge from the off, a round on the dif? cult Greg Norman course is your best bet – though considering all the signs warning golfers about snakes, try not to trudge through the undergrowth looking for lost balls. Allow a few days to pack in as many different layouts as you can – they really are worth it – and the Jose Maria Olazabal course (venue for the World Cup) should be one of these; your sand wedge may come in handy with its 154 bunkers spaced out over 18 holes. Facilities at Mission Hills include the world’s largest clubhouse at its Dongguan site (65,000 sq
m), a country club housing Asia’s largest tennis centre (51 tennis courts), three spas, a ? ve-star hotel and three golf academies.

1 Mission Hills Road, tel: +86 755 2802 0888, www.missionhillsgroup.com

THE MONTGOMERIE LINKS Danang, Vietnam

Opened in August 2009, this course was the newest in Vietnam at the time of writing. The championship 18-hole par-72 layout, designed by European Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie, is stunning, with backdrops of The Marble Mountains and the China Beach coast. Bunkering is very much a feature of this US$5 million course, with around 120 of them spread over the 18 holes – the 12th alone has 17 – and each one is strategically placed around the green. While there is no signature hole per se, a couple deserve a special mention. The par-5 12th is a beauty and, at 481m from the Monty tees, it’s one of the longest on the course. It requires three strategically placed shots to get your way around the bunkers and once on the green you’re almost guaranteed an uphill putt. The ? nishing hole is superb and the longest, at 538m, though it’s a real possibility to get a birdie on the hole before retiring to the clubhouse in high spirits.

Future plans include a 54-villa development, but the 703,000 sq m property currently has a superb modern clubhouse with a restaurant and bar, pro-shop, driving range and a golf academy. Thon 1, Dien Duong, Dien Ban, Quang Nam Province, tel: +84 510 394 1942, www.montgomerielinks.com

SAUJANA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

With nicknames like The Cobra and The Crocodile, you know you’re in for a challenge when teeing up on the Ronald Fream-designed Palm and Bunga Raya courses.

The venue for the Malaysian Open, the Palm course is a treat to play on, and has been credited with having the most challenging par-3 in the country (the 157m second hole), winning a slew of awards in the process including Best Championship Course in Asia. The Bunga Raya course, which only has nine holes open for play until mid-2010 due to upgrading, has more open space than the Palm. In the meantime do try out a full 18 on the Palm, where the third hole par-5 is a true reflection of the club’s name ‘Saujana’, which means ‘as far as the eye can see’; the tee boxes are perched some 25 to 30m above the fairways looking down across to the greens in the distance. Both courses are situated an hour’s drive from KL’s international airport, so are perfect for a long weekend. Be sure to give boutique resort The Club at The Saujana a glance. Kelana Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, tel: +603 7846 1466, http://saujana.com.my

DLF GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB Delhi, India

Host of the Hero Honda Indian Open, this 57-hectare property features a ? rst-class 18-hole Arnold Palmer-designed course, as well as a sporting complex with tennis and squash courts, swimming pool and health club. Situated only 15 minutes from the international airport, the course, which also offers night golf, was awarded the 2007 and 2008 Best Course in the Sub Continent by Asian Golf Monthly. In typical Palmer style, beauty has played a heavy role in the course design, with rolling fairways, ? ve lakes and a few thousand trees providing a good challenge for both novice and experienced golfers. As Palmer himself describes it, “I try to give the player a course where good shots are rewarded. The course reproaches you for the bad shots – you just try harder.” DLF City, Phase-V, Gungaon, tel: +91 124 452 5274, www.dlfgolfresort.com

THE CUT GOLF COURSE Dawesville, Western Australia

An hour’s drive south of Perth and flanking the Indian Ocean, since The Cut opened in 2005 the 72-par course has consistently been placed in golf course rankings, and in March 2008 was voted number one in Western Australia. The coastal, links-style course can get a tad windy, so rather than swinging your trusty driver on many of these holes, a safer bet may be to use a long iron or a hybrid.

The Cut has a number of luxurious self-contained villas on the property where you can immerse yourself in the countryside, not to mention the ocean views, before heading south. If you just want to drive to The Cut for the day, it’s perfectly possible to have a leisurely round before heading back to Perth, though the journey wouldn’t be complete without a detour to sample the fruits of Margaret River’s well-known wineries. Country Club Drive, Dawesville, tel: +61 (0)8 9582 4444, www.the-cut.com.au