Shenzhen Golf Club

Established in 1985, Shenzhen Golf Club (SGC) is one of the pioneering golf clubs in China. It holds the distinction of being the closest club to Hong Kong, requiring just a 10-minute taxi ride or a nominal fee of about 20 RMB from the Huang Gang Border.

Historically, Shenzhen Golf Club has attracted a significant number of Japanese and Korean members, and the original A/B Course was designed by the esteemed golfer Isao Aoki, also known as ‘The Tower.’ Nelson & Haworth, the renowned designers behind notable courses like Century Seaview and Sheshan International in Shanghai, were entrusted with renovating the A/B course and introducing the newer C course, which they executed with excellence.

Shenzhen Golf Club’s A/B Course hosted the 2006 Volvo China Open, won by England’s Paul Casey in a playoff against his compatriot Oliver Wilson. The club boasts modern and stylish decor, incorporating ample glass and light wood elements. Surprisingly, the service is commendable and not as snobbish as one might expect from an exclusive establishment. The A/C Course offers sublime tees and fairways, while the greens, although recently cored, still perform well albeit at a slightly slower pace.

Despite the absence of rough, Shenzhen Golf Club presents a considerable challenge due to its unforgiving greens. While you can afford to be a bit wayward off the tee without losing a ball, venturing too far from the manicured fairways may leave you behind one of the picturesque lychee trees. The bunkers play their part as well, although extracting yourself from the fairway traps is relatively manageable.

However, the same cannot be said for the greenside bunkers, which are numerous and demanding, much like the greens themselves. Brushing up on your short-game skills is advisable before tackling them, as the undulations can make chip and pitch shots quite tricky.