Travel

The TPC San Antonio Experience

Published

6 years ago

Mar 11, 2020

There are few places I enjoy playing golf more than the Texas Hill Country. It is just a gorgeous part of the country and the golf there feels different. More rustic, maybe. Limestone rocks along the walls of bunkers and live oak trees and prickly pear cactus lining the fairways. Whitetail deer rise with the sun to meet early morning tee timers. And the natural landscape of those Texas hills provide a beautiful opportunity for elevation change golf holes with scenic views. At TPC San Antonio, you get all of those things plus the thrill of playing a PGA tournament course.

TPC San Antonio is a part of the JW Marriott Resort property. There are two courses on site, the The Oaks and The Canyons. The Oaks Course is the host site of the Valero Texas Open each year on the PGA Tour. The Canyons course was the host venue for the AT&T Championship on the Champions Tour from 2011 to 2015. I was able to stay on property and play both courses.

The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa

The JW Marriott is massive and honestly, quite luxurious. I was a bit surprised at the blend of class with Texas charm. I half expected a more western motif, but the hotel itself feels high-end. It sits on 600 acres of prototypical Hill Country terrain, giving most every room incredible vista views. The dominant feature of the property, however, is undoubtedly the nine-acre water park complete with a lazy river and dozens of slides. The pool stays heated during winter months, too, so it is always able to be enjoyed as long as you stay in the water. The weather was a bit too windy and cool for us to brave it.

I traveled to San Antonio with a big group for this trip. There were 8 adults in our posse plus three kiddos under three years old. I was interested to see how the resort would handle a party of our size, but everything went off without a hitch.

Our rooms were spacious and complete with a good-sized balcony overlooking the waterfall and pool area below. My wife was impressed with the size of the bathroom and kept saying how nice it was. Our particular room had a pretty great view of the Canyons Course, even though I didn’t know which course it was at the time. But you can see the rolling hills of the course perfectly and that gets you excited to get out on the course.

The main lobby is on the second floor of the hotel with a fantastic bar and hang out area down below on the ground floor. At check-in, the front desk gives you a coupon for two free drinks from the main lobby. Touch of class there. It was a great way to meet up with our friends and family after we all got situated in our rooms. Fireplaces make the area cozy and just outside the doors are more sitting areas with sounds from the nearby waterfall. Not a bad place to have a glass of wine.

We weren’t playing golf on our first day since that was our travel day. But we did get a chance to check out 18 Oaks, the resort’s steakhouse inside of the TPC Clubhouse. The dining room overlooks the 18th green of the Oaks Course, thus the name. And though the restaurant is upscale, they had absolutely zero problem with the kiddos joining us at the table for dinner. The resort is without a doubt geared towards the golfer, but family is not far behind on the priority list.

And the food was legit. You can expect high-end steakhouse prices but my T-bone (I ate the bone) was savory and worth the money. I knew this was going to be the best meal of the trip so I ponied up. Also, the goat cheese topped fried cauliflower was the crowd favorite side dish. Bellies full, we went to bed early and prepared for The Oaks course in the morning.

The Oaks Course

TPC San Antonio is young, relatively speaking. Opened in February of 2010, both courses are obviously a part of the Tournament Players Club network. The clubhouse is large and still feels new. TPC Members have their own wing of the building for locker rooms and a member’s grille. Additionally, members get a separate practice area of the driving range for personal use.

Both TPC San Antonio courses are semi-private, meaning the only way to get on to play is if you are a TPC Network Club Member or a guest of the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. The simplest and best value way to get on is to book a stay and play package with the resort. I recommend picking out a weekend and then calling the resort to work out a deal. I found everyone at the resort to be incredibly friendly and eager to accommodate.

The pro shop is a big one, but like all TPC courses I have played, the same brands appear in stock and there are some glaring omissions. No Peter Millar, for example, but instead mostly athletic brands like Adidas, Puma, and Nike. I never expect much from TPC pro shops anyway as I know the logo is not one I will be wearing much of anyway. Lack of originality can ruin a logo.

The Oaks Course is a Greg Norman design with PGA Tour Player Consultant Sergio Garcia and it is no joke. The par-72 course can stretch to 7,435 yards and it winds through narrow corridors of the Cibolo Canyons, just north of San Antonio. From the tips, called the Tiburon tees, the course has a 145 slope and a 76.6 rating. Of course, it is much more manageable from one of the other six tee boxes, but The Oaks course is widely considered one of the toughest stops on tour.

This course offers challenges from tee to green, and I am not just saying that. Some courses are second shot courses with demanding approaches. Some courses require precision off the tee. Some courses throw challenging green complexes at you and call for delicate short-game play. The Oaks course is a balance of all three. Some fairways are large and inviting, but the green itself will punish a lack of focus. Some holes need an accurate drive off the tee to have any shot at par. It really is a tough course but I wouldn’t call it unfair at all. It just takes concentration all round. There aren’t any break holes out there.

The defining features, for me, were the bunker systems. HUGE bunkers on every hole, but especially around the greens. And they are devastatingly deep. They loom ruggedly on most every full shot and none should surprise you. If your ball finds its way into one, it’s not because you couldn’t see it. Let’s just hope you can get out.

The most memorable hole on the course is undoubtedly the par-3 16th. Water is present front left of the green, but it is really not in play. The hole plays 192 yards from the back and 163 from the traditional men’s tees, but aiming for the middle of the green isn’t an option. Waiting for your ball there is a bunker, smack dab in the center of the green, surrounded on all sides by undulating Champions Bermuda, funneling your ball around the sand trap.

The grandstands were already going up behind the green in preparation for the Texas Open coming up in April. It’s always a cool feeling playing a course with tournament stands around. The 1,002 room JW Marriott Hill Country Resort looms in the distance, welcoming you back home as your round comes to a close.

The course is in wonderful condition, which makes sense with the PGA Tour event less than a month away. But the greens were genuinely sensational. They held approaches really well and my putts weren’t bumpy at all. Not too fast or too slow, either. And while the natural undulations of the Hill Country can play tricks on the eyes, the reads weren’t unfair. I think they can be mastered but probably not in your first round. I am sure the assistance of a caddie would do wonders.

The 18th hole is a classic. Now that I have played a few of the TPC Network courses, I realize that a solid finishing hole is a priority for them. This one is an almost 600-yard par 5 with a meandering creek down the left side that crosses the fairway in front of the green. With the right wind, getting home in two is achievable for the pros, but that creek does give some hesitating thoughts. The clubhouse is elevated green side and left, offering views of the closing hole from the patio of 18 Oaks restaurant.

My wife and son were waiting for us on 18 green, which is becoming a bit of a tradition for these articles. He’s a sweet little boy who loves to putt with dad at the end of the round. I am excited for him to be able to play all 18 with me soon.

The Oaks Course was an absolute beast and a grind, but I loved the layout. It is not a course where you are going to score low without a perfect ballstriking day, but the scenery and conditions made it such a nice time. Still, I was more exhausted after that round than any I can remember. It’s not a bad course to walk at all, but you are just grinding mentally all day. Overall, I feel really happy having played it once but not sure that is a course I would want to play every day. It will be fun to watch the pros attack it in April now that I have played it myself.

After our round, it was definitely time for some food and drink. We needed a recharge and the ladies had already discovered the famous strawberry jalapeno margaritas from the resort restaurant Cibolo Moon.

We ended up eating dinner at High Velocity, a laid back grill and sports bar that is just off the lobby bar in the main hotel entrance. High Velocity is a relaxed environment with a great beer menu. The Golf Channel was on the big screen and mood was good. Honestly, a pretty great place to unwind after a round of golf to talk about the course.

The Canyons Course

The Canyons Course at TPC San Antonio shares the same clubhouse and practice facility as The Oaks, but the course runs along much closer to the resort hotel. And though they share the same property, the two courses couldn’t be much more different.

The Canyons, a Pete Dye design with influence from PGA Tour Consultant Bruce Lietzke, can be stretched out to 7,106 yards from the back tees but is a more manageable 6,142 yards from the tradition men’s tees. The par is 72. While Pete Dye is known for his ‘dyeabolical’ designs, this course plays much easier than the The Oaks. And in my opinion, it’s a much more fun course because of it. The course conditions aren’t quite on the same level, though.

The first hole is a straight away par 4 with an elevated tee and wide-open fairway. Swing away. But to the right of the teebox is a great view of a couple other holes, all below you in elevation with sneak peeks into the course that lays ahead. It’s an exciting glimpse into the literal rises and falls the course is going to provide. That is in absolute contrast to the Oaks Course. While the Hill Country surrounds on all sides, the Oaks Course only has about 100 total feet of elevation change all round. That is not the case here at The Canyons. Many more cliffs than valleys on this Dye design.

The bunkering on The Canyons, while still impressive, is much more shallow and manageable than the day before. Dye uses positioning, rather than size and depth, to bring strategy into play. And the classic coffin bunkers are still present, though a bit bigger than any others I have seen on his courses.

I enjoyed the Canyons’s par 3’s a bit more than those on The Oaks. The par-3 fourth hole plays only 162 yards, but water hugs the left side and creates a more-nervous-than-you-should-be swing. Miss slightly left and you’ll be wet but plenty of room right. Be careful though, as the entire green slants towards the water and it isn’t hard to chip one completely across. The whole was a nice surprise after the first three holes, which were more traditional in design. We found out the hard way.

The par 4 ninth hole is wonderfully design. A bunker hugs the left side with a subtle hat tip to more famous church pew bunkering. The hole bends right to left around that bunker and then steep downhill towards the narrow green, 348 yards away. The perfect drive with a right to left ball flight can be propelled down that hill and get you much closer to the green than you’d expect.

And then of course, the Canyons closes with perhaps the best hole on property, the 441 yard par four 18th. A slight bend around famous Pete Dye bunkers, the hole feeds you back towards the resort. And the slope of the fairway feeds your ball down to those bunkers, if not through them to the native Texas grass and brush down below. The Live Oak trees don’t come into play near as often on this course, which definitely gives it a more ‘swing away’ feeling on most every hole.

I thoroughly enjoyed my round at The Canyons course, but if you are making the trip to TPC San Antonio, you should without a doubt play both courses on property. Each one offers different challenges and rewards. If you want to play where the pros play, test your game and enjoy world-class course conditions, you’ve got that at The Oaks. If you want a course with phenomenal views where you can enjoy swinging hard and having fun from tee to green, that is The Canyons. Play them both and get the best of both worlds.

The City of San Antonio

We spent one extra night in downtown San Antonio, just so we could show the kiddos the famous River Walk and the Alamo. Don’t sleep on this city. It really is a fun weekend destination for you and the family to accompany your golf fix. And of course, Sea World is always a huge hit with the little ones. All and all, I would say this was a great trip for the whole family. The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort is an awesome place to stay. They were more than accommodating to us with the kids and the food options were wonderful. The golf was a great sampling of Texas Hill Country golf. And the City of San Antonio is a uniquely cool place to visit.

If you want help planning your next golf experience or just have any questions about some of mine, reach out to me on Twitter or Instagram and shoot me a message. And definitely check out my other golf experience articles. I look forward to hearing from you!

Courses

Fairways & Getaways: Discovering a tropical golf gem in Indonesia

Published

9 months ago

Aug 22, 2025

James Chang

If you’re a golf equipment enthusiast, you may already know that the US, followed by Japan and Korea, are the three biggest golf markets in the world. But if you delve a little bit deeper, you’d be amazed to find out how popular golf is in Asia in general.

Golf’s popularity in Asia has never been stronger. From Japan’s long history with the game to Korea’s high-tech indoor simulators, the sport has carved out a distinct identity across the region, especially with golf tourism. For decades, Thailand and the Philippines have been popular golf travel destinations for us in the Eastern hemisphere. More recently, the golf scene in Indonesia has also seen a rapid rise. With a growing community of homegrown golf influencers and its own major golf retail chains stocked with the latest gear from around the world, the game of golf is no longer just imported — it’s thriving on its own terms.

With state-of-the-art golf stores and facilities like Asia Golf and influencers abound (@evansetiawan90lf), Indonesia golf scene is booming.

Located a stone’s throw across the strait from Singapore, Batam in Indonesia is a popular golf destination for golfers in Singapore, Malaysia, and of course, Korea.

Batam is located just a short 30-minute ferry ride from Singapore, but it also has a direct flight to and from Korea, which made the travel plans all that much easier for me. So when the chance came to experience Indonesian golf firsthand, I jumped at the opportunity to join my friends for some quality golf and sightseeing.

Below is my account of discovering Batam’s very own Palm Springs Golf & Country Club (real name!)—an under-the-radar resort that proves Asia’s growth in golf is as much about quality as it is about enthusiasm.

Not to be confused with the more famous US counterpart, Palm Springs G&CC in Batam is a great golfing experience.

The Layout

Palm Springs is a 27-hole championship course with three distinct nines—Palm, Island, and Resort—each with its own flavor. The Palm Course is the sternest test, winding between rainforest and sea with steep greens and strategic hazards. The Island Course plays through mangroves an doglegs, demanding accuracy with every swing, while the Resort Course is the most forgiving, with generous fairways, rolling elevation, and gentle greens that let you breathe a little easier.

I played all three during my trip, and what struck me most was how different each course played, yet how seamlessly they flowed together. One round I’d be battling mangrove-lined fairways, and the next I’d be standing on a tee box looking straight out at the South China Sea, across the sea towards Singapore.

One of the many “signature holes” to be enjoyed at Palm Springs. Singapore can be seen just to the left corner.

Diverse golf experience from seaside views to tropical jungle and mangrove forests can be seen.

Each golfer is paired with a caddie and power cart to roam the course and enjoy the surrounding scenery.

The Experience

The greens here surprised me. Official stimp numbers of 2.8–3.0 meters (9.2~9.8 feet) felt faster in reality, thanks to subtle undulations and deceptive slopes. Staying below the hole became essential to help with my struggling putting stats, and the mere thought of rolling into the greenside bunkers triggered an involuntary sweat response.

Don’t be fooled by “resort golf” moniker as the Palm course offers more than enough challenge for the better golfers.

Rough was no joke as the ball tended to nestle down all too snug for my taste and skills!

I couldn’t quite place the type of grass on the greens, but suffice to say it kicked my butt all three rounds.

The type of grass found here are not what I was used to in Korea and the US. I found myself thinning way more shots for fear that the club head would not be able to escape the turf. The rough was also clingier than a debtor who hasn’t been paid in months and clawed at my irons and wedges with a vengeance.

The number of bunkers also made me wary on most holes. On my first loop around the Palm Course, I think I found one on almost every hole, whether it be a huge fairway bunker or a high-lipped trap towards a pin sloping away from me. The upside was that I was getting fairly good with my sand wedge towards the end of my trip, though if it could talk I’m sure it’d ghost me.

Then there were the monkeys. Yes, monkeys. On one par-4, I stood over my ball and looked up to see a troop of them, young and old, perched in the trees, watching intently. I swear one cocked its head in disappointment as I yanked my drive into the mangroves. They make for tough critics.

Bunkers were found aplenty on all three courses.

Whether guarding the green or impeding my ball from the fairway, the bunkers added to the overall scenery of the course.

I didn’t expect monkeys to be on hand to judge my swings, but they were a fun distractions. Be careful not to leave phones and wallets unattended though.

Clubhouse & Facilities

The clubhouse feels more like a resort hotel than a golf facility—two pro shops, dual restaurants (including a dedicated Korean buffet and an Indonesian dining hall), a ballroom, VIP lockers, sauna, gym, and more.

Classic Southeast Asian architecture from the entrance and throughout the clubhouse. All walkways are covered in case of the occasional squalls that blow through unexpectedly.

The club is said to have over 200 caddies to host large scale tournaments and events, including weddings and galas.

Practice facilities are top-tier, too. The driving range points out over the water, with floating targets, and the putting green near the first tee rolls true. I warmed up with a few putts, thinking I had the pace dialed in—only to have my very first birdie attempt scream by the hole a good 10 feet. The greens here demand respect… lesson learned.

Practice facilities were quite good, and also had a practice hole for serious golfers to hit everything from drivers, irons, wedges and putts.

The practice shots can be aimed at specific targets, including floating ones.

Accommodations

I based at Batam View Beach Resort, just 10 minutes from the course and 25 minutes from the airport. A four-star property, it delivered all the essentials—ocean-view rooms, pool, fitness center, and post-round massages (though pricier than in town).

The Batam View Beach Hotel was close by to the course and accessible by a shuttle on call. Quiet and peaceful with good food, service, and a live band in the evenings made for more than a golf trip.

One detail I really appreciated was the late checkout option on weekdays. For about $30–40, I could shower, change, and relax until 10 pm before heading to the airport. On weekends, when that wasn’t possible, our operator booked us into a nearby condo suite overlooking the 9th hole. Sitting on the balcony with a cold drink, watching other groups finish their round, wasn’t a bad way to end the trip.

You can also stay at the golf condo nestled right on the course, overlooking the island course.

Private and cozy with a small kitchen, shower, and Netflix.

Golf is just a wedge away from the golf condo and apartments.

Local Flavor

Aside from championship golf, Batam’s seafood scene is worth the trip alone. At a popular restaurant recommended by our guide, we walked a good mile out onto the open sea to a restaurant perched on stilts above the water. The local delicacy of chili crabs and black pepper shrimps were amazing in taste and freshness, and the perfect complement to the local beer. Another popular delicacy I tried was gong-gong, a small sea snail delicacy that locals ate like we snack on peanuts. I wasn’t sure at first, but by the third bite I was hooked on the dipping sauce.

After dinner, we wandered through the local night markets to the sights and scents of sizzling skewers, tropical fruit stands, and chatter of locals enjoying the balmy yet slightly cool tropical evening. The scene was completely different from the greens and fairways earlier that day, but the experience on the whole was just amazing.

The walk out to a floating restaurant was as great as the food served.

The atmosphere was casual and inviting, with some actually fishing over the side of the restaurant.

The local cuisine was spot on to my taste with a diverse menu for the even the most adventurous gourmet.

Final Thoughts

Palm Springs in Batam may not yet have the global name recognition of other Asian resorts, but it checks all the boxes of strategic golf, first-class facilities, comfortable lodging, and a taste of local culture.

For me, it turned out that the trip wasn’t just about golf. While sweating over a six-foot downhill putt with monkeys judging from nearby is unforgettable, so was the delight in or cracking open a chili crab on a wooden deck in the middle of the ocean, lounging by the pool with a local beer, and the kindness shared by the locals every step of the trip.

If you’re ever headed to Singapore and want more than city lights and shopping, be sure to bring your clubs and look into a short ferry ride across the strait. Batam’s Palm Springs G&CC is a tropical golf gem that deserves a spot on your Asia travel list.

Travel

3 money-saving tips for your golf trip

Published

2 years ago

Jun 3, 2024

Josh Post, Golfbreaks

When it comes to saving money on your golf trip, there are no shortage of suggestions. We’re leveraging our expertise to present you with a trio.

Travel during the off-season
Choose the right destination
Book a rental home/villa

Travel during the off-season

Every golfer enjoys playing in ideal weather and course conditions: sunny and warm with manicured fairways and rolling greens. However, playing in such conditions can come at a premium price which is why you should consider booking your golf trip during the off-season. Off-season golf trips give golfers the opportunity to play amazing courses without the high price tag of peak season and courses are usually quieter so you will be able to enjoy your round without feeling rushed!

Here’s a quick breakdown of the off-season by destination:

Florida, Scottsdale, Vegas, and Palm Springs. If you can take the heat, you will get the lowest prices of the year when you travel during the summer months (June – September). Make sure to book your tee times early so you can enjoy your round before the heat of the day and enjoy an afternoon to chill by the pool or explore the local attractions!

North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama. The Southeast states usually have mild weather during the winter months (mid-November to mid-March) with temperatures in the 50s/low 60s, but you can still play great golf at a fraction of the cost.

Choose the right destination

Every golfer in the world dreams of playing bucket list golf courses like TPC Sawgrass or Pebble Beach, but it can be a sticker shock when it comes to the cost. If you’re looking to get the best bang for your buck, there are plenty of other golf destinations to choose from. Two of the best value destinations for a golf trip are Orlando, FL and Myrtle Beach, SC. Both destinations offer a wide variety of courses, hotels, and resorts so that you can play more rounds of golf and stay on budget!

Here are some customer-favorite golf itineraries from Orlando and Myrtle Beach:

Barefoot Resort – Four courses and villa accommodations all onsite

Orlando Golf Tour – Hotel stay in the middle of the action and play the area’s popular courses

Myrtle Beach Golf Tour – Oceanfront villa accommodation and your choice of over 100 courses to play

Omni Orlando at Championsgate – Beautiful resort with two courses onsite and a range of accommodation options

Book a rental home or villa

One of the lesser-known secrets to getting good value on your golf trip is to book a rental home or villa. While hotel rooms might seem more convenient, a rental home gives you more space to stretch out, the option of cooking your own meals (save money on the pricey restaurant bills), and a comfortable “home away from home.” Many of the golf resorts across the country have rental homes or villas onsite so you don’t have to leave the property to play golf. If you’re looking to go to one of the bigger golf destinations (Scottsdale, Palm Springs, Orlando, and Myrtle Beach), there is an abundance of rentals to choose from.

Here are some of the top picks for rental homes and villas:

Villas at Kiawah Island Golf Resort – From comfortable villas to luxurious homes, this fantastic resort is ideal for groups of all sizes

Encore Resort at Reunion – Centrally located to many of the courses in Orlando, you’ll have a choice of 4-13 bedroom homes — perfect for large groups

Myrtlewood Villas – With two golf courses onsite and many more a short drive away, you will have plenty of golf to choose from

Scottsdale Homes and Condos – Choose from hundreds of rentals from across the city with great golf just a short distance away

Editor’s note: This article is presented in partnership with Golfbreaks. When you make a purchase through links in this article, GolfWRX may earn an affiliate commission.

19th Hole

The biggest golf resort you never knew (but should)

Published

2 years ago

Feb 9, 2024

James Chang

As a Korean-Canadian and an avid golfer for over 35 years, I am fortunate to have played on many beautiful golf courses in the West and the Far East. I still have a boatload of courses like Pebble Beach and St. Andrews on my bucket list, but I came to learn that Asia had plenty of such places to visit as well.

I have recently had the good fortune of playing the iconic Blackstone Golf Club at Mission Hills Resort in China, which is consistently ranked as one of the best courses in Asia. Blackstone is particularly famous for hosting the Tiger Woods vs. Rory McIlroy exhibition ‘The Match at Mission Hills’ in 2013. The event brought international attention to the sprawling luxury resort and boosted the level of interest in the game in the region.

Before delving into my amazing experience at Blackstone Golf Club, here is a little bit of information about the best golf resort you may never heard of.

Tiger and Rory faced off at the very course I was at in 2013. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil it by telling you who won.

The Best Golf Resort in The World?

Mission Hills Golf and Resort is located in the southern part of China on Hainan Island, which is about the size of Maine. Often referred to as the Hawaii of China, its tropical location gives the island year-round sunshine with temperatures between 75~90°F in the winter and 60~75°F in the summer. Along with dozens of other notable golf resorts and courses on the Island, the resort is a popular destination for golfers from Asia, Europe, and as far away as Australia and New Zealand.

Mission Hills first opened its doors in early 2010 with the aim of becoming the best resort in the world. I’m not sure if they achieved their goal, but before you smirk at their ambitiousness, Mission Hills is currently listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the World’s largest golf resort with a total of 10 world-class golf courses. That is an astounding 180 championship-class golf holes in one resort! The courses are designed by the talented Schmidt-Curley Design team who are behind some of the best courses in Asia and around the world.

The Blackstone Golf Club is considered the “crown jewel” course at Mission Hills Resort and gets its name from the plethora of black lava rock that is found all over the course as part of its beautiful charm. But don’t be fooled by its rugged beauty, as the monster-long Blackstone has hosted several World Cup of Golf championships (guess who teamed up for the US to win in 2011?) and the annual World Ladies Championships. It also hosts the annual World Celebrity Pro-Am attended by an amazing A-list of screen stars, pro golfers, and elite athletes from around the world.

So yeah, the course is quite good.

On top of that, the resort holds another world’s best distinction, with a total of 168 different hot springs and pools within the resort. Unfortunately, I was too immersed in playing golf to take advantage of a good hot soak, but it will be on the top of my list to do with my whole family next time.

Now, let’s take a close look at what the Blackstone course was all about, and keep in mind that the course descriptions and opinions are all my own from experience and perspective.

The early morning view outside the hotel room overlooking the course and resort is breathtaking

Greens

The green condition was quite superb, albeit a bit slow from Western standards. According to the caddie, the green speed was measured at about 2.9 meters, which translates to about 9.5 on the stimp meter. A speed of 7 is considered to be slow, and the average PGA Tour event is said to be about 12, so for us average folk the greens were rolling well.

The green size is quite large with nearly 5700 square feet average in size with less-than-subtle undulations and big rolling plateaus. The pins were placed slightly towards the front left of the green this day, and the approach shots were challenging for us amateurs to stuff close. The ball rolled straight and true to where it was aimed, and I only had myself to blame for missed short putts.

I don’t know if its an Asian thing, but we seem to have many courses with big greens and sometimes ridiculously big undulations and plateaus on them. We even have bunkers in the middle of the green, sometimes!

Fairways

Unlike many of the Korean courses I’m used to, the fairways are lush and readily yielded nice dollar-sized divots from well-struck iron shots into the greens. The course itself is huge and it was reflected in the long wide fairways stretching from tee to green.

Most of the fairways seemed to be free of readily noticeable trouble areas, meaning that what you see was what you got. However, upon close inspection, there were many subtle undulations which caused the stance to be slightly uneven at address. It wasn’t like St. Andrews level of fairway undulations, but it was there.

Also, the big prominent fairways bunkers often came into play and caused me to consciously aim away from them, which left longer approach shots into the green. We were somehow feeling confident this day and were playing from the blue tees. And for a guy who averages 240-yard drives on my best days, those small detours inevitably added 1-2 clubs more to the next shot.

Fairways were rolling nicely but were still a bit damp due to the sporadic short rain bursts.

Most fairways were quite wide, though it didn’t keep our balls from escaping into the jungle.

Rough

Truth to tell, the rough wasn’t all that intimidating, as it was only modestly long, and the wide fairways pushed the rough back considerably. As it wasn’t tournament season and the course was set up to mostly cater to vacationers, it made sense not to make the rough too punishing.

Beyond the rough was mostly deep jungle-like vegetation, which made it next to impossible to hit the ball out of, let alone find it in the first place. Thanks to our amateur ball-striking abilities, however, we easily overpowered the hapless wide fairways to appease the jungle gods with our many golf balls.

The rough is almost non-existent from tee to green, except for a little bit around the bunkers and extreme sides of the fairways. The course is very long, so I guess they want golfers to relax and not get high blood pressure?

Fairway and 1st-cut rough

Bunkers

Blackstone had no shortage of fairway and greenside bunkers to daunt the average golfer. The many fairway bunkers were often quite large, and despite the mostly wide fairways, some were placed just at the right (?) places to catch drives that strayed left or right off the tee. Standing on the tees, the presence of so many bunkers was aesthetically pleasing yet intimidating at the same time.

The bunkers were meticulously raked and pristine, with the sand looking visually heavy but being very soft. Maintaining the bunkers to this level of readiness cannot be easy, as there are 10 courses at this resort! Even if there were just two bunkers per hole, that’s still 360 sand traps to rake and prep each day! Add to this the fairways and greens, not to mention the decorative foliage, the level of course maintenance at this level is quite mind-boggling.

I also don’t recall seeing any flat bunkers, as most seemed to have a healthy amount of incline at the front to make it harder to move the ball forward a long way. The greenside bunkers were also deeper and usually presented an upslope lie, and the shots had to have some climb to escape from them. If you have trouble hitting the ball straight, be sure to sharpen your bunker play when you visit Blackstone.

With the frightening number of bunkers at Blackstone, I only managed to get into two of them. I even managed to get up and down on one of them.

Bunkers and blackstones aplenty.

Despite being only the second time in a bunker, this one on the 18th cost me a devastating double bogey.

Tee To Green

Blackstone’s monstrous 7808 yards should satisfy most golfers’ urge to go all out on their shots. From the blues, it was still a challenging 6722 yards, and I don’t mind saying it felt longer than that all day.

Most of the pins can be seen from the tee box, and despite some slightly rolling fairways, Blackstone is a mostly-level parkland course without any significant drop or rise in elevation. Sprawling over a huge area of land, the holes do not double back in parallel but stretch forward through dense foliage, making for a scenic ride in the golf cart. One thing I also appreciated was the leisurely pace of play. The group ahead and behind were not visible for nearly the entire round, despite our less-than-quick pace of play.

From tee to green in its entirety, the course was in amazing shape and condition. The unexpected tropical golf experience was nothing short of amazing, and if I had to make a comparison to some of the other memorable tracks I’ve visited, the Hoakalei Country Club and Turtle Bay Resort (Palmer design) in Hawaii come to mind, along with Korea’s own Haesley Nine Bridge Club, which consistently ranks as one of the best courses in Asia.

The pictures below don’t do justice to the course, but I’m sure you’ll get the idea.

The sky was particularly blue and the course beautiful; so much so that my foursome didn’t seem to mind carding doubles and triples over and over again. What a joy.

For us short-hitters, we had to aim for the middle of the many bunkers and hope for the best.

If I had a dollar for every time one of us wished we owned a penthouse in one of the many condos dotting the resort…

Many holes are carved right through a lush jungle with a huge modern condo looming in the background.

Cluster bunkers are to be avoided at all costs.

The view from the 1st hole tee at Blackstone.

Looking like a pro in front of the picture board at the 18th tee… then promptly topping a drive 100 yards out. At least I looked good on camera.

Caddies & Carts

Unlike most courses in the West, golf clubs in Asia require each golfer to play with a mandatory caddie and golf cart. Also, if you each decide to have an additional caddie to help hold the umbrella, it can make for a sizeable group of 12 (greens keepers would be tossing in their beds in the west)! So how do the caddies move if you’re driving a power cart, you ask? They simply hop onboard the back of the buggy.

On this day, we ‘only’ had four caddies to attend our play, and they were fantastic. Despite my initial concerns, the language barrier was not an issue as they were conversant in all the needed terminology in English and Korean. This was a pleasant surprise, as I was able to ask more about the course to help my play, and there was always Google Translate.

The caddie fee was 500 yuan each, which is about $70 US. They were highly professional and quick on their feet, and I could tell that the resort had gone to good lengths in training the caddies (said to be 2000 in number!) to make the golfing experience enjoyable for their international guests.

Each foursome of caddies had a ‘master caddie’ that led the other three and acted to translate longer dialogues as needed. They had a good knowledge of the course and general breaks on greens. But don’t expect them to be like the actual caddies like for the pros. They are mostly for offering simple advice on reading greens, cleaning and handing over your clubs, and helping you to find your balls.

Not gonna lie… having a personal caddie wait on your every shot was nerve-wracking at first.

Resort & Facilities

Mission Hills Haikou has a 500-room hotel with several fine-dining restaurants and high-end boutiques within the main wing and the adjoining annex. They also have a shopping mall within the hotel featuring global brands like Taylormade, Adidas, and Skechers, along with a slew of high-end golf brands to luxury watches and whiskies.

The view from my room on the 9th floor was something to write home about, along with the impeccable services. Truth to tell, I had previously heard several horror stories of less-than-friendly services which led me to refrain from visiting China prior. That must’ve been a different country, as Mission Hills pulled out all the stops to impress and awe its visitors, and it certainly worked on me. We were treated like kings on and off the course, and the hotel personnel was on hand to assist us everywhere we went.

The entire resort complex was like a huge labyrinth of spas, pools, shops, and golf courses. They nearly had everything, including an incredible hotel buffet and several ethnic cuisines, a nightclub and karaoke, and an entire museum-like wing dedicated to the many celebrities and pro golfers that have played here. I could have stayed for hours simply looking at their vast collection of golf memorabilia. My golf buddy called it a golf heaven on earth, and I couldn’t agree more.

Again, the pics won’t be able to fully capture the experience, but they’ll give you an idea of the enormous size and quality of the place.

Spic and span to receive guests after a long hiatus during COVID-19, I bet.

I stayed in a nice-sized suite on the 9th floor with a good view overlooking the resort and course.

The tub is actually quite big and probably could fit three of me in it comfy.

The hotel service had complimentary ramen and beers, along with the local fruit.

Early morning view out the window showed the course shrouded in ground fog.

I wasn’t planning to do any swimming when I initially packed for the trip. Next time.

The pool behind the main hotel had sandy beaches!

A huge maze of trails and covered walkways branching off to a vast number of pools, hot springs, and saunas.

The morning buffet was one of the best I had in a while, with a full line up of both Asian and Western foods.

A sign at the entrance of the buffet showed the daily condition of the 10 golf courses.

Hotel Shops & Amenities

The shops inside the lobby were all high-end as well as ones I didn’t think to expect like the NBA-themed shop, Hennessy whiskey and Tabasco hot sauce shops!

Then there were dozens more shops in a whole other building next to the hotel, lined with the palm prints of celebrities and stars. The sheer size and scale of Mission Hills was outrageous.

Trip Overview

Hainan is a tropical Island in the South China Sea and can get quite hot and humid during the summer monsoon season. By plane, it took 4.5 hours from Korea to Hainan.

Interestingly, Hainan Island is designated as a tourist zone by the Chinese government and does not require a visa prior to arrival. It is issued when you arrive at the airport and go through customs.

During the end of 2023 when the trip took place, COVID-19 restrictions were largely over and there were the simplest of checks (1-2 minutes) using a machine to detect any virus before entering and exiting the airport.

The resort itself was only about a 15-minute bus ride from the airport. For those who travel often to Asia, they’ll know that courses and resorts can be up to two hours from the airport.

A brief warm-up on the range and armed with complimentary golf balls, we were off to the first tee.

True to its name, the course had stone walls and fences made from the igneous black lava rock.

Except for the absence of the sound of waves, the ambiance reminded me of courses in Hawaii.

Loved the open skies and the awesome panoramic views!

Be sure to pack some strong sunscreen and sports drinks or salt candy. The tropical climate can get quite hot and humid at midday.

Blackstone plays to par 73 and 6722 yards from the blue. I was happy with the score especially when the caddies told me it was the best they’ve seen in a while, LOL!!!

It looked like they were planning to build even more courses and condos. These folks sure like to think big.

Wall-to-wall memorabilia on display from past majors, champions, and legends of the game. So this is where all those signed Masters flags were!

The three-day stay went by all too fast… (T^T)

As part of the package, we were also shown to the largest duty-free shop in Asia. These guys have a thing for being the biggest, grandest, and most opulent; and it was awesome.

It seemed as if every brand of luxury was represented here, and it would’ve taken hours to see it all. If your partner is into this kind of stuff, leave them at home in case they get in the way of your golf.

A final meal at a popular restaurant before heading to the airport. Can you guess the menu? Yup, Chinese, but like nothing you see in the West. It was all delicious to boot.

Met a new friend while waiting for the limousine bus to take us the rest of the way. Even these guys were BIG.

After a rather simple and quick immigration and boarding process, we were safely on our way home to Korea. I have to give credit to the authorities for making the immigration/airport customs process simple and quick. Sometimes everything can be great, only to be ruined by a last-minute glitch or hold-up at the airport, and there were none.

A short nap and back in Seoul. I can’t wait to go back again soon with the whole family to jump in the hot springs. Now if I can only find a way to go visit Pebble Beach and St. Andrews similarly, I’m set. Wish me luck.