Arnold Palmer Design: Latest News: Archives
« June 2010 | Main | August 2010 »
KUNMING'S GOLF GOES NATURAL...
July 08, 2010
As seen in Asian Golf Business MonthlyArnold Palmer Design Company takes a mountain of challenges and transforms them into some of the most memorable golf in Asia.
Golf design solutions really do mirror the mood and expectations in a society. No where is this more true than in China. Golf has been evolving as rapidly as the country and looks to be entering its first golden age of design. Kunming is one of the best places in China to judge the state of the art in Golf Design in the "Middle Kingdom"; the city has played a key roll in golf development within China. Pure Scene Golf Club and Resort appears to have all the ingredients for a watershed design that helps ignite this golden age.
DESIGN PROCESS: It is important to understand how the golf holes were pre-visualized in order to see why they end up looking and playing as they do. We have included these images to show the concept of the hole, the mass earth works required and the finished hole during grow-in of the turf.
Benchmark courses have been coming along in what now appears to be 10-year intervals. 1984 saw the opening of China's first course at Chung Shan Hot spring Golf Club as Arnold Palmer working with golf visionary and business Tycoon Henry Fok produced what was literally a hand-made course. Ten years later the early flurry of golf development in Guangdong Province was punctuated by the 1994 opening of the Jack Nicklaus Signature "World Cup Course" at Mission Hills, Shenzhen.
This was indeed another milestone in golf in China and remains the centerpiece of this amazing golf Mecca. This massive project also showed that there was enough financial might within the industry for serious golf development. The nineties saw Kunming rise to prominence in China golf with the Spring City Club. The Nicklaus and RT Jones Jr. courses there established a turning point in the expectations of what was possible in China. The Club set a new standard for technical excellence in design and construction of golf courses. The fact that both courses remain some of the highest ranked in the country only serves to reinforce how important this project was.
The late 1990's saw golf continue to grow in China but the Asian recession and lack of clarity on golf permitting saw as many projects fail as succeed. This period of time also revealed the first emergence of regional pride in the golf courses of the Provinces. The coastal industrial powerhouses such as Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong provinces all vied for the bragging rights to being China's golf hub. At the same time Yunnan, Hainan, and now Sichuan provinces as tourist magnates also sought, with government encouragement to become golf destinations. Perhaps the most significant change in golf development took place in the boardrooms, not on the design boards of China.
Golf courses no longer needed outside capital to develop. Prior to this, off-shore funding allowed for more of a "hit and run" mentality in golf development. If projects were a hit the rewards were huge; if the projects failed or failed to meet expectations developers just moved on.
With the change of development funding sources from off-shore to internal capital, the nineties ushered in the rise of the domestic real estate development companies. The industry had reached financial critical mass and architects and developers began to see innovative design, cutting edge planning and larger scale as the way to attract attention and capital to their projects. Enhanced planning has also led to a track record of social and environmental success which gave tangible proof to regulatory agencies that this sector of the real estate market was providing high quality development and strengthening the overall domestic economy. If you accept the notion of 10-year cycles as correct then we are now solidly in the third generation of golf design in China.
It is against this backdrop of evolution that the Pure Scene Golf Club and Resort is evaluated. The project began during the second generation of golf development but due to delays in approvals it was realized in the third generation. This turned out to be a huge blessing to the project. The delay occurred at a time when although second generation designs were being built like crazy, the most forward thinking companies were already traveling the globe to see the best the world had to offer in design. Second generation work had many successes but still lacked the confidence to go beyond excellent execution with a few notable exceptions. Generation three designs at the elite level reflected the fusion of past philosophy with bold new solutions that responded to technological advancement and modern play. Kunming East Lake is core golf, in mountainous terrain with rough, naturalistic detailing. It is a fusion course that takes maximum advantage of the sites' unique topography to present 18 exceptional golf holes.
Highlights of the Pure Scene Golf Club and Resort
If there is a challenge greater than playing this remarkable course it is deciding which holes to highlight. Every hole on the golf course, if removed and placed at another venue could easily become the signature hole. Whether you like the breathtaking exhilaration of standing on tees perched on ridges falling away to China's majestic Dianchi Lake, greens that hang on cliff edges, or holes that cross or wander along the edge of natural arroyo's with pinnacles that look like 40-foot terra cotta warriors, the golf course has all of this and more. Fancy a tee shot over a 300-foot deep gorge? No problem. How about Par 3's that have views that reach to infinity or are framed by majestic temples? It's available on both the front and back nine's. Bring your camera and take your time; you're in for one of the most memorable rounds of golf you have ever played.
Holes #1 and #10
Both enjoy the excellent visibility afforded by the elevated tees adjacent to the clubhouse. You have an unobstructed view from tee to green and can select a strategy for each depending upon the pin placement for the day. Both holes are forgiving in the first landing area however it becomes clear that shot accuracy is the key to low scoring on the course. The view also gives a clear indication that you have stepped onto a links inspired design. The golf course tee positions accommodate all levels of play and we recommend that you play your first rounds at a shorter distance as you get to know the course and the subtle but very demanding greens.
Hole #3
Is a dogleg right, 400 yards, with terrain that was perfect for this beautiful par 4. The hole plays over a prominent ridge and is skirted its entire length with a 300-foot drop-off along its right side. The direction of play is clear but elevation and trees hide the landing area from view. Risk and reward define the tee shot. Determine how much forced carry you can accept knowing that with the wind at your back the green, though invisible is almost reachable. This hole echos northern California's great classic coastal golf.
Hole #6
Is the final par 5 on the front nine and the first of two holes guarded by deeply eroded arroyo that would look as at home in a national park as on a golf course . This hole is all about coming as close to the canyon as possible with your tee shot to maximize your choices. The further left you fire your second shot the easier it becomes to land the ball close to the pin in regulation. Stop for a moment on the wooden bridge that crosses the arroyo. The sandstone pinnacles formed by years of natural erosion have been carefully preserved and presented to inspire the golfer with the beauty of nature's hand. A par on this hole is great and a bogey is very respectable.
Hole #8
Is the longest par 3 on the course at 230 yards but plays shorter as it is down hill. The line of flight needs to be dead straight as the fairway continues to narrow and be guarded by wicked natural dunes. A well struck shot of 150 yards will feed automatically to the green complex and collect at the lower right front of the green. This hole should be a straight forward par if played conservatively but attempt a birdie and your score can balloon to a four or five. The green is partially hidden by the naturally eroded topography and a left rear pin placement will challenge the best golfers
Hole #12
Is a par 3 over a canyon, and is certainly one of the most scenic on the course. Your view is of Lake Dianchi 300-feet below and beyond the green past a temple complex all the way back up the lake to Kunming city center. With the prevailing wind normally at your back, club selection can change at a moments notice. Always a relatively short iron shot, the bail out to the right of the green is the safe play but if the pin is hugging the left side of the green there is absolutely no margin for error or you will end up in the bunkers that guard the left side or roll through the green. This is a very scenic hole that plays a lot harder than it looks.
Hole #15
Is the only drivable par four on the course and arguably the most challenging on the golf course. The tees are set below the landing area and massive wild contours visually compress the three lines of flight to the green and make all the landing areas appear much smaller than they are. The tiny green complex rests upon a ridge and with nothing but distant mountains framing the view it further confounds the difficulty in judging the true length of the hole. Come in from the left of the green and you have a larger landing area and an easier tee shot; come in from the right and you are rewarded with a much easier approach to the green regardless of the pin placement.
Hole #16
Is and will always be one of the most unique and breathtaking holes of golf in China. This par four with tees tucked on the hillside below hole 15 green plays dramatically down hill over wild naturally eroded landscape with grasses to a generous landing area that is framed on three sides by another pinnacle-festooned dry wash canyon.
The dogleg right second shot into the long thin green is over the canyon that runs parallel to the hole from turning point to green. This hole could be included in a calendar of fantasy golf but as you stand on the tees you realize that it was careful preservation of a unique landscape that has created the hole.
This is definitely Mother Nature at her best and as you stand on the green you will once again marvel at the golfing experience you are having. This course is a must play for any golfer visiting the Kunming area.
Posted: July 8, 2010 12:12 PM
Palmer Portrait Supports Kids
July 02, 2010
Kingdom Magazine is auctioning Nespresso's Arnold Palmer portrait to benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children (arnoldpalmerhospital.com).
From now until the end of October, enter a bid at arnieskingdom.com and you could win a stay in Orlando and meet the man himself.
At the end of October, the winning bidder will be invited (with a partner) to the Kingdom Cup at Bay Hill Club & Lodge an invitation-only event, hosted by Arnold Palmer. All expenses will be paid (minus flights and incidentals) and his or her bid will serve as the reserve price at a live auction to take place at the tournament. Naturally the lucky recipients will be included in the bidding process!
Please email your bid to: ms@tmcusallc.com.
Once an ultimate winner is determined, Arnold Palmer will sign and present the portrait.
Posted: July 2, 2010 03:17 PM
