HISTORY
The then (Roya) Hong Kong Golf Club where the UBS Hong Kong Open, the penultimate tournament of the 2009 European Tour, is to be played this week, was formed on Friday 10th May 1889 by "thirteen golfing enthusiasts".
Initially they had a great deal of trouble finding sufficient land in a land-hungry region, but eventually they were given permission to play at Happy Valley, a tract of land used for football, polo, hockey and military parades.
This meant they had to take their turn with the other activities - and were not permitted to construct such things as bunkers tee boxes and greens.
They overcome these obstacles to some extend by using nets for bunkers and granite setts for the holes.
By 1891, membership had grown to over 100 and a small shed was built as a clubhouse where refreshments were served and players were able to socialise after a round.
By 1896 the "crowded conditions" led to the committee deciding that the ladies could only play on a "very restricted basis".
The pressure on starting times eventually became so great that the captain and club officials were forced to find an additional location at Deep Water Bay, which, besides providing an area for a small 9-hole course, also provided perfect bathing.
But there were drawbacks.
At that time Deep Water Bay was only accessible by launch from Victoria Harbour.
A Clubhouse was erected in 1898 at which time members used to ride round to the course in boats or ride ponies over Wong Nei Chong Gap, whilst the caddies walked, carrying the clubs and picnic baskets.
In 1904 football and the other activities that had previously taken place at Happy Valley were drastically cut and the area was turned over almost exclusively to the Golf Club, except on Wednesdays and Saturdays when football and cricket were played. Ladies were even allowed to play on a Sunday.
In 1911, thanks to the negotiating skills and foresight of ER Halifax and a few others, sufficient land was obtained from the local farmers and with Government approval a full 18-hole hole golf course was built at Fanling
That was the 'Old Course'.
The New Course, where this week's UBS Hong Kong Open is to be played was completed in November 1931.
Finally a third 18-hole course, the Eden, was added in 1970.
The 'Royal' nomenclature was dropped in 1996, but it has taken nothing away from the high quality reputation the club has built up over the past Century.
Today it is ranked as one of the finest clubs in the world.
Its championship layouts have been able to attract major winners of the calibre of Peter Thomson (1960, 1965 and 1967), Mr Lu Liang-Huan (1959 and 1974), Nick Faldo (1990), Bernhard Lanager (1991), Tom Watson (1992) and Jose-Maria Olazabal (2001).
The Club has also hosted the Eisenhower and Espirito Santo Trophies (1984), and in recent years was chosen as the site for the Asian Zone qualifying rounds for the Dunhill Cup.
The first Johnnie Walker Classic in Asia was played there in 1990 and won by Faldo after he had posted a course record 62.
Not to be outdone, Bernhard Langer shot a 63 in winning the Hong Kong Open in the following year.
The Club celebrated its Centenary in 1989 and has entered its second hundred years recognised as one of the leading golf clubs worldwide.
In 1996, at the annual General Meeting of the Club, the Royal nomenclature was dropped.
The Club is now known as The Hong Kong Golf Club.
Its three full 18-hole courses at Fanling and a 9-hole Par 3 course at Deep Water Bay, along with its swimming pools, tennis courts, excellent restaurants and top class accommodation, have made The Hong Kong Golf Club one of the premier golfing destinations in Asia.
THE COURSE:
The 'New Course' where this week's Hong Kong title is to be fought for, is a beautiful, pristine, par-70 parklands course with only two par fives, the 3rd and the 13th, and with three of it's four par-three holes (the 2nd, 5th and 8th) on the front nine.
Card of the course
(See under hole No; par; yards; metres)
Front Nine
1 4 468 428
2 3 149 136
3 5 551 504
4 4 288 263
5 3 214 195
6 4 436 399
7 4 381 348
8 3 188 172
9 4 474 433
OUT 34 3149 2878
Back Nine
10 4 367 336
11 4 466 426
12 3 144 132
13 5 529 484
14 4 395 361
15 4 426 390
16 4 411 376
17 4 406 371
18 4 410 375
IN 36 3554 3251
TOTAL 70 6703 6129
FACILITIES:
Apart from it's three 18-hole courses and its 9-hole, par-three course, the club has:
- Practice facilities that includes a 34 Bay Driving Range, pitching and putting practice greens and a teaching academy where six professionals are available.
- a large Swimming Pool
- a Billiard room with two tables
- a men's lounge
- a high-quality Pro Shop where the sports finest equipment and apparel is on sale and where golf clubs, hand carts and golf cars are available for hire
- trained caddies available for hire
- a card room, a Mahjong room and quiet rooms
- extensive dining facilities offering both Chinese and Western menus.
- a verandah overlooking the courses where drinks and meals are served
VISITORS:
Although the Hong Kong Golf Club has a large membership, Visitors are welcome from Monday to Friday, with the exception of public holidays, and are advised to call after 3.00 p.m. the day before to pre book a starting time.
All the transactions within the Club including catering, halfway houses and caddies should be settled by debit card which can be purchased at Reception. The Club accepts cash and credit cards at the Reception and the Pro shop.
TO CONTACT THE CLUB
Mailing Address : P0 Box 1, Shek Wu Hui Post Office, N. T. Hong Kong
Email Address: enquiry@hkgolfclub.org
Fanling Courses :
Street Address: Lot No 1 Fan Kam Road, Sheung Shui, N. T. Hong Kong
Tel : (852) 2670 1211 Fax : (852) 2673 6743
Deep Water Bay Course :
Street Address: 19, Island Road, Deep Water Bay, Hong Kong.
Tel : (852) 2812 7070 Fax : (852) 2812 7111
Golf clubs recommended:
Taylormade R7 CGB MAX Fairway Wood
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