Macau Golf and Country Club

With the clubs philosophy the driving range and practice facilities are superb. Two driving ranges, one on land and one giving golfers the opportunity to hit balls into the South China Sea, combined with the superb chipping and putting facilities make Macau Golf and Country Club the place to hone your skills. 

The golf course bills itself as the premier golfing venue in the region and it is hard to disagree. 

The course is a Links style layout, although many holes are lined with native trees and shrubs adding to the dynamics of the golf course. The holes which run along the shoreline of the South China Sea offer wonderful views and challenges of varying difficulties depending on the strength and direction of the wind.   

The signature is up for debate since re-modelling took place, but I would suggest that it will be given to hole 6. At 138 yards it is very much a target hole with golfers first having to select the correct club to reach the green which is surrounded by water. 3 bunkers short of the green offer some relief from the water, but beware of the wind which swirls around on this hole making for difficult club selection. 

A great birdie chance awaits on the short 15th. A long iron or hybrid is all that is required to set up a short iron over the water to the bowl-like green. 

But it is the finish at Macau Golf and Country Club that will remain in the memory and make or break your scorecard. 

The 17th, a 238 yard par three played from an elevated tee. The tee shot has to find the green on this hole which is surrounded by cliffs and scrub land to the right and the South China Sea to the left. Anything wayward is going to end up is serious trouble 

Then the final hole. A par five that could be reached in two by the bravest of golfer. From the tee you need to avoid the South China Sea to the left. Once safely navigated you are faced with a tough decision. Go for it and risk ending up out of bounds, the deep bunkers that protect the green and the sea to left should be enough reasons to lay up and play over the water to the green with your third to the elevated green. 

The course is splendid and with the ever changing sea breezes it invariably offers a different challenge on an almost daily basis. 

This is an absolute must play track.