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Introduction

Located 20 minutes from Panyu town, Lotus Hill Golf Resort is home to a an attractive Bernhard Langer designed course, an impressive club house and various other resort facilities. The most convenient way to get there from Hong Kong is by ferry (China/HK city - Lian Hua Shan: 1hr 30 mins) and then shuttle bus (5 mins from ferry pier) but it can be reached from Huanggang in around 1hr 30 mins by private transport. No carts are available - LHGR is a walking course.

The clubhouse is very big for an 18 hole course and is nicely decorated. Well-appointed rooms are available for golfers wanting to stay the night. Overall, both the facilities and the service of the staff is very good.

The first thing you notice about Lotus Hill is the amount of water in use around the course. 17 of the 18 holes feature the 'wet stuff' in one form or another but fortunately it isn't in play as much as you might think. For a start the fairways are relatively generous and the hazards tend to flank them on either side rather than in front of the greens - in other words you really have to be hitting it wildly to regularly lose balls off the tee! The course is generally very flat but kudos to Langer because it's definitely not boring. In fact, the last serveral holes are as exciting as they come with the 16th, 17th and 18th providing an unforgettable finish. (Forget what I said earlier, water is the main danger on these three beauties and the par 3, 17th has attained almost legendary status thanks to its island green and towering rock formation. (See title photo).

The course isn't overly long from the blue tees and is measured in meters rather than yards which, if like me you've been brought up on yards, can take a bit of getting used to. Those Aussies must love it - damn the metric system. Anyway, apart from the final few holes, much of the difficulty of the course lies with the par 3s. Generally long and well-protected by bunkers, there are at least three on the back nine that can be real cardwreckers. Attention should be paid to the medium-length par 4, 9th - as dangerous as it is gorgeous.

Pics (Abve: 18th, Right: 14th)

Posssibly the weakest part of the place. Played here many times and have never had a caddie that's been much better than average. Don't want to be too critical so perhaps I've just been unlucky. Perhaps it's because they've got to carry the clubs rather than hang off the back of a cart.

Impressive clubhouse, very enjoyable course - including some highly memorable holes, - a good all round club which everyone should visit at least once. The fact that it's a walking course is, in my eyes at least, an advantage. ACE!