Sanya Haitangwan Bay Peninsula Golf Club

Overview: Sanya Haitangwan Bay Peninsula Golf Club occupies a peninsula on Haitang Bay, with the South China Sea visible from all 18 holes and alongside nine of them. The 18-hole, par-72 course is listed at 7,345 yards and was designed by IMG. Rocky outcrops, tropical vegetation and the exposed shoreline give the routing a coastal character that is more dramatic than a conventional inland resort course.

History: The course opened in 2011 after a development period that began in 2006. Asia Golf Design describes the routing as an IMG project that retained the natural features of the peninsula, while contemporary course data places it in Haitang Bay's C10 area. The club became part of Sanya's group of major golf-tourism venues and has been used for international golf activity.

Did You Know? The peninsula geometry does much of the architectural work. Nine holes run along the shoreline, and the sea can be seen from every hole, so wind direction and exposed rock are recurring parts of the round. The designer retained the large rocky outcrops as visible features and, on several holes, as elements that influence how the hole is played.