Mountain Course of Kunming Spring City Golf & Lake Resort

Overview

The Mountain Course at Kunming Spring City Golf & Lake Resort, designed by Jack Nicklaus, presents a more forgiving alternative to the Lake Course by Robert Trent Jones Jr. While the Lake Course is known for its dramatic challenges and strategic demands, the Mountain Course, perched atop the hills overlooking Lake Yang Zong Hai, offers a more approachable experience. The design focuses on providing generous landing areas and a strategic but less punishing layout. This course is a perfect choice for golfers looking to enjoy both beautiful surroundings and a fair, engaging challenge.

Design Philosophy

A Forgiving Yet Challenging Layout

The Mountain Course is designed to be more forgiving compared to the Lake Course, offering a fair challenge without being excessively punitive. The layout begins with a relatively gentle 4-4-3 start, allowing golfers to settle into the round before facing more demanding holes. Although the course is well-bunkered, the bunkers are positioned mostly at the edges of wide fairways, allowing players some leeway in their approach. This forgiving nature gives the course a welcoming feel while still presenting enough challenge to keep golfers engaged.

Strategic Design with Emphasis on Greens

While the fairways are generous, the challenge of the Mountain Course lies mainly on the greens. The Nicklaus design team has made excellent use of bentgrass greens, creating deeply contoured and fast surfaces that require precision and strategy. The course demands careful attention to placement on the green, making it a test of short game and putting skills. This focus on greens, combined with the forgiving tee shots, sets the Mountain Course apart as an engaging test for golfers of all skill levels.

The Course Layout

First Nine Holes: A Gentle Start

The first nine holes of the Mountain Course describe an anti-clockwise loop, allowing golfers to ease into the round with relatively straightforward holes. The start of the round offers a gentle challenge, with the first three holes (par 4, par 4, par 3) allowing players to get into their rhythm. These holes are considered easier compared to the more demanding holes later on the course, with wide fairways and large landing zones that minimize risk.

The Par 5 Holes: Strategic Challenges

The par 5 holes on the Mountain Course are among the most strategically demanding.

• On the 4th hole, a single fairway bunker situated 61 yards short of the green requires careful navigation. The approach from the right side of the bunker is the safer, clearer route, while the left side approach is more challenging, requiring a semi-blind shot over bunkers.
• The 9th hole also features a strategic dilemma, especially when played into a headwind. Golfers must decide whether to take the more difficult left-side line to gain a better angle to the green, or to bail out on the right, which leaves a more difficult second shot over bunkers.

The Back Nine: Elevation and Strategic Design

The back nine of the Mountain Course presents a series of exciting holes that require both strategic decision-making and precise execution.

• The 10th hole asks golfers to play a tee shot close to a series of bunkers on the left side to gain the best angle for approaching the green. The green itself is well-protected at the front right, challenging players to find the perfect line.
• The 15th hole, the longest on the course, plays downhill and requires a precise second shot. The key to success here lies in avoiding the bunkers on the left and right sides while positioning the second shot well for a relatively easy approach to the shallow green.
• The 16th hole, a medium-length par three, requires precision and careful consideration of the wind, with the green being tiered and protected by bunkers on the left and grassy hollows on the right.
• The 17th hole plays directly into the prevailing wind off the lake, making it a tough two-shot hole. The best drive position is between two clusters of bunkers on the right, but that leaves a tough shot into the angled green, which features a severe tier.

The Finishing Hole: A Strong Conclusion

The 18th hole is considered a strong finishing hole, providing an exciting culmination to the round. At 465 yards from the back tees, this par 4 requires a precise tee shot through a fairway that features some pronounced kinks. Players must avoid a large bunker complex on the right side and position themselves carefully for the second shot. The green is separated from the fairway by a forbidding gulley, and a front pin position can make for a tricky putt, requiring golfers to navigate a downhill slope.

Course Features and Highlights

Stunning Views and Scenic Surroundings

The Mountain Course offers golfers breathtaking views of Lake Yang Zong Hai and the surrounding mountainous terrain. As golfers make their way through the course, they are treated not only to a challenging layout but also to the stunning natural beauty that surrounds them. The combination of mountainous hills, water features, and lush greenery makes the Mountain Course a truly scenic and immersive golfing experience.

Ideal for Strategic Play

The course offers a strategic challenge, especially on the back nine, where golfers must make key decisions about course management and shot placement. While the fairways are generous, the greens present the true challenge, requiring golfers to think carefully about their approaches and putting strategies.

Conclusion

A Rewarding Challenge for Golfers of All Levels

The Mountain Course at Kunming Spring City Golf & Lake Resort is a well-balanced and forgiving design, with a focus on strategy, precision, and shot-making. It offers a delightful experience for golfers of all skill levels, whether they are looking for a fun, forgiving round or a more challenging test of their abilities. With its beautiful views, strategic layout, and well-maintained greens, the Mountain Course is a must-play destination for anyone visiting the resort.

A Fitting Counterpart to the Lake Course

While the Lake Course may offer a more dramatic and demanding challenge, the Mountain Course provides a more accessible and strategically rich experience. The design offers a perfect balance between challenge and enjoyment, making it an excellent choice for golfers looking for a relaxed yet rewarding round of golf.

“The Mountain Course at Spring City is a well-thought-out and forgiving design, offering a perfect mix of strategy, beauty, and fun for golfers of all skill levels.”
— Jack Nicklaus