Posts Tagged Lotus Hill

We were in China this weekend for the Reunification Cup tournament between four of Hong Kong’s private clubs – Country Club (which we were playing for), American Club, Football Club and the Chinese Recreation Club.

We went up to prepare with a practice round on Friday and managed one Birdie. This happened on the Par 4 seventh. A blistering drive left us only 100 yards to the pin, but a pushed approach shot was 21 feet from the hole. At least I was pin high. A right to left break did not stop us from jamming into the hole. Birdie #1.

On the next day, the first day of the competition, we had a blistering start. A par on the first followed by a Birdie on the Par 3 second. A severe downhill tee shot got us three feet past the hole for an uphill putt. We also won the Nearest-to-pin prize for this! Then on the Par 4 that followed, our 5-wood just missed the right fairway bunkers and our approach landed pin high with 12 feet to go. The tricky downhill putt had a severe right to left break, so we just hoped to get close. But I was tracking perfectly and pleasantly ended up at the bottom of the cup. Then on the back-9, R’s back was starting to ache. At this age, he should refrain from playing too many consecutive rounds! Shots were starting to land 10-15 yards short, so on the Par 5 18th, we took an extremely conservative route. The strategy worked out, as we were on the green in regulation. A delicate downhill putt was left for Birdie and we made it. A good bonus considering R’s back.

On the final day, R’s back was worse and he couldn’t follow through. So we were taking one to two clubs more for shots. Our scores were not good but at least we managed a Birdie on the Par 5 fourth. A good drive hugged the right side of the fairway and our second shot left us with 100 yards to the green. Taking more club (a pitching wedge) we landed left of the flag with a 15 foot downhill putt for the Bird.

Note to R: Next year, please don’t play the practice round. Your back will thank you. I will too

111104 Lotus Hill, Hole 7 (Par 4)

111105 Lotus Hill, Hole 2 (Par 3)

111105 Lotus Hill, Hole 3 (Par 4)

111105 Lotus Hill, Hole 18 (Par 5)

111106 Lotus Hill, Hole 4 (Par 5)

We were at Lotus Hill, China for the Reunification Cup tournament. It was a two day stroke play event between the American Club, Chinese Recreation Cup and the Country Club. We played for the Country Club.

On the first day at the signature hole #17, a picturesque Par 3 with a huge rock formation surrounding the back of the green, we hit a solid 9-iron to the 130 yard pin. We had just eight feet uphill for our birdie. We almost won the nearest-to-pin but was beaten by one inch! Luckily we got the nearest-to-pin on the second day at the 161 yard 11th, but unfortunately missed the birdie putt.

Also on the second day, on the par 5 18th (our 9th), we hit a perfect shot leaving us 210 yards to an uphill back pin. This was a bit further back from the previous day when we tried to go for the green and ended up in a sandy patch in front of the green-side bunker. We ended up bogeying the hole so we were a bit more strategic this time. Moreover, there was a strong wind against us, so we took a 6-iron and laid up to 60 yards (65 to be exact). A perfectly struck 60° got me just nine feet from the hole for a sweet birdie. It felt good to be rewarded for smart course management. Maybe we should adopt this strategy more often.

Although we didn’t win this year (we haven’t for a long time) we had a great time. Congrats to the American Club who played flawlessly on Sunday to win.

101211 Lotus Hill - Hole 17 (Par 3)

101212 Lotus Hill - Hole 18 (Par 5)

On the second day of the two day Reunification Cup competition, we were playing much better. Finally figured out that we were hitting the woods on too steep a plane. Flattening the plane made it work. Everything now started to fall back in place…finally. On the Par 3 14th, it was a 150 yard downhill and downwind shot, which normally calls for a 7 iron or less. But the caddie insisted on hitting a 6 iron. A 6?? Well he’s good, so we trusted him and hit a nice fade to land it pin high 6 feet from the hole for birdie. His reasoning was that the green slopes upwards and there won’t be any roll, so a 7 iron will come up short. Remember Ah Ping (阿平), caddie number 163, next time you go to Lotus Hill.

Although we came in third, it is the camaraderie that makes this event fun. Congratulations to the Football Club for winning this year’s trophy.

091025 Lotus Hill, Hole 14 (Par 3)

This long weekend, we played for the Hong Kong Country Club at the annual Reunification Cup at Lotus Hill Golf Resort in China. We played against the American Club, Chinese Recreation Club and Football Club. After a miserable 17 holes where nothing worked except for our chipping and putting, the breakthrough came on the Par 5 18th (498 yards). A well struck 5 wood (finally) left 220 yards to the uphill green. Playing conservatively, a slightly duffed 4 hybrid left about 100 yards to the pin. Got it pin high 10 feet from the hole and a good putt finished it off. A good finish as we have another day of competition to go…

091024 Lotus Hill, Hole 18 (Par 5)