Not surprisingly, this finely turfed Par-72 7,260-yard Kunming golf course plays to rolling hills and trespassing waterways, some connected to the big lake, while strategically placed sand bunkers compliment to make this course a testy one and yet a pleasure to play on. Take the Par-5 651-yard Hole#6 for instance, the fairway is fairly open and generally lies straight to the green. But do not be deceived. Two well placed bunkers (in terms of their respecitve distances from the tee-box and positions) serve to make the entire passage a ‘double-dogleg’, right first and then left. And if you must rip it because of the distance and openness (incidentally this is the longest hole on the course), be very accurate as well. The Par-4 423-yard Hole#16 has a somewhat similar vein with a slight dog-leg to the right but the reachable Bent Grass-green slopes to the left often leaving the player hesitant on choice of landing on an otherwise easy Par-4. The short Par-4 336-yard Hole#17 is ‘The Hole of Redemption’ for the ‘do-or-die’-hards. Its sharp dogleg left to a well-bunkered green with water skirting the left side allows a one-on if you are brave and strong-hitting enough and also not jittery having to do a strong and high carry-over a wide expense of water.

Lakeview has been built and constructed to the highest standards, care and attention has been give to very detail, with every contour painstakingly shaped to meet Faldo’s discerning eye. The golf course is very strategic in nature and requires well placed tee shots to allow for approach shots that will offer the best chance of making a birdie. A well appointed clubhouse offers a variety of world class amenities. Lakeview Golf Club Kunming was only completed in 2005 but it is already regarded as one of the most popular golf courses in the region and is undoubtedly one of Faldo Design’s most successful Asian projects.