There is a big swimming pool with an obstacle course for kids, a wave pool, Movie Town Park and an NBA exhibition, so the non-golfers will have much to do during the day. For those who want to venture into town, Haikou, the Hainan capital, is 30 to 40 minutes away by car. There, you can find many local food options, shopping, night markets and massage facilities.

The early morning flights on Jetstar and Scoot should allow golfers to eat lunch and still get a round in at Mission Hills on the afternoon of their arrival. During November to January, it does get dark around 6pm so plan accordingly. After two nights at the Mission Hills Resort a two-hour car journey took us south to the Shenzhou Peninsula on the Eastern coast of Hainan Island. Here you can why Hainan is considered a tropical paradise, as you dig your feet into beach sand rather than bunker sand. For those that like to be close to the sea there are several great hotel options at different price points.

Golfers won’t mind getting into the sand at Sheraton Shenzhou’s Beach Bar.

We stayed at the Sheraton which offers 306 amply sized rooms, a large swimming pool, restaurants and a beach bar with picturesque views of the South China Sea. The Grand Hyatt, a short distance from the Sheraton, offers 262 amazing Balinese-style rooms, set in lush gardens with sea views. With its multiple restaurants and facilities, the Grand Hyatt is worth considering for those looking for a little more luxury during their stay. A three-kilometre beach also provides numerous water sport activities at both hotels.

While there are other courses near the Shenzhou Peninsula, the must- play ones are at The Dunes. Ranked in the Top 100 Courses in Asia it is a wonderful links venue. There are two courses, East and West – both designed by the late Tom Weiskopf – and we were fortunate enough to play a composite course that combines selected holes from each. However, we were less fortunate in terms of the weather, which, for large parts of the round, was both wet and windy.

Hainan seaside golf at its best at the Dunes.

At 6,443 yards The Dunes is certainly playable from the blue tees, and the same for the ladies at 4,882 yards from the red tees. Low handicappers may wish to consider the black tees at 7,226 yards. The fairways are relatively wide, however well- placed bunkers and waste bunkers will require good strategy. Despite heavy rain before and during play the fairways drained well and there was some run out on tee shots, we did not need preferred lies.

Several holes run close to the South China Sea and offer beautiful views of the ocean and striking rock formations. From the back tees the par 5’s all measure around 550 yards and are well balanced by a couple of short par 4’s which, depending upon wind direction, give the long hitters an opportunity to get close to the green in two shots. If you go to Hainan for golf, The Dunes should be on your list.

The sixth hole at the Dunes at Shenzhou Peninsula

While our group had to return to Singapore there is another popular golfing stop two hours further south. Sanya, on the southernmost tip of the Island, offers lovely resorts as well as good golfing for those who wish to stay longer on the Island. Yalong Bay is a course that is spoken about highly and on my list for a follow up visit.

With the Jetstar and Scoot return flights departing around midday an early start is required if you wish to leave from the Shenzhou Peninsula, and an even earlier start if leaving from Sanya. The alternative is to stay in the Haikou city centre the day before your flight. You can spend the time there taking in some duty-free shopping, experience the well-renowned Hainan Chicken Rice, sample local coconuts and lychees, and enjoy an evening dinner or drink on the Haikou Bund.

Hotel rooms at Sheraton Shenzhou are luxuriously appointed.

There are also sightseeing trips to volcanic craters and wildlife parks. For those who don’t wish to take another lengthy car journey, a high-speed train connects both the Shenzhou Peninsula and Sanya with Haikou airport. Transport for golf clubs can be arranged in advance to save you from needing to struggle with them on the train.

If you are looking for a new golf experience, I would strongly recommend Hainan Island. It offers both city hotels and beach resorts, all at differing price points. The golf courses are excellent and there is enough variety to suit both men and lady players of all abilities. In terms of timing, the best weather is generally November to April when it is cooler and there is less chance of rain, the downside to this time is that the courses do get busy, and prices go up. The summer months offer lower prices though the temperatures and humidity are more akin to that of Singapore.

Both East and West courses at the Dunes were designed by the late American golfer and course architect Tom Weiskopf.

Take note of China domestic holidays when planning your trip, including school holidays, as even in the summer, this pushes hotel prices up. Non-Mandarin speakers will face challenges conversing outside of the large hotels. Google translate can help, but communication can be an issue. If it’s your first trip to Hainan or you are in a large group, I would recommend using a travel agent who knows island. The agent will put together an itinerary to suit your requirements, enabling you to enjoy all the Hawaii of China has to offer.

For more information on Hainan, or to book a golf holiday there, contact Martin Chao, The Hainan Golf Guru, at +65 90118255.