With a tropical climate, dramatic volcanic landscapes, pristine coastline and an impressive collection of international-standard courses, Hainan offers a remarkable variety of golfing experiences. From the lava-rock landscapes of Mission Hills Haikou to the oceanfront dunes of Shenzhou Peninsula, these six courses stand out for their distinctive character, scenery and strategic challenges. If you are planning a golf holiday in Hainan, these are six courses worth putting at the top of your list.

1. Sandbelt Trails Course – Mission Hills Haikou

Inspired by the great Melbourne Sandbelt courses, Sandbelt Trails is an invitation to think your way around the course.

Designed by Brian Curley and Schmit-Curley Design, the course draws inspiration from renowned Australian layouts such as Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath and Metropolitan. It stretches to 7,297 yards from the back tees and plays to par 72. Wide fairways provide plenty of room from the tee, but the real challenge comes from the dramatic bunkering, undulating greens and the many possible angles of attack. 

The enormous bunkers are one of the course's defining features. Many have high sand faces and crisp, thick lips, while others transition naturally into native vegetation. Eucalyptus trees and wild grasses reinforce the Australian character, creating an unusual but highly effective combination of Melbourne Sandbelt inspiration and Hainan's tropical environment.

What makes Sandbelt Trails particularly enjoyable is the freedom it gives golfers from the tee. Rather than forcing players into a single line of play, the generous fairways allow you to choose your preferred angle into many greens. The challenge then shifts to the approach - where the right line and the ability to read the contours become critical.

The greens are large, but their movement and surrounding hazards reward precision rather than simply relying on power. The result is a course that encourages creativity, thoughtful strategy and confident shot-making.

Why play it? If you enjoy traditional, strategy-first golf and love the character of Melbourne's Sandbelt, Sandbelt Trails offers a fascinating interpretation of that style in a completely different tropical setting.

2. The Vintage Course – Mission Hills Haikou

Step back in time with The Vintage, a course designed to recreate the charm and character of golf's early architectural era.

The Vintage is another Brian Curley and Schmit-Curley creation, but its design philosophy is very different from Sandbelt Trails. It takes inspiration from classic American courses such as National Golf Links, Fishers Island, Maidstone, Chicago Golf Club and Garden City. The routing makes extensive use of the existing terrain and mature vegetation, creating a natural, old-world atmosphere.

The course is full of architectural details that feel deliberately different from the polished appearance of many modern resort courses. Think deep pot bunkers, abrupt mounds, ridges, blind shots, narrow bunkers and geometric shaping. Some bunkers have flat bottoms and grass faces designed to resemble the hand-finished construction techniques of an earlier era.

The greens can be generous in size, but their contours and surrounding hazards demand careful thought. You may find yourself choosing between a conservative line that leaves a straightforward approach or a more ambitious route that creates a better angle. The natural setting is equally important. The course occupies more than 250 acres, with tree-lined fairways and extensive vegetation creating an intimate golfing environment that is particularly enjoyable on foot.

Why play it? For golfers who appreciate classic course architecture, The Vintage delivers something rare - a feeling of playing golf from another era, combined with the scale and quality of a modern championship resort.

3. Lava Fields Course – Mission Hills Haikou

If you want a golf course where the scenery becomes part of the game, Lava Fields is the one to play.

At 7,475 yards and par 72, Lava Fields is one of the most visually distinctive courses at Mission Hills Haikou. Designed by Brian Curley and Schmit-Curley Design, it uses the area's volcanic landscape as an integral part of the golf course. The first thing you notice is the dramatic contrast between dark volcanic rock, golden sand and brilliant green turf. Unlike some heavily wooded layouts, Lava Fields has relatively little tree cover, creating a sense of openness and scale.

The black rock formations are not merely decorative. They form natural boundaries, frame landing areas and influence how you approach many holes. Large, rugged waste bunkers also create strategic choices from the tee, while wide fairways allow golfers to choose different angles of attack.

Another defining feature is the closely mown area around many greens. These run-off and chipping areas provide alternatives to the conventional high-lofted approach, rewarding golfers with a confident short game.

The combination makes Lava Fields both spectacular to look at and fascinating to play. A good round requires more than distance - you need to understand the terrain, choose the right line and be prepared to use different shots around the greens.

Why play it? For a memorable golfing experience that looks unlike almost anywhere else, Lava Fields is hard to beat. The volcanic landscape gives every hole a distinctive identity and creates countless photo opportunities along the way.

4. Blackstone Course – Mission Hills Haikou

The Blackstone Course is widely regarded as the jewel of Mission Hills Haikou and is an essential addition to any Hainan golf itinerary.

Set across approximately 350 acres, the course winds through mature trees, dense tropical vegetation, lakes, wetlands and dramatic black volcanic rock. Rather than hiding the natural lava landscape, designer Brian Curley of Schmidt-Curley Design incorporated it directly into the course architecture, creating a truly distinctive visual experience.

The course is long, strategic and demanding, but its generous playing surfaces and natural routing make it an enjoyable challenge for experienced golfers. The combination of jungle, lava rock and water gives Blackstone a character that is difficult to find anywhere else.

Why play it? For the ultimate Mission Hills experience and one of Hainan’s most spectacular championship layouts.

5. The Dunes East Course, Shenzhou Peninsula

The Dunes East is an 18-hole, par-72 seaside links-style course designed by Tom Weiskopf and his team, measuring approximately 6,636 metres from the back tees. It occupies a spectacular coastal setting along the South China Sea, with rolling dunes, sandy areas, wetlands and oceanfront holes forming the natural framework of the course. 

Here, the wind becomes another player. The direction and strength of the sea breeze can transform the difficulty of a hole, particularly when you reach the coastal section. A shot that looks straightforward on the scorecard can become considerably more demanding when the wind changes.

The fairways are shaped by the natural dunes, while sandy waste areas and coastal vegetation create strategic decisions throughout the round. Rather than feeling like a manicured resort course, The Dunes East has a wonderful sense of openness and natural movement.

The stretch around the 15th to 17th holes is particularly memorable, with the course moving towards the South China Sea and creating some of the most dramatic seaside golf on the island. The experience is not simply about scenery, however. Strategic tee shots, distance control and an ability to adapt to the wind are essential to scoring well.

Why play it? If your idea of great golf involves ocean views, natural dunes, sea breezes and a links-style challenge, The Dunes East should be high on your Hainan itinerary.

6. The Dunes West Course, Shenzhou Peninsula

For many golfers, The Dunes West is a course where the coastline, dunes and dramatic natural landscape come together beautifully.

Also designed by Tom Weiskopf and his team, The Dunes West was the first of the two Shenzhou Peninsula courses and opened in 2010. The 18-hole, par-72 layout stretches along a spectacular section of the peninsula, combining coastal dunes, sandy waste areas, natural waterways, vegetation and granite rock formations. 

The routing is wonderfully varied. One moment you are playing through rolling sandy terrain; the next, the South China Sea appears beside the fairway. Several holes move close to the coastline, creating a constantly changing backdrop and making the course feel different from one hole to the next.

The 8th, 16th and 17th holes are among the standout coastal experiences. The 17th, in particular, provides a spectacular challenge over sand towards the sea, while the coastline and natural rock formations create an unforgettable setting

The beauty of The Dunes West is that the scenery never feels separate from the golf. The wind, sand, water and natural contours all influence your decisions. And that is what makes it such a satisfying finishing course: you are not simply playing 18 holes- you are experiencing the landscape of Hainan through golf.

Why play it? For a combination of championship golf, natural beauty and unforgettable coastal scenery, The Dunes West is an exceptional way to finish a Hainan golf holiday.

Why Hainan Should Be Your Next Golf Destination

What makes Hainan so appealing is the variety of golf experiences within one island.

At Mission Hills Haikou, you can play through ancient volcanic landscapes, experience Australian Sandbelt-inspired architecture and step back into golf's Golden Age. At Shenzhou Peninsula, the scenery changes completely, with coastal dunes, sandy links and the South China Sea providing a spectacular backdrop.

The island's golf courses are known for their tropical landscapes, coastal settings and international-standard designs, making Hainan an increasingly attractive destination for golfers looking for something different in Asia.

And with Mission Hills Haikou alone offering a remarkable collection of courses, you can easily build a multi-round golf holiday around the courses that best suit your playing style. The Dunes at Shenzhou Peninsula adds another 36 holes of coastal golf, giving golfers plenty of scope to combine inland volcanic golf with seaside links-style courses. 

Ready to Tee Off in Hainan?

Whether you are planning a golf getaway with friends, a private golf group or a longer China golf journey, Hainan offers the perfect combination of outstanding courses, resort accommodation, tropical scenery and variety.