Located in scenic countryside outside of Shenzhen, the exclusive Xili Golf and Country Club offers their members 36 holes of appealing golf. Designed by leading golf course architects Nelson, Wright and Haworth, Xili may not be the most difficult course you'll ever play but all four loops (A-D) of nine feature some very attractive holes that are challenging in parts.
The A and B 9s are characterized by quite generous fairways and interesting changes in elevation. The par 3, 5th hole on the A is a particularly good hole. At 188 yards from the Blue tee a well-hit long iron has to carry a large pond in front of the green. Six bunkers surround the putting surface so distance control is crucial. Other good holes include the pretty par 4, 1st on the B course and the medium length par 4, 7th, also on the B. The 7th hole requires a decent drive, avoiding the fairway bunkers, to set yourself up for an easier approach to the well-protected green. Water comes into play short and right of the green and with bunkers at the back it will take a precise iron to find the putting surface.
The C course may not be the longest of the four 9s but it is probably the hardest. Featuring constant changes in elevation the C course is home to the toughest hole at Xili – the 468-yard Par 4, 1st. A long drive is required to give any hope in reaching the green in regulation. The fairway meanders first left and then right before giving way to a water hazard around 60 yards short of the green. The green is well bunkered so accuracy with a long iron or even wood approach is essential. Par is an excellent score. The par 3, 6th on the C Course is an exciting par 3. The elevated tee is some 60 feet above the island green making club selection very difficult to judge. Because of the location of the tee, wind also plays an important part on this hole.
The D Course is relatively flat and like the other courses here features a nice mix of holes. The fairways are generally wide and the greens, although well protected, don't have the severity of slope that characterizes other courses in the area. The extremely elevated 7th tee offers spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. The course finishes somewhat unusually with a par 3. It's a beautiful hole though with a lake guarding the front left side of the green and bunkers on the right.