Course designer Brian Curley is delighted to see his masterpiece showcased to the world during this week’s Hainan Classic at Mission Hills Haikou.
The American was the brains behind the ten courses at Mission Hills Haikou but the Blackstone Course, the layout on which this week’s event is being played, is the jewel in the crown.
The Blackstone Course is a spectacular 350 acre layout that weaves through a striking landscape of mature trees, thick jungle vegetation, and expansive lakes and wetlands. The dominating site characteristic is the bed of lava rock which was capped with material located 25 miles away. The naturally rolling terrain sees dramatic elevation change and great care was taken to find as many natural holes as possible to avoid cutting the rock and to preserve the magnificent Lychee trees.
The lava rock base has been incorporated as an integral element of the design by weaving irregular lines of turf and rock, eliminating the typical hard-line edge of most courses. Adding to the look are wild, irregular bunker edges and transitional sand edges that effortlessly work into native lava rock.
Fairways sweep across the landscape conforming to the natural terrain with an emphasis on surface drainage rather than contained low drain inlets. The result is a magical blanket of turf with soft irregular edges and a lack of hard lines as there is only fairway cut (no rough, even at bunker faces). The lava bed is incorporated into forced carries creating dramatic contrast and the lava rock walls and village ruins created years ago remain as a testament to the site's past.
Curley, a renowned course designer across the world, said: “I am so happy to see the Blackstone Course back in the limelight with this week’s Hainan Classic on the DP World Tour.
“The Blackstone Course was envisioned and planned to be a world-class tournament venue from the beginning with its design and associated facility planning, capable of hosting the greatest of events, and it has never disappointed.
“It also offers some of the most striking visuals with contrasts of turf, lava rock, marshes and lakes, and sandy expanses. It remains one of my best designs in my career and I wish Mission Hills and all my friends there the best week of golf.”
