Norman excels at creating challenging golf courses. While international courses typically have a difficulty index between 120-130, the course he designed at Mission Hills Golf Club surpasses 150 in difficulty.

Bestowing the title of "Championship Course" upon this course is most fitting. Nestled between forested canyons, the course is dominated by numerous deep and large sand bunkers.

The first nine holes are mostly situated on ridges or halfway up the mountain, while the back nine are hidden in secluded mountain valleys. Precise and accurate tee shots are crucial, as the fairways are narrow and surrounded by tall grass and wooded areas, creating a "forest" on the hillsides.

Course Designer:

Greg Norman

Known as the "Great White Shark" from Australia, Greg Norman maintained the world No. 1 ranking for nearly 10 years. With his aggressive playing style and unique personal charm, Norman dominated the world golf scene from the 1980s to the early 1990s. 

He is not only an outstanding golfer but also a successful entrepreneur, with his own brand of wine, real estate, golf equipment, sportswear, and more.

Course Features:

1. One of the most challenging courses in Asia.

2. The fairways are surrounded by native tall grass.

3. Realistic Australian-style sand bunkers with steep faces.

4. Crossing steep canyons provides spectacular and beautiful scenery.

Course Data:

For more information and tee time reservations, visit：（Mission Hills Golf Club-NORMAN COURSE）

Hole-by-Hole Guide:

**Hole 1: 421 Yards, Par 4**

The fairway of this starting hole is relatively wide. The ideal first shot should land on the left side of the fairway, providing a good foundation for attacking the green. Avoiding the sand trap on the right side is crucial, as falling into it can lead to a difficult start.

Additionally, there is a sand trap guarding the left side of the green, and the terrain behind is steep. Precision is required for the iron shot to prevent overshooting the green.

**Hole 2: 356 Yards, Par 4**

The shortest four-par hole on the Norman Course. Faced with four sand traps on the right side of both the fairway and the green, the left side is still the best direction for the shot. However, the left fairway also has a sand trap that should not be ignored.

The green is located on a high hill, with steep terrain both in front and behind, requiring careful distance calculation.

**Hole 3: 420 Yards, Par 4**

On this par-four hole, the right side is at the base of the mountain, and the green is on a high ridge, surrounded by trees and lakes. Accuracy in shot placement is highly demanded due to the surrounding landscape. The tee shot should avoid the sand trap on the right side of the fairway, and the approach shot should be directed towards the right side.

A deep, cave-like sand trap is situated on the left front of the green, and there is a sand trap guarding the back right. If the flag is positioned toward the back, stopping the ball on the green becomes challenging.

**Hole 4: 147 Yards, Par 3**

This three-par hole is the shortest on the Norman Course. The tee is on top of a hill, and the green is on a distant hill. Precision is essential for the mid-short iron shot to avoid the steep slopes on the left side, the rear, and the right side of the green.

**Hole 5: 381 Yards, Par 4**

Situated on a high ridge, this par-four hole has a wide fairway. Opting for an aggressive play might lead to challenges from the sand traps on the left and the two deep valleys in the middle of the fairway. The green is surrounded by steep slopes, with sand traps on the left front and the right rear, making the second shot critical.

**Hole 6: 212 Yards, Par 3**

A narrow downhill par-three hole that offers a panoramic view of the green surrounded by small hills. Three sand traps guard the front of the green, and the undulating terrain adds to the challenge of ball movement. Maintaining accuracy is crucial for par or better.

**Hole 7: 566 Yards, Par 5**

Now, players experience the first par-five hole on the Norman Course. Similar to many previous holes, the tee is positioned at a high elevation, providing a panoramic view of the green and the entire course. To reach the green in two shots, the second shot must clear the sand trap and attack the green guarded by a deep sand pit on the left.

**Hole 8: 556 Yards, Par 5**

Consecutive second par-five hole. The direction of this hole is opposite to Hole 7. The fairway is spacious, and sand traps on both sides will challenge less accurate players. Considering that the green is hidden behind a hill with numerous sand traps, the second shot requires accurate judgment of the direction, and the landing point must be chosen based on the specific location of the flag.

**Hole 9: 462 Yards, Par 4**

The longest four-par hole on the front nine, considering the green is on a small hill surrounded by sand traps. Approaching the green requires caution, especially with the second shot, which must clear the tall grass area and the deep sand trap on the left side. Failing to do so might lead to a challenging struggle.

Additionally, reading the green carefully and being mindful of the slopes are crucial for scoring on this green.

**Hole 10: 362 Yards, Par 4**

The fairway is wide but situated in a deep valley, with lush mountains on the side, a meandering creek on the right, and two sand traps aligned with the fairway on the left. The creek that crosses the fairway seems to be a key element of this hole.

Using an iron to attack the green from the right side of the fairway, clearing the sand trap on the left front, is a conservative strategy. For a more imaginative shot, utilizing the slope on the right side of the green can let the ball roll toward the flag.

**Hole 11: 173 Yards, Par 3**

This medium-length par-three hole is the first with a beautiful lake view. The towering green is on a steep hill, and there is a deep sand trap on both the left and right sides.

**Hole 12: 486 Yards, Par 4**

The longest four-par hole on the Norman Course, situated in a valley. The first shot needs to clear a small pond, and the fairway narrows as it progresses, with a creek on the left. If the landing point of the tee shot is on the left side of the fairway, the second shot must cross the large hill on the left side of the creek.

Due to the sand trap on the ridge in front

 of the green, landing the ball here is risky. The creek on the left side of the green also creates additional challenges.

**Hole 13: 392 Yards, Par 4**

The tee is on a high point, offering a panoramic view of the distant green and valley. Apart from avoiding the central sand trap during the tee shot, attacking the green requires consideration of the specific location of the flag.

If the flag is in the left front, the second shot should approach from the right. If the flag is in the middle or on the right, approach from the left. Additionally, the green has some slopes, requiring careful attention during putting.

**Hole 14: 644 Yards, Par 5**

This extremely long par-five hole is not only considered the most challenging on the Norman Course but may also be the most challenging among all 12 courses at the Shenzhen Mission Hills  Golf Club.

Being an uphill hole, the tee shot needs to be long and straight; otherwise, the ball might end up in the adjacent forest. The green is located at the end of a valley, guarded by a sand trap on the right, making a one-shot attack extremely challenging.

**Hole 15: 368 Yards, Par 4**

Standing on the elevated tee, players can overlook the entire panorama of this short par-four hole and the green located at the foot of the mountain. The landing area is relatively open, with a small hill on the left. If the ball veers too far to the left, it might get stuck in the hills, but the right side also presents a challenge with a sand trap.

If successfully attacking the broad green and showcasing excellent putting skills, there is a good chance to score a birdie here.

**Hole 16: 209 Yards, Par 3**

This challenging par-three hole has a long distance and is situated downhill. Surrounded by six sand traps in front, behind, left, right, and on the slopes, along with a small hill on the right side, it is far from simple. Teeing off from the elevated tee, the ball must clear the lake and various sand traps to reach the ever-changing green. If the tee shot misses the green and falls into the surrounding sand traps, saving par with a one-putt will prove extremely difficult.

**Hole 17: 485 Yards, Par 4**

This narrow and elongated four-par hole appears obstacle-free on the fairway but presents a challenge at 300 yards, where it narrows, and the deep canyon on the left side becomes a problem for players.

The canyon is on the left side of the fairway, so hitting the ball straight is key to avoiding trouble. The landing point is higher than the green, and using a long iron to attack the green from above is recommended. There is a large sand trap on the right side of the green, so landing the ball not far away and rolling toward the undulating green is crucial for preparing for the subsequent putt.

**Hole 18: 588 Yards, Par 5**

This par-five hole with a standard par of 5 is full of risks. A series of sand traps is on the left side of the landing area, and attacking the green requires crossing a winding creek. Additionally, there is a sand trap guard on the left and two on the right side of the green, making it necessary to avoid sinking into the sand traps and paying a heavy price.

This final hole, fraught with both challenges and opportunities, has the potential to bring a dramatic conclusion to the China Amateur Open.

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