The Dunes – West Course, Hainan Island

Coastal Championship Design

Opened in 2010, the West Course was the first of The Dunes’ 36 holes and remains the most dramatic, routed across former coastal farmland that has been sculpted into rolling fairways and bold dune ridges. Many holes sit directly beside the South China Sea, with tees and greens framed by natural sand waste areas, granite outcrops and low, wind‑shaped vegetation.

The routing works in a sweeping arc: early holes move away from the clubhouse into open duneland before turning towards the shoreline, where par‑4s like the signature 8th and 16th hug the beach. An all‑carry par‑3 17th over sand towards the sea creates a spectacular penultimate test, before the closing hole returns inland to a secluded, amphitheatre‑style green.

Playability & Style

Built on pure sand, the West Course plays firm and fast, rewarding imagination along the ground as much as aerial shot‑making. Generous fairway width is offset by vast sandy waste areas, contoured approaches and subtly contoured greens, so good angles and smart course management are essential, especially when the sea breeze is up.

Key Course Facts

• 18‑hole seaside links‑style layout on Hainan’s Shenzhou Peninsula.
• Designed by Tom Weiskopf (with Phil Smith) as part of a 36‑hole complex.
• Opened in 2010 and used within a composite routing for championship play.
• Out‑and‑back routing with multiple holes directly along the South China Sea shoreline.
• Extensive sandy waste areas, dunes, coastal lagoons and rocky outcrops in play.
• Part of The Dunes resort, with access to East Course, academy and practice holes.