The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club (清水湾高尔夫乡村俱乐部) is one of Hong Kong’s most exclusive golfing destinations, offering a dramatic cliffside setting, sweeping sea views, and a challenging layout that rivals some of the world’s most iconic courses. Built on the Clearwater Bay Peninsula (清水湾半岛) in Sai Kung (西贡), the club combines world-class golf with five-star resort-style facilities, making it a paradise for golf lovers seeking both challenge and luxury.
The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club (清水湾高尔夫乡村俱乐部) in Hong Kong is one of Asia’s most exclusive and scenic golf destinations. Perched high on the Clearwater Bay Peninsula (清水湾半岛) in Sai Kung (西贡), the 18-hole links-style course offers dramatic cliffside fairways, sweeping views of the South China Sea (南中国海), and challenging holes shaped by ocean winds and mountain slopes. Designed by T. Sawai and A. Furukawa, the club combines world-class golf with resort-style luxury, making it a true paradise for serious golfers and leisure seekers alike.
Location & Scenery
Perched high on the cliffs of the Clearwater Bay Peninsula (清水湾半岛), the course is surrounded on three sides by the South China Sea (南中国海), with rolling green hills forming its backdrop. From nearly every hole, golfers enjoy sweeping views across Sai Kung (西贡) and the rugged coastline.
The elevated terrain gives the course a commanding atmosphere, making players feel as though they are teeing off above the sea itself. If rated by a five-star resort standard, Clearwater Bay is nothing short of perfect.
Course Layout & Design
Designed by T. Sawai and A. Furukawa, the course follows a links-style philosophy, combining seaside drama with mountain slopes. Since its official opening in December 1982, Clearwater Bay has stood out as one of Asia’s finest golf experiences.
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18 Holes, Par 70, 6,421 yards
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Two Nine-Hole Sections:
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Ocean Nine (临海九洞) – cliffside holes surrounded by the South China Sea, dramatic and intimidating.
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Highland Nine (峰畔九洞) – hillside holes offering fresh perspectives and relief after the tension of the Ocean Nine.
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Practice & Junior Facilities: a new 9-hole, par-3 course is under construction, focusing on youth development.
The greens are surfaced with Eagle Grass, while fairways use Zoysia, ensuring both beauty and challenging play.
Highlights of the Ocean & Highland Nines
Ocean Nine (临海九洞)
The front nine holes hug the cliffs, with the crashing surf and strong sea winds adding both beauty and difficulty. The opening hole is unusually a par 3, demanding accuracy right from the start. Holes 2 and 3 continue along the coastline, offering breathtaking ocean panoramas but also requiring precision under pressure.
Highland Nine (峰畔九洞)
Built into the mountain slopes, these holes provide a completely different perspective. The rolling terrain introduces dramatic elevation changes and several dogleg fairways, forcing players to balance risk and strategy. Though visually less intimidating than the Ocean Nine, the Highland Nine is equally demanding, particularly in strong winds.
Signature Hole – The 14th
The 14th hole is often compared to world-famous seaside holes at Pebble Beach and Cypress Point in the United States. Perched on a narrow peninsula, with waves crashing below the green, it can be both thrilling and nerve-wracking.
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On calm days: the hole feels forgiving, even charming.
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On windy days: its difficulty increases dramatically, testing even seasoned professionals.
Course Difficulty
While relatively short at 6,600 yards, Clearwater Bay is by no means easy. Its seaside location means that wind is a constant factor, significantly affecting accuracy. The combination of hard greens, elevation changes, and tight fairways ensures that every round is an exciting challenge.
The opening stretch of the Ocean Nine—particularly the first four holes—is regarded as one of the most exhilarating starts to any golf course in China.
Club History
The vision for the Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club dates back to the 1960s, when plans were first drafted for a golf course, private club, and marina. After nearly a decade of feasibility studies and negotiations, the project was finally incorporated in 1977 as a non-profit organization.
The club officially opened on December 16, 1982, and has since become one of Hong Kong’s premier golfing institutions.
Membership & Facilities
The club operates on an exclusive membership basis.
As a result, the club maintains a serene environment with low crowds and immaculate conditions. In addition to golf, members enjoy a wide range of luxury facilities, including dining, social, and recreational amenities.
Non-members cannot currently access the course or facilities, making membership the only way to experience this golfing paradise.
Why Play at Clearwater Bay?
The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club (清水湾高尔夫乡村俱乐部) is more than just a golf course—it’s an experience. Its breathtaking seaside views, demanding holes, and world-class facilities place it alongside iconic global courses such as Old Head in Ireland and Cape Kidnappers in New Zealand.
For golfers seeking one of Hong Kong’s most exclusive and challenging courses, Clearwater Bay is truly a bucket-list destination.
Membership
New members could buy into one of the six types of membership by purchasing units of the club's debenture after passing a very stringent character check. Price starts from little under HK$500,000 and could reach over HK$3,500,000. On top of that, members are required to pay additional subscription fee each year.
Type of membership:
- Company Golf
- Individual Golf
- Company Country Club
- Individual Country Club
- Company Marina
- Individual Marina
Visitor Information
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Address: 139 Tai Au Mun Road, Clearwater Bay Peninsula (清水湾半岛), Sai Kung (西贡), New Territories, Hong Kong
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Phone: +852 2335 3700
Chinese Name:香港清水湾高尔夫乡村俱乐部 (18洞)
Chinese Address:香港新界西贡清水湾布袋奥第241第227地段
Tel:852-2335-3888