RUNNING HEADER
12
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By Design
P
art of a resort and national park
development, China Maple GC is
in a remote area that previously
had little economic activity. A river
flowed through the property and would
flood periodically, causing damage and
limiting the area’s potential. The owner,
Mr. Yu Cheng Bo, had grown up on the
site and was introducing flood control
measures, including the construction
of a 350-acre reservoir, to support the
resort and park project.
He briefed Rick Robbins, ASGCA to
create a golf course that would fit into
the mountain terrain without destroying
the natural beauty of the area. It needed
to complement the flood control
measures he was introducing and create
a catalyst for employment in the area.
The site had 260 metres of elevation
change, its steep ridges draining
towards the river. Robbins spent nine
days walking the area with the client to
identify the most suitable terrain for a 27-
hole course. The holes would all lie south
of the reservoir, and housing was placed
in a separate area on the north side.
For the sake of both the national park
and the housing development, water
quality was crucial. Robbins says: “We
preserved the stream valleys in their
natural condition by playing across
them to keep water quality high and
implemented erosion control measures
to reduce sediment.”
As a result of the project, the
economic situation of the area is
much improved. The owner has now
developed the entire national park
infrastructure, including an entry road,
parking area, information center and
trails. Hundreds of local residents are
employed on the golf course, manning
the national park and farming ginseng
in the outer areas of the course.
Location
Dandong, Liaoning Province,
China
Architect:
Rick Robbins, ASGCA
Robbins & Associates International
Project summary:
Working on rugged terrain with
flooding issues and little economic
activity, this new golf course
project was to provide a catalyst
for employment in the area. At
the same time it needed to have
a positive environmental impact
on a surrounding area that was to
become a national park.
Partners:
Toro
Jacklin Seed
“We preserved the stream
valleys in their natural
condition by playing
across them to keep
water quality high”
The golf course lies within the
Tianquigou National Park
Holes run alongside a large reservoir that was created by the owner
CHINA MAPLE GC
