Golden Elephant Golf Club

About the club

Swedish designer Jesper Parnevik was not a standout tournament player—the high point of career was probably his loss in the 1994 Open at Turnberry owing to a bogey on the 18th—and indeed his line of golf clothing is better known than his work as an architect. Nevertheless, with the Elephant, his name has become associated with a quite pleasurable course that is promoted by the club as European in style. The Elephant has attracted a couple of significant venues, namely one phase of the Omega China Tour in 2005 (won by the rising Chinese star Li Chao), the year after the club opened, and the Volvo China Jr. Championship two years later. The course features gentle hills defined by colorful natural vegetation and, on the other hand, high-end residences. The holes here are carefully designed and, as might be expected given the luxurious surroundings, superbly maintained.