EAST COURSE FACT SHEET



KAU SAI CHAU PUBLIC GOLF COURSE

FACT SHEET

1. BACKROUND INFORMATION

• Kau Sai Chau is Hong Kong first and only public golf course.

• The North Course was opened in December 1995

• The South Course was opened in 1996

• New East Course (all 18 holes) will open on 29 April 2008 but 9 holes (played twice) will be opened on selected dates from 20 March to 27 April, 2008

• Annual rounds of golf played at both courses: 120,000

• Total rounds of golf played since opening: over one million

• New East Course cost HK$300 million of which HK$184 million comes from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with the balance (HK$116 million) from accrued reserves of Kau Sai Chau

2. ENVIRONMENTAL & ECOLOGICAL CONSERVATION

• Past Land uses led to erosion and damage

o During 1939 to 1975, Kau Sai Chau was an artillery target practice range for the British military stationed in Hong Kong, while the northeast tip of the island has historically been used as a burial site. Both of these land uses had caused fires and damage that led to devastating erosion on the island.

• Golf course construction helped improve overall environment

o Construction of the golf courses re-contoured some of the badly eroded sites but, more importantly, served as an effective firebreak which eliminated the many hill fires.

• Ecological preservation

o The environment on Kau Sai Chau has been monitored continuously over the 13 years since construction was completed in 1995; wildlife habitats have now begun to recover from the historic erosion and fire damage, and many species of native flora and fauna are re-colonising the island.

o The number of wildlife species has increased rapidly since 1995. Butterflies have increased from 4 to 30 species while dragonfly species now number 38, up from 8 in 1995. Reptiles and amphibian species increased from 4 to 18. Eight snake species now occur on northern Kau Sai Chau, where none was recorded during pre-golf studies. The bird species list now includes 137 species as compared to less than 30 before the construction of the golf courses. Mammal species have increased from 6 to 11 including, Barking Deer, Chinese Porcupines, Masked Palm Civets, Small Indian Civets, and Wild Boar.

o Mangrove restoration below the reservoir dam, constructed to provide irrigation water for the golf courses, has mitigated habitat losses, enabling colonisation by species that were not planted as part of the mitigation efforts in 1994, including mangrove-associated species along the backshore zone. These created wetlands are prominent features of as part of the golf course landscape and design at Kau Sai Chau, serving a dual-fold purposes of providing habitats for wildlife, in addition to providing purification of treated waste water. The many waterbirds, reptiles, amphibians and fish in Kau Sai Chau wetlands are evidences that the golf courses have provided quality habitats for freshwater flora and fauna.

• Major investment in environmental conservation

Of the HK$300 million construction cost, HK$50 million was earmarked for environmental and ecological conservation works.

o Close Drainage System

▪ For the protection of marine water quality, a unique closed drainage system has been installed at the third golf course on Kau Sai Chau.

▪ The closed drainage system collects all run-off water from the golf course into a system comprised of 5 large underground tanks and 2 surface lakes, which is then pumped or gravity fed back to an irrigation lake. Once at the irrigation lake the run-off is either recycled onto the 3rd golf course as irrigation, or overflows to the existing main reservoir.

▪ This unique system facilitates efficient water management through recycling; maintains high water quality in the marine waters surrounding Kau Sai Chau; and enhances the overall ecological value on the island.

o Desalination Plant

▪ A desalination plant has been installed on Kau Sai Chau to provide fresh water for irrigation during the dry season.

▪ The desalination plant at Kau Sai Chau removes salt and minerals from seawater through a process called reverse osmosis, to remove salt and produce fresh water. To preserve the life of the sensitive filter membranes the seawater passes through a complex system of sedimentation and filtration first to ensure the water is clean. After passing through the membranes the “reject water” with increased salinity is returned to the sea, and the “product water” or freshwater, is pumped to a freshwater tank from where it is pumped to the irrigation lake via underground pipes for irrigating the 3rd golf course.

▪ The desalination plant ensures that Kau Sai Chau remains self sufficient in the provision of irrigation water for all three golf courses, and in combination with the closed drainage system, provides an efficient and environmental friendly water management system, whilst protecting marine water quality and ecology surrounding Kau Sai Chau.

o Slope restoration works

▪ During the construction of the East Course the severely scarred slopes surrounding the site, which had been damaged by the former use of the island as an artillery target range by the British military, have been restored by regarding the slopes to prevent further erosion and by re-vegetating the areas with native grasses and shrubs. This important step will prevent further silty run-off to the marine waters surrounding the island and improve water quality.

o Protection of sensitive streams

▪ Several sensitive streams on the site identified during the EIA stage of the project led to the redesign and rerouting of several holes to ensure that these important ecological features would remain undisturbed. Buffer zones surrounding the streams were maintained as no go areas for construction throughout the duration of the project.

In recognition of the Golf Course’s efforts in environmental conservation The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course has been certified by Audubon International as an Audubon Co-operative Sanctuary for Wildlife having successfully completed their certificate program in key areas such as Environmental Planning; Wildlife and Habitat Management; Water Conservation and Water Quality Management; Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, and Outreach and Education.

3. GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION – EAST COURSE

The new 6640 yard, par 72, East Course has been designed to fully utilize the dramatic natural features along the eastern coastline of Kau Sai Chau to create a golf course that is truly memorable, friendly to play, and visually spectacular. Most of the holes play along ridgelines and points protruding into the South China Sea giving the course an intimidating feel, despite the generous width of the fairways, which are wider than both the existing North and South Course. With sweeping sea-views from almost every point, the new East Course will offer Hong Kong golfers a truly unique experience.

Selected Holes

Thanks to the dramatic nature of the site and its ocean views, there are many beautiful spectacular holes on the course. We have selected a few below including the Par 4 14th Hole – The Signature Hole for the East Course.

Hole 4

This 366-yard par 4 is a classic “cape” hole, which requires the golfer to decide how much they wish to cut the corner from the middle tees. The rugged bunkering cut in to the cliffs will help the golfer to judge distance and choose a line. The horizon green is protected by a deep fairway bunker and protrudes out to the sea.

Hole 5

This par 3 of 211 yards plays across a small coastal inlet to a large green in an amphitheatre setting and is protected by bunkers to the front and right.  The tees are located on natural flat areas on the cliffs that lead down to the sea.  The safe shot is to take an extra cub over the water as the bailout area on this hole is behind the green.  From there a relatively easy chip will offer a par opportunity.

Hole 9

This is one of the more difficult par 4s for the average golfer, measuring 425 yards from the back tee it requires a forced carry over a natural stream on the second shot approach to the green.  The fairway is large but with the greenside bunker on the right the design rewards a risky drive played down the left side of the fairway along the cliff edge.  The hole also features a beautiful natural waterfall near the green and just above the bridge.

Hole 11

This 416 yard downhill par 4 provides plenty of drama. The fairway is generously wide, although the 50 meter drops either side make for a challenging tee shot. From the tees the complete hole is visible, along with a large slice of the rugged Kau Sai Chau coastline. Bunkers short and right at the green favour an approach from the left side of the fairway. The green is large and there is a bailout to the left side for golfers although chipping to the green can be difficult due to the large central swale in the green surface.

Hole 13

Another classic par 3, the 209 yard 13th plays from elevated tees to a visually intimidating green setting on what is basically the top of a mountain. On this hole there are almost 360-degree views of the South China Seas. Beautiful but brutal when the wind blows.

Hole 14 – The signature hole of the East Course

Perhaps the most dramatic hole on the site this 366 yard par 4, plays from an elevated tee to a fairway doglegging to the left and heading straight out to the South China Sea. With picturesque and rugged islands in the distance behind the green, this provides the most classic of the many photo opportunities of the round.

Hole 16

This par 5 of 522 yards plays up a natural valley and is one of the three uphill holes.  The second landing area is well guarded with bunkers, with the ideal second shot carrying the large bunker on the left.  From here the elevated green opens up for an easy approach.  For the long hitters who want to try and reach the green in two the green is well protected by two very deep bunkers.

Hole 18

The 549 yard Par 5 18th hole will offer spectacular rewards for good shots, yet frustrate those who are having a great round and “feeling the pressure”!  The drive must reach the end of the fairway in order to have an opportunity to play to the second landing area and green some 30 meters below.  Golfers who bail out to the left on the drive will have the important decision whether to lay-up (the smart shot) or try and go for the second landing area.  In order to help the golfers, the first landing area will be shaped to help kick balls down to the end of the fairway.  The green is very large and offers an inviting target from the top of the hill.

Course construction statistics

• 5 underground concrete tanks and 3 lakes for retention and recycling of golf course runoff

• 14 km storm water drainage pipes

• 33 km of low flow drainage to drain fairways

• 32 km irrigation pipelines beneath the golf course

• 1,100 irrigation sprinklers

• 100,000 m3 of sand imported for playing surfaces

• 600,000 m3 earthworks to form golf course

• 14 km cart paths and maintenance access paths

• 300,000 m2 Paspalum turf planted

• 11,100 marine and freshwater samples taken for testing under the water quality monitoring program conducted throughout the duration of the project

• 1400 m3 water produced from the desalination plant per day for irrigating the golf course

Opening Dates for the East Course and Green Fees

The new East Course with 9 holes will be open to the public on selected dates from 20 March to 27 April 2008, and 18 holes from 29 April 2008 onwards.

Weekdays Weekends

Under 21 years of age $255 $330

21 years of age and over $570 $740

Seniors (60 years+) $470 (Mondays only, excluding Public Holiday)

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