ˇˇThis par 3 hole is situated directly on the beach along Hainan Island’s southeastern coast facing the beautiful South China Sea, so hence its nameâ€?eachside. When Blue Bay officially opens for play in January of 2012, this hole should generate some interest within the golf industry and cause a bit of a stir due to its design, orientation, length and scenic location. ˇˇThe hole’s shaping lines favor a bit of links-style intentionally; as the owner wanted a links golf feel for his new seaside course, even though it is located well down in the tropics. ˇˇThe 17th green essentially is a massive horseshoe shape, wrapped dramatically around a cluster of small pot bunkers in the front center, forming two large pinning areas to the right and left. Hard by the sea, the wind is always a major factor in club selection and strategy, and a salt water estuary must be carried in front and the natural sand beach wraps around the left and back of the green site. ˇˇFinding green grass following the tee shot is imperative, as this hole is designed to reward only the best of tee shotsâ€?therwise it a true card-wrecker. The bailout areas are a small fairway area front right and the sandy waste area beyond the estuaryâ€�; otherwise, it’s the beach. ˇˇBlue Bay features lush tees, fairways, roughs as well as its greens all with a singular turf concept, which is all wall-to-wall Sea Isle 2000 paspalum. There are plenty of railroad tie sleepers, volcanic stone walls, beach sand waste areas, and reddish sand pot bunkers to stimulate the views. The course offers a lot of different seaside looks and a distinctive links feeling due to its orientation to the sea and the prevailing winds. This one-shot hole is no exception and soon it should bring many a resort guest back to Hainan Island for more.