Course Designer
Brian Curley · Schmit-Curley Design
The Black Stone course is recognized as Asia’s top championship course, venue for the annual World Ladies Championship and the biennial World Celebrity Pro-Am.
The 350-acre Blackstone Course, which winds through an impressive setting of large lakes and marshes, dense jungle flora, and mature trees, is the golf course’s crown jewel. The main feature of the site is the lava rock bed that was covered in material. A great deal of effort was taken to locate as many natural holes as possible in order to avoid cutting the rock and maintain the spectacular Lychee trees, as the naturally rolling terrain experiences severe elevation changes.
Instead of using the conventional hard line edge found on most courses, uneven patterns of rock and turf have been woven into the design to create the lava rock base. Wild, asymmetrical bunker margins and transitional sand borders that blend in seamlessly with the surrounding natural lava rock improve the overall appearance.
With a focus on surface drainage rather than restricted low drain inlets, fairways flow across the landscape in a manner that complements the natural terrain. As a result, there are only fairway cuts—no rough patches, not even at bunker faces—and the grass is transformed into a wonderful blanket with soft, uneven edges and no hard lines. The site’s past is preserved by the lava rock walls and hamlet ruins that were built years ago. The lava bed is integrated into forced carries, producing a striking contrast.
The course starts in the more densely forested area of the grounds, featuring a range of hole lengths and naturally occurring amphitheater green environments. The last holes wind in and out of a high terrain hub, providing excellent views of the last holes with minimal movement required. The course is extremely accessible because of its simple terrain and easy green-to-tee links. This course should establish itself as one of the top tournament courses in the world today since it is challenging, lengthy (at over 7,800 yards), and offers risk-reward opportunities at the last few holes. Not only is there a fantastic competition golf course, but also comprehensive design and building have produced support facilities that can easily host large tournaments.
5,694 SF (529 Square Meters)
Average Green Size
(No Rough)
Average Fairway Width
