Gary Player Design's Suzhou Jinji Lake Course Wins Global Best Practice Award

(NEWSLETTER) - Adding to its list of accolades, the Gary Player-designed Suzhou Jinji Lake International Golf Club has been named a winner by the inaugural Global Golf Advisors Institute for Best Practice Excellence Awards.

A delegation of 34 representatives will travel from China to San Antonio, Texas, to join golf industry dignitaries from North America and Europe in a celebration aimed at recognizing excellence in Chinese club management. The awards are the culmination of 12 months of research and analysis coordinated by Global Golf Advisors with 100 of the world’s top clubs from China, North America and Europe.

“We are very proud of our design at Jinji Lake,” said President of Gary Player Design Scott Ferrell. “But good design will not shine if our clients aren’t committed to the best management practices. We are very thankful that the team in Suzhou shares our standards for quality.”

The Gary Player Signature Course located in Suzhou, China, continues to shine nearly 10 years after its opening. The 27-hole course is a creative and unique combination of three different styles of nine-hole layouts. Gary Player’s personal commitment to environmentally sustainable courses is unmatched in the golf course design industry, and he directs and demands his design staff to incorporate eco-friendly practices in all of his courses.

When Gary Player saw the emerging golf market in China, he wanted to set the standard in how a golf course should be designed.

“We take great pride in designing a course in an eco-friendly fashion,” Player said. “Being recognized for our efforts will help us continue to build sustainable courses and uphold our strong commitment to the environment.”

The course is comprised of three very different types of play, which include links, wetlands and forest. The Links Course provides stern challenges with its unique pot bunkers and fairways lined by tall fescue grasses reminiscent of Scotland. The Wetlands Course pleasantly meanders around lakes, rivers and ponds. The Forest Course is set amidst tall and elegant trees, and its high-tech floodlights allow players to enjoy the course day and night.

Managed by IMG, Jinji Lake International Golf Club is located in the Suzhou Industrial Park between Jinji Lake and Dushu Lake. Rob Hill, a partner with Global Golf Advisors EMEA Office and Director of the Institute, said, “Sharing best practices is a key part attributing to the success of any golf business. While it’s important to learn from individual experiences, it can be more effective to learn from the experiences, mistakes and successes of others.”