Haesley Nine Bridges

The verdict

Haesley Nine Bridges is what happens when a club spares no expense and hides none of its ambition. Opened in 2009 on rolling, wooded ground in Yeoju, about an hour southeast of Seoul, it is the mainland counterpart to the Club at Nine Bridges on Jeju, sharing that name's byword status for exclusivity, conditioning and design. The course, laid out by David Dale and Kevin Ramsey, flows through mature trees and water on a generous, beautifully shaped property, a par 72 built for members and visiting dignitaries rather than crowds.

What lifts Haesley beyond a very good golf course is its clubhouse, a structure so admired it has become an architectural pilgrimage in its own right. Designed by the Japanese architect Shigeru Ban with the Korean architect Kyeong Sik Yoon, its roof is carried on slender timber columns that fan out like trees, an extraordinary free form lattice of laminated wood that has drawn coverage well beyond golf. The result is a club where the round and the room compete for your attention, both finished to a standard that places Haesley among the most coveted experiences in Korean golf.

The holes worth the trip

The Dale and Ramsey routing makes full use of the Yeoju landscape, moving across rolling, wooded terrain with water and elevation change adding both drama and strategy. It is generous in scale, in keeping with a club built for an unhurried members experience, but there is real shape and thought in the holes: tee shots that ask you to favor one side, approaches that must respect the contour of large, well guarded greens, and a steady escalation of demand as the round unfolds.

Conditioning is the constant. Haesley is presented to the meticulous standard the Nine Bridges name implies, with turf, bunkering and landscaping tended like a private garden. The pace is relaxed, the caddies and carts are part of the polished service, and the whole day is designed to feel like an event rather than simply a round of golf.

And then there is the clubhouse, which no description of Haesley can ignore. Pausing beneath Shigeru Ban's timber canopy before or after the round is as much a part of the experience as the golf itself. For the travelling golfer fortunate enough to gain access, Haesley delivers a rare combination of serious golf and world class architecture, the ideal centerpiece for a Seoul region trip.

Where to stay nearby

Most visiting golfers base themselves in central Seoul and make the hour's drive southeast to Yeoju for the round, returning to the city for the evening. The Gangnam district is a convenient choice for the southern and eastern golf belt, with the full range of international hotels and dining on hand.

For a fuller trip, Haesley pairs naturally with the other prestige clubs of the Seoul region and the resorts of Gangwon further east, making a strong centerpiece for a Korea golf itinerary. Treat it as the architectural and golfing highlight and build the surrounding days around it.

Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Haesley Nine Bridges.