Taiwan Golf and Country Club
Founded in 1919, the Old Tamsui course is the cradle of the game in Taiwan. The Japanese architect Shiro Akaboshi laid out the full eighteen in 1929, and it still tumbles over hilly ground above the mouth of the Tamsui river, a par 72 of about 6,833 yards steeped in a century of history.
Photo: Taiwan Golf & Country Club via Google.
The verdict
Taiwan Golf and Country Club, the Old Tamsui course, is where golf in Taiwan began. Founded in 1919 and given its full eighteen holes by the Japanese architect Shiro Akaboshi in 1929, it carries more history than any course on the island, having staged the Taiwan Open and welcomed generations of the country's finest players.
The golf is old fashioned in the best sense, a par 72 of about 6,833 yards routed over rolling, sometimes steep ground near the coast. It is a private members club, so a round usually comes through a reciprocal club or an introduction, but for the visiting golfer who values heritage over modern length, few places in Asia carry this much weight.
Taiwan Golf and Country Club at a glance
- Founded
- 1919
- Designer
- Shiro Akaboshi, 1929 layout
- Type
- Hill parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,833 yds
- Green fee
- Members and guests
Founding year, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Taiwan Golf and Country Club and leading course databases. The club was founded in 1919 and Shiro Akaboshi laid out the full eighteen in 1929, a par 72 of about 6,833 yards. It is a private members club; reciprocal member guest fees indicatively run NT$3,850 to 4,850 on weekdays by tee time and season, and about NT$5,850 on weekends and public holidays (indicative, 2026). Access and rates change, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Old Tamsui course is a study in classic, strategic golf rather than modern muscle. The routing rises and falls across the hillsides above the river, asking for shaped tee shots and careful judgment of stance and lie on ground that rarely sits flat. Width is generous in places, but the slopes feed the careless shot away from the green.
Generations of Taiwanese champions learned the game here, and the course rewards the same qualities it always has: a reliable long game to hold the hillside fairways and a deft touch around firm, well guarded greens. The sea breeze off the Taiwan Strait adds a links like edge to the closing stretch.
It will not overpower a modern player on the card, but it does not need to. The pleasure is in the heritage and the variety, a walk through a hundred years of Asian golf with views over the Tamsui river to the East China Sea.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; play is primarily for members and visiting members of reciprocal clubs, who should arrange an introduction in advance |
| Green fee | Reciprocal member guests indicatively NT$3,850 to 4,850 on weekdays by tee time and season, about NT$5,850 on weekends and public holidays (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Arrange through your home club's reciprocal desk or a Taiwan golf specialist well ahead of travel |
| On the day | Carts and caddies are the norm on the hilly Tamsui layout; collared dress and a steady pace are expected |
| Getting there | Tamsui District, northwest New Taipei City, about 40 minutes from central Taipei |
| Best months | October to April for cooler, drier conditions; avoid the hot, typhoon prone summer |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; the club is private and policies change, so always confirm directly through your reciprocal club or a trip planner before planning a visit.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base themselves in Taipei, a short drive away and full of excellent hotels, night markets and the wider attractions of one of Asia's great cities. The MRT and a quick taxi put the Old Tamsui course within easy reach of a city stay.
For a quieter, coastal base, the town of Tamsui itself offers riverside hotels and a famous old street, an atmospheric place to wind down after a round. It is an easy region in which to pair heritage golf with a few days of Taipei food and culture.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Taiwan Golf and Country Club.
Build a Taiwan golf trip
We arrange access where reciprocal play allows, pair the Old Tamsui course with the best of Taiwan and book the city stay around it. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Taiwan Golf and Country Club questions
Who designed Taiwan Golf and Country Club and when did it open?
The club was founded in 1919 as Taiwan's first golf club, and the Japanese architect Shiro Akaboshi laid out the full eighteen holes in 1929, earning it the nickname the Old Tamsui course.
What is the par and length of Taiwan Golf and Country Club?
It is a par 72 of about 6,833 yards, routed over hilly ground near the mouth of the Tamsui river.
Can visitors play Taiwan Golf and Country Club?
It is a private members club. Play is primarily for members and visiting members of reciprocal clubs, who should arrange an introduction and a tee time well in advance.
When is the best time to play in Tamsui?
October to April brings cooler, drier weather; the summer months are hot and exposed to typhoons.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.