Nine Bridges vs Blackstone
Two of the finest courses on Jeju Island, the volcanic golf capital off the southern coast of Korea. The Club at Nine Bridges is the trophy, a PGA Tour host and one of the best courses in Asia, but famously hard to get on. Blackstone Jeju answers with dramatic volcanic championship golf and far easier access. Here is the head to head, verdict up front.
Photograph: Nine Bridges, via Google
The verdict
For the marquee round, the Club at Nine Bridges wins, comfortably. The Golf Plan design from 2001, the work of Ronald Fream and David Dale, set out to bring the feel of the Scottish Highlands to Jeju with immaculate American finishing, and the result is regularly rated among the very best courses in Asia. It hosted the PGA Tour's CJ Cup from 2017 to 2019, the first official American Tour event staged in Korea, and it carries a reputation and an exclusivity to match. The catch is access: it is one of the hardest clubs in the region to get on.
For a great day you can actually book, Blackstone Jeju makes the stronger case. A Brian Costello design opened in 2005, it plays across sharp volcanic terrain with subtly undulating fairways and pure bentgrass greens, has hosted professional events including the KLPGA, and offers championship golf with much more open resort and visitor access. It is beautifully conditioned and genuinely dramatic. Pick Nine Bridges for the trophy if you can secure it, Blackstone for the best round most visitors will realistically play on the island.
Head to head
| The Club at Nine Bridges | Blackstone Jeju | |
|---|---|---|
| Designer and year | Golf Plan, Ronald Fream and David Dale, opened 2001 | Brian Costello, JPM Design, opened 2005 |
| The headline | Host of the PGA Tour CJ Cup, 2017 to 2019, and one of the best courses in Asia | Dramatic volcanic championship golf, host of KLPGA events, far more accessible |
| The course | A Creek nine and a Highland nine, with a Scottish Highlands feel and American conditioning | Multiple nines across rocky volcanic terrain, with pure bentgrass greens and big breaks |
| Access | Exclusive private club; access is difficult and usually needs a connection | Resort and visitor play available, with some nines reserved for members |
| Conditioning | Immaculate, among the best presented courses in Asia | Excellent, known for its conditioning and dramatic setting |
| Green fees | Indicative 2026 premium, the higher of the two and access dependent | Indicative 2026 high but more attainable resort pricing |
| Best season | Spring and autumn for the mildest weather and best conditions | Spring and autumn, the same prime windows on Jeju |
| Who it suits | Golfers chasing the trophy round who can arrange the access | Visitors who want top class Jeju golf they can actually book |
Designers, years and tournament history verified June 2026; indicative fees and access vary by season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick Nine Bridges if
You want the single best and most exclusive round on Jeju and you have, or can arrange, a way on. As a former PGA Tour venue and a fixture near the top of the Asia rankings, it is the trophy course of Korean golf, immaculately presented and beautifully routed. It is the choice for the collector chasing the very best, provided the access can be secured, which is the real challenge.
Pick Blackstone if
You want excellent, dramatic championship golf on Jeju that you can realistically book. The volcanic terrain, the bentgrass greens and the tournament pedigree make it a memorable round, and the open resort access means it can anchor a trip without the uncertainty of the private clubs. The smart pick for most visiting golfers building a Jeju itinerary.
Plan your Jeju Island golf
Nine Bridges, Blackstone, or a wider Jeju and Korea golf trip. Tell us who is travelling and roughly when, and one concierge advises on what access is realistic, handles the tee times and the base, and costs the trip to the head, with no obligation.
Keep planning: Nine Bridges vs Blackstone golf
Nine Bridges vs Blackstone questions
Is Nine Bridges or Blackstone the better course on Jeju?
The Club at Nine Bridges is the more celebrated of the two, a Golf Plan design from 2001 that hosted the PGA Tour's CJ Cup from 2017 to 2019, the first American Tour event held in Korea, and is regularly rated among the best courses in Asia. Blackstone Jeju, a Brian Costello design from 2005, is a dramatic volcanic championship course with superb conditioning and stronger visitor access. Choose Nine Bridges for the trophy round if you can secure it, Blackstone for a great, more accessible day on the island.
Can visitors play Nine Bridges and Blackstone?
Nine Bridges is an exclusive private club where access is difficult and usually needs a member connection or a carefully arranged visit. Blackstone Jeju is more open to resort and visitor play, with several nines, although its members-only nines are reserved. We can advise on what is realistic and arrange tee times where access allows as part of a planned trip.
When is the best time to play golf on Jeju Island?
Spring, from April to June, and the autumn, from September to November, are the prime golf windows on Jeju, with mild temperatures and the courses in fine condition. Summer is warm and can be wet during the rainy season, and winter is cool but still playable in Korea's mildest climate. These are general guides, so confirm conditions before you travel.
Can you play both on the same trip?
Both are on Jeju, so geographically yes, they pair well on an island itinerary. The practical question is access to Nine Bridges, which is the limiting factor. Blackstone is straightforward to book, so a common plan is to anchor the trip on Blackstone and add Nine Bridges if the access can be arranged.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designers, years and tournament history verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.