Haikou trip

It was my first trip to Haikou. I was contemplating to go the Kunming or Haikou, obviously, the latter won. I heard that Spring City is not so good now due to the prolong drought.

After touching down at the Airport, we headed straight to Mei Lan Golf. It is a very new golf course which was just opened 6 months ago. The course was only a short drive from the airport. As a new course, it is very open with only tree saplings. The clubhouse is really nice but the food there is really expensive.

Unfortunately, after 9 holes it started to rain. We continued as there was no siren but as soon as the lightning strike over our head, we stopped playing. There is no point risking our lives over a game of golf.

After the game we headed to a restaurant for dinner which I cannot remember the name. We tried all the famous food of Hainan like Wen Chang Chicken, Dong Shan Mutton etc. Nothing to shout about, I am not recommending that you guys try this restaurant.

We checked into the Gold Coast Lawton Hotel after the game. This hotel is very convenient, although it is about 10 mins from the city. I recommend that you guys stay there if you are in Haikou for golf.

We looking for some place for drinks in the evening but unfortunately for us, all entertainment outlets were closed that night due to the nationwide mourning for the victims of the Qinghai earthquake.

Day 2 golf was at Meishi, and to my horror, I had my second day of "batang" caddy. Meishi is more mature course with pine trees lined fairways. Lunch was at a restarant serving "Old Duck Soup", steamboat style. Soup was nice but I am really not a fan of steamboat.

Afer the late lunch, we headed for massage at Jin Qiao Qiao. 2 hours of solid body massage at RMB 120. This is definitely value for money.

Day 3 golf was played at West Coast Golf. On the bus, I told the tour guide that I already had 2 days of batang caddy and I will not accept another day of batang. And guess what? I had another one!!!!!

Credits to the guide, she changed the caddy for me before I came out of the changing room. Talk about pro-activeness. It surely made the game a little more fun!! This is the best course of the 3 days.

The lunch was more memorable, we had claypot porridge with crab and prawns. It was really yummy!!. For someone who don't eat brinjal, I was hooked onto the hotplate brinjal. We definitely have to go back there again.

Again, we headed back to the massage place for 1+1. One hour of foot reflexology and one hour of body massage. Do note that using the foot therapist for body massage is more expensive, cos they are so called more "highly skilled". I felt that the 1+1 was more rushed.

Day 4 was orginally intended to be a rest day and we were suppose to leave for the eastern city of Boao. However, we decided to change the plan and stayed at Haikou instead. We were concerned that the journey of 2 hours might not be worth it and that the eastern city might be too boring.

We decided to play another game at Meishi, as our group has JCC reciprocal members who can sign us in as guests. This time round, the weather dropped to about 20-22 deg. It was indeed ideal for golf. I even wore my rain jacket to keep warm. The game was really nice and we did not even feel tired at all. I was having some fun joking with the caddies. At hole 9 my caddie said a bogey would be a good score, I said I will par the hole. So we had a little wager. Par will be a win for me, bogey a draw and double, she wins. After my drive and a 3-wood, I was short of the green. Chipping with my 60 deg wedge, the ball did not roll much. My par putt fell short, so it was a half.

At the tough 18th hole, I decided to change the game around, I proposed that if I parred the hole, I will give her my beautiful pitch fork/ball marker which she had been eying for a while. My approach with my 3 wood was short of the green. Deciding a 60 deg or 56 deg wedge for the chip, I opted for the latter. My chip came out beautifully and rolled to 2 feet. I gave my pitch fork to her, which must have made her day. I shot 81 which as my best game of the 4 days. It made my day too!!

After the game, we headed to the JQQ massage again, this time for a 2-hours fullbody massage.

Day 5 was a lazy day where we spend our time at the city malls at Hai Xiu Dong Lu.I think the weather probaby dropped another 1-2 deg. We managed to catch a version of the "China Idols" at the pedestrian mall area, it was quite hillarious.

Still in our mind was the claypot porride and we headed there for lunch ourselves. This time we ordered frog and prawn instead. And of course, how can we forget the sumptious claypot brinjal.

Soon, it was to the airport for the trip home.

I wrote this blog as I know some of you guys will be headed there in May. Do note that it is likely to be very hot, maybe hitting 35-40 degrees.

I do have some contacts here that you can use:

1. The local tour operator 大蔡
2. Hotel booking at at Gold Coast Lawton 金海岸罗顿 at RMB330 per day. Five star facilities, a little tired looking but convenient;
3. Jin Qiao Qiao金巧巧 massage. Cheap and good;
4. A local driver (if your are not using a operator);
5. The claypot porridge 金顺德; and
6. Other miscellaneous contacts.

Overall, Haikou is a nice place for golf. All golf courses are less than one hour away. The city scape is beautiful.

I will be back.