Golf is partly about trying to get a better score than the other players, partly about sociability and partly about getting out into the countryside and enjoying the air and the view.

Difficult to think of a more spectacularly scenic place than The Interlaken Hotel, OTC, Shenzhen which looks like part of Switzerland integrated with the Chinese landscape.

Now the hotel has a Golf Package Promotion although one would have thought a promotion unnecessary. The course speaks for itself.

If you stay in a Deluxe Room you get a round of golf as long as you do not want to play during the weekend — and in golf Friday is part of the weekend — and you are willing to get out on the green with your clubs before 8am each day which is no hardship.

The packages extend for each day you stay and, for example, a second round of golf, if you stay long enough, need only cost RMB500.
Source: Interlaken OCT Hotel

The Interlaken OCT Hotel provides an European–style five star experience within Interlaken Village in the eastern part of Shenzhen. Situated in a panoramic position between lovely lakes and forest, the area enjoys a mild and stable climate throughout the year. Visually the hotel is quite stunning. You need to go to the Internet site to get the full effect.

Now the hotel has a golf promotion package.

There are two rates: the three townhouses work ona base price of RMB2368 per room. Then there are nine pool villas at RMB3368 a room as the base price.

On these packages you get all sort of goodies thrown in including daily admission to the Theme Park use of the spa (massage is an extra) and breakfast.

The hotel is built very much in the European style and some of the interiors are quite stunning. There is even 24-hour personalized butler services.

Worth visiting the site just for the pictures which are amazing.
Source: Interlaken Hotel

The Motorhome Hotel in the OCT East eco-tourism area in Shenzhen has both rooms and motorhomes available to guests. As well as the 200 guestrooms it plans to have 15 vehicles (one is pictured) in the second half of this year at the Wind Valley, each one sleeping six people, which guests can use to travel around the area’s lakes, forest and golf course. 

Two of these vehicles are currently on display outside the Interlaken OCT Hotel Shenzhen (which is separate from the Motorhome Hotel).

The eco-tourism part is, according to the webiste of the Interlaken OCT Hotel Shenzhen, aimed at ‘bringing urbanites back to nature’. They have designed various tourist attractions to do so which include three valleys and three towns.
Source: The Interlaken OCT Hotel

Millennium and Copthorne has signed a management agreement with Wu Xi Xin Chang Property for the Millennium Wuxi Hotel in China. The hotel is planned to open mid-2008. (The illustration is of a Millenium property in Xiamen.)

Wuxi is at the heart of Yangtze River Delta Region on the southeast coast of China, close to Shanghai. It is sometimes referred to as ‘little Shanghai’ due to its developed industry and flourishing economy.

Catering to a predominantly Japanese market, the new purpose-built Millennium Wuxi Hotel is situated in the Court of Eastern Peace, which is in the heart of Wuxi New Development District.

Millennium Wuxi Hotel is furnished with classical Japanese inspired interiors. It is an ecological and energy-conservation designed business hotel, in the center of 12,000 square-meters Japanese Garden, with extensive room and room-leasing services to all the guests.

In the hotel, besides the multi-function rooms, VIP rooms, all-day dining restaurants and Japanese restaurant, is the Japanese spa, indoor swimming pool, indoor golf driving range, hot yoga studio, Chinese restaurant, two wine bars and one Executive Lounge.
Source: Asia Travel Tips

The reason I am a failure in life is because I do not play golf. It has not been for lack of chances. Indeed, my house is very close to a golf course. But, sadly, my personality does not allow me to spend time walking around artificial hillocks hitting small white balls towards holes in the ground. However, for those who do play the game it is a major business asset. More deals are done on golf courses than, perhaps, are ever done in board rooms.

Sofitel, the upmarket hotel group which is part of the French based Accor, understands this and has signed a landmark agreement with the Asian Tour to become an Official Corporate Partner and the first Official Hotel Brand for the Tour.

The Asian Tour will have 27 events offering $27 million in total prize money. They will run through until December.

Sofitel will receive exposure by way of the Asian Tour’s commercial media platforms which includes the official website, www.asiantour.com, Asian Tour Weekly magazine show which is beamed on ESPN StarSports, and on-course branding opportunities. It has the added advantage that, unlike with other sports, the participants are not given to wrecking hotel rooms or upsetting guests.

Ray Stone, Accor Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, Asia Pacific said: ‘We are delighted to forge this important new alliance with the Asian Tour. Sofitel and golf are a natural combination in Asia, especially in countries like Thailand, Vietnam and China where the brand enjoys a leadership position in the market.’

Sofitel is already heavily involved with golf in Europe, where the brand is a major partner of the Evian Masters in France. In addition, Sofitel Thalassa Miramar in Biarritz is a long-term sponsor of France’s oldest and most important amateur competition, the Biarritz Cup, first played in 1898. In 2006 it was renamed the Sofitel Biarritz Cup.

Sofitel also operates some hotels which are also golf clubs. In China these are the Sofitel Boa & BFA International Convention Centre Golf Club on Hainan Island, the 27-hole Gary Player designed golf course at Sofitel Zhongshan Golf and Resort Nanjing and Hill View Golf Club next to Sofitel Royal Lagoon.
Source: Bunker Shot