Mission Hills Golf Club - Haikou

The Lava Fields course at Mission Hills Golf Club in Haikou occupies a distinctive volcanic landscape on Hainan Island, China's southernmost province. Designed by Schmidt-Curley Design, the course is built across ancient lava flows and incorporates the region's dramatic geological features into its routing. The design navigates through and around exposed volcanic rock formations, creating a playing environment that differs markedly from traditional parkland or links golf. The layout takes advantage of the natural contours and textures left by historic volcanic activity, with fairways carved through tropical vegetation and around solidified lava outcrops. Mission Hills Haikou represents one of the largest golf resort developments in Asia, featuring multiple courses designed by prominent architects. The Lava Fields course stands out within this collection for its unusual terrain and the visual contrast between manicured turf and raw volcanic stone. Schmidt-Curley, known for resort course design throughout Asia and the Pacific, worked to integrate the holes into the existing topography while maintaining playability for a range of skill levels. The tropical climate of Hainan supports lush playing conditions year-round, and the course serves both resort guests and members within the broader Mission Hills community. The routing presents strategic variety shaped by the underlying geology, with elevation changes and natural hazards dictating shot values. The course reflects the expansion of golf infrastructure in China during the early twenty-first century, when large-scale resort developments sought to create destination golf experiences in scenic settings.