Unique for Mission Hills, the Faldo Course occupies its own site between the club's two main facilities which gives this a sense of being a real stand-alone test rather than a mass-produced member of a multi-plex.

Save for the final three holes, which steal many ideas from the TPC franchise in America, the Faldo Course is noted for a diverse group of holes that each seem to offer something a little different. While only a few of the holes could fairly be described as poor, there is a sense that this course doesn't really have a strong identity and that holes are arranged rather haphazardly.

The best areas on the course are strategic tests like the 2nd, a number of interesting split fairway hazards and short risk-reward par fours like the 3rd and 15th. The finishing stretch is arranged to provide a memorable conclusion to the round and in parts works well. The Sawgrass 17-style 16th hole is a decent short hole to a peninsula green, the short four 15th with a teaser entrance area is also quite effective but the final two back and forth around a large lake are less impressive.

There are so many disappointing golf courses in China, and indeed at this very golf club. The Faldo Course isn't a world-beater by any stretch, but it's pretty good golf and clearly superior to others here like the Ozaki, Els, Singh, Duval, Olazabal and Annika courses.