Dali Stone Mountain Golf Club – Lake Course

The Lake Course at Dali Stone Mountain Golf Club opened in 2005, one of the earlier championship layouts to be built in Yunnan. It sits at the edge of Erhai Lake, with the Cangshan range rising behind the property, and plays to par 72 across 7,651 yards from the back tees. Course rating is 73.1, slope 123.

Nick Faldo designed the routing, and the layout makes straightforward use of what the site offers: wide fairways, moderate elevation changes, and consistent access to lake views from most holes. There are no dramatic forced carries on every tee, no sequences designed to manufacture difficulty. The course asks you to play golf, and the lake and wind handle the rest.

Course Overview

Water comes into play on roughly a third of the holes. Several par 3s require a carry over or alongside Erhai, and the wind tends to shift between the front and back nine as the valley funnels air differently through the day. It is usually calm on the first tee in the morning. By the time you reach the back nine, it typically is not.

Fairways are generous enough that positioning off the tee is achievable rather than just theoretical. The real work happens on approach shots — the bunkers sit in spots that genuinely influence shot selection, and the greens, while not large, reward patience when the pin is tucked. Mid-handicappers will find the layout readable. Better players will find the wind keeps it honest.

Dali is one of the more accessible stops on a Yunnan golf trip — the airport is 30 minutes from the club, and the ancient city is a short drive if you want somewhere to eat after the round. The overall character of the course is direct. Each hole shows you what it wants. The challenge is execution, not interpretation.