Crafting the Fairway at Plover Cove
Every world-class course starts with the rare ability to see the strategy, emotion, and natural beauty hidden within the reclaimed land. In April, our designers were on the ground in Tai Po doing exactly that bringing the master plan for Plover Cove Golf Club to life.
Backed by a 30-year partnership and over 80 global projects across significant championship golf courses such as Erin Hills Golf Course in Wisconsin, the venue of the 2025 U.S. Women's Open, Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design is crafting a landmark truly special in Hong Kong. Through their signature approach of Creative Distinction, the duo is maximising the natural character of our stunning Tai Po site to deliver a brilliant, memorable layout.
Pioneering Sustainability: Plover Cove Unveils Innovative Turf Selections
Exciting progress is underway at Hong Kong’s highly anticipated Plover Cove Golf Club ahead of its 2027 opening. As highlighted in a recent article by the Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF), the project has announced a pioneering agronomy partnership focused on sustainability and climate resilience on the restored landfill site.
Plover Cove will be the first project in Asia to adopt Evolution (Low Rider) Zoysia turf, a new variety developed by BladeRunner Farms, alongside Stadium and Lynkz Zoysia varieties. Supplying these premium grasses is Sustainable Turf Farm, while Turfgrass will oversee the agronomic planning, implementing the design of advanced drainage and sand-capped fairways to handle Hong Kong's demanding weather.
As the course architects for this landmark development, we at Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design are thrilled to collaborate with these world-class partners and Flagstick Golf Course Construction Management. Together, we are setting a new benchmark for sustainable golf and delivering a resilient, elite playing experience.
Plover Cove Blends the Art and Science of Golf Course Design
One of our current projects at Plover Cove Golf Club in Hong Kong represents one of our firm's greatest and most rewarding design challenges. As highlighted in a recent feature by Golf Course Industry ("The world's most unique project?"), building an 18-hole championship course on the 130-acre former Shuen Wan landfill required an extraordinary blend of technical precision, environmental stewardship, and creative routing.
Working within strict restrictions—including a protected soil cap limiting earthwork cuts, and miles of methane piping—our team engineered a strategic layout. The sustainable design features an advanced stormwater system that captures and cleans runoff for irrigation, safeguarding the adjacent Tolo Harbour. Complemented by thousands of indigenous plantings, Plover Cove transforms industrial wasteland into a premier, strategic, sustainable golf destination with breathtaking mountain and coastal vistas.
From Landfill to Landmark: The Sustainable Transformation of Plover Cove
In this detailed report, Golf Course Architecture explores the remarkable evolution of Plover Cove, where Fry/Straka is transforming 50 hectares of the former Shuen Wan landfill into a premier golf destination. This project represents one of Hong Kong’s most ambitious environmental and engineering feats, reclaiming a site once used for industrial waste and reimagining it as a sustainable green space.
The article emphasizes the delicate balance required to build atop a restored landfill, blending technical precision with artistic routing. Featured renderings, such as the par-three twelfth hole playing toward Tolo Harbour, showcase how the design maximizes stunning coastal views and integrates the nearby Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve. By prioritizing environmental stewardship and innovative land use, Fry/Straka is not just building a golf course, but creating a vital ecological haven that breathes new life into the Hong Kong landscape.
The Art of Engineering: Sculpting a Golfing Masterpiece at Plover Cove
In the latest issue of Golf Course Architecture, the spotlight turns to the extraordinary engineering feat currently underway at Plover Cove in Hong Kong. Tasked with transforming a site defined by steep slopes and numerous constraints, the Fry/Straka team is proving that no landscape is too challenging for world-class golf.
The article, titled ‘Doing it Tough,’ highlights the sheer scale of the project, which requires moving massive amounts of earth to forge a playable, strategic layout on the site of a former landfill. Jason Straka notes that while the site presents immense technical hurdles—from drainage to stabilization—it also offers a rare canvas for dramatic shot-making and breathtaking vistas.
By balancing meticulous engineering and visionary golf with environmental sensitivity, Fry/Straka is turning one of the world’s most difficult sites into a landmark destination. Plover Cove stands as a testament to our firm’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of modern golf course design.
Ten golf course designs to look out for in 2026
As the golf calendar turns to 2026, there’s no shortage of projects capturing the imagination. From new layouts built on dramatic landscapes to restorations of historic venues, this year promises to be an interesting year in golf course design.
Fry/Straka landed one of the ten anticipated golf courses with its design for Plover Cove in Hong Kong.
Plover Cove takes shape in Hong Kong
The development of Plover Cove Golf Club in Hong Kong – which is due to open in 2027 – took a major step forward this month with the completion of a 1.5km retaining wall around the 53-hectare site in Shuen Wan.
The Plover Cove project is being developed in collaboration with Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design, agronomy and sustainability consultants Turfgrass, and Flagstick Golf Course Construction Management.
The landmark development will transform a restored landfill site into a 6,600-yard, par-71 championship course, complete with luxury clubhouse and other leisure facilities, at a projected cost of $4.5 billion HKD ($600m US).
Plover Cove Golf Club: Transforming Hong Kong’s Landscape
Plover Cove Golf Club (PCGC) is set to redefine the Shuen Wan landfill in Hong Kong’s New Territories. As the first full golf course on privately owned reclaimed land in the city, this visionary project will transform up to 53 hectares of restored landfill into a stunning Par 71 championship golf course. Spanning over 6,600 yards and featuring 18 holes, this ambitious development comes with a total investment of up to HK$4.5 billion (USD $578 million).