China Drought Blamed On Golf Courses That Technically Do Not Exist

Carolynne Wheeler on the increasing animosity from state-run media directed at Chinese golf courses using ground water supplies even though a 2004 edict banned the building of new courses, meaning only 10 of the 600 or so technically exist.

“Given the fact that 400 of the more than 600 cities in China are suffering from water shortages, the rapid depleting of underground water to keep the hundreds of golf courses green will likely prove to have severe consequences for many cities in the near future,” read an editorial in the English-language China Daily newspaper, which accused Beijing’s golf courses of using nearly 40 million tons of underground water annually, equal to the amount consumed by 1 million residents a year, despite the city’s water shortages.

Still, this latest round of ranting is likely to pass without much dampening of enthusiasm for the sport.

The go-to guy on all things China and golf, Dan Washburn, is quoted in the story but shares his entire Q&A with the story author on his own site. It makes for an interesting read about the wildly complex golf industry in China.

"China's Golfing Ambition"

Dan Washburn at Par For China analyzes a series of CNN features on golf in China, including this one on course development. I know I say this every time there's a story on China and golf, but I just feel like we're watching the Titanic leaving the dock.



"The fact golf will be included at the Olympic Games in 2016 and 2022 is bound to give the game a boost in a country that has more value for an Olympic gold medal than a Green Jacket from Georgia."

Literary looper Colin Byrne writes from Shanghai on the state of golf in China and among the many interesting observations, he reminds us that in China golf is still very much a niche sport for the rich, but there is hope that the Olympic movement will help expand interest beyond a select audience.

I spoke to Michael Wong, who is in charge of developing Chinese junior golf. One of the early initiatives was to get talented juniors to hit a shot to the 17th hole at Sheshan during the pro-am for the tournament. We were all impressed by most of the swings these youngsters made in front of the professionals. Their progress since its conception four years ago is already evident; the tee they were playing from was farther back this year and the hole is a long carry over water.

The chances are these young hopefuls come from a wealthy background. With a membership at the exclusive Sheshan Golf Club costing over 1.6 million yuan and with 500,000 yuan (€177,191) being a pretty normal membership fee, there are not too many citizens from the fields in the market for these clubs yet. But there are initiatives being made to reach out to the less well off.

Without it sounding like an altruistic effort on behalf of the developers in China, there are plenty of courses being built at personal expense. Even though there is a moratorium on course building, in true local fashion courses are still developing. There are 600-700 courses already built and that will double in the next five years. They somehow estimate by then 10 million Chinese will play the game.

"For the visitors who play golf in Hainan, it takes them seven hours to play a round of golf. That is a real shortage of supply."

The WSJ's Emily Veach interviews Ken Chu of the Mission Hills Group about golf in China. And you thought play was slow in America...

WSJ: As many as 200,000 people attended the 2009 Omega Mission Hills World Cup. Analysts have said the number of golfers in China is about 300,000, other reports are as high as 3 million. What are your estimates and how can you turn those spectators into golfers?

Mr. Chu: There are close to 3 million golfers in China already, and that is increasing. Golf is perceived as a luxurious sport only because the demand is much greater than the supply, and it is still very young in the country. Every tournament we have hosted is free for the public to come and understand the game. Centuries ago, golf in Europe and also in the United States was considered a very prestigious, very expensive sport as well. Look what it has turned into today. It's very common overseas. In China, it's not today because there's only 24 years of history. The supply of golf is under the demand that's required. It will grow, definitely.

A normal round of golf takes about four hours. For the visitors who play golf in Hainan, it takes them seven hours to play a round of golf. That is a real shortage of supply. In the coming years, maybe around 50 courses will be built (in Hainan). We are building for the demand.

"Why would someone even consider trying to open a golf club nearly one-and-a-half times the size of Manhattan?"

I'm not sure where to start with Dan Washburn's fascinating account of the secret Mission Hills development under construction on Hainan. Here's primarily what you need to know:

In reality, this will be the world’s only self-contained golf city. Its 22 courses will cover every style imaginable – from links to desert to Augusta-like perfection – and include some decidedly non-traditional designs. Picture yourself playing into a waterfall, through a cave, around a volcano, or over a replica of the Great Wall. There will be multiple town centres with luxury homes and apartments, hotels and spas, shopping malls and streets lined with restaurants and bars. The Chus are turning countryside into suburbia, no doubt raising surrounding property values and creating thousands of jobs along the way.

And why 22 courses at one development on an island where there are said to be 3000 golfers?

But such quibbles may be missing the larger truth about golf course development in Hainan, and throughout much of China: the number of golf courses built has very little to do with the number of golfers available to play on them. With few exceptions, golf courses exist to help sell luxury villas. Developers do not worry if a course sits empty, as long as the properties around it sell. And so far in Hainan, selling homes has not been a problem. Wealthy bosses from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and central China’s coal belt fly in and buy up the villas, sometimes several at a time, often paying in cash. In China, to own a home on a golf course does not necessarily mean you play the game. It’s more about prestige. Golf, like luxury sedans and handbags, is just another way to project your wealth.

The concept sounds familiar. Anyone know how it's working out?

"Until Sunday, the only World Cup that Italy was accustomed to winning was on the soccer pitch."

A shame the World Cup didnt' get much attention but Sean Martin does offer this post on the Molinari brothers and their impressive win.

And my head is still spinning from Nick Watney and John Merrick's final-round,10-under-par ALTERNATE SHOT 62 to finish at -20-under and tie for seventh. Needless to say that was a tournament record for the grueling final round format.