Golf in China

There has been an explosion of interest in golf in China. A number of high-profile events like the Volvo China Open and the HSBC Champions tournament have turned the international spotlight onto Chinese golf.

The first golf course in China was opened only in 1984. There are now over 200 golf courses either in operation or under development in the country. Beijing alone has over 40 courses. The Chinese public is fast developing an avid interest in local golf; it is estimated that there are now over 100,000 players in China!

History of Golf in China

Although an official course only appeared in the 1980s, the Chinese claim that a form of golf – ch’ui wan (“beating a ball”) – was played as early as 300BC. A game similar to golf was first mentioned in the Dōngxuān Records, a Chinese book of the 11th Century.

The Asian Tour was initiated in 2004 and has been instrumental in developing international players’ perceptions of golf in China. The Asian Tour has grown so rapidly that the Volvo China Open is now co-sanctioned by the European Tour and has a total prize purse of over two million US dollars.

The Omega China Tour is a development tour that is aimed at encouraging grassroots development in Chinese golf and that serves as a springboard to Asian Tour events.

The 2009 Volvo China Open will be held from 16 – 19 April 2009 at the Beijing CBD International Golf Club.

Golf in China grows ever more popular and you can bet that a substantial stake will be wagered on the 2009 Volvo China Open.