Digging Up Golf Courses in China
Back in one of my earliest (and probably longest) posts in June 2006, I relayed my first experience of playing golf in China. It was at Camdour Harbour Golf Club on one of the hottest, muggiest days I can ever remember. And I had to walk! The course only had one golf cart, and I guess you had to reserve it months in advance!But I was baffled by the homes around the course. They were large, but mostly unoccupied and in poor condition. I later learned the course and development had been in a debate over legality of the seizure of the land from previous farm owners. It seems many golf courses in China have been developed in illegal manners. And the government is taking some action.
My daughter was good enough to make me aware of a great review of the situation. The Slate wrote the great article about The Forbidden Game! They principally focus on the fate of the Anji King Valley Country Club, where "more than a dozen bulldozers" recently stormed the course one morning and plowed up the fairways. Only the greens and tee boxes were sparred. Negotiations are ongoing to reopen the course again soon. See pictures here.
But the government actually banned golf development in 2004. In the meantime, the boom in golf in China has been greater than anywhere in the world - even if much of the development is illegal.
The government is trying to assure sufficient farm lands are available to feed the huge growing population. There are other illegal land uses, but golf courses are a good political target. But many government officials are behind the growing popularity too. It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out.
Labels: China golf
posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 9:35 AM
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