CHINA

Golf in China: Ancient Landscapes, Modern Fairways

Golf in China is a fascinating blend of rapid modernization and deep cultural heritage, with the sport’s history tracing back to the late 19th century when British expatriates established the first course in Shanghai (1896).

However, the game remained niche until the 1980s economic reforms spurred its growth, leading to a boom in course construction.

Today, China boasts over 500 courses, with key regions offering distinct golf experiences.

Hainan Island, known as China’s "Hawaii," features tropical courses like Mission Hills Haikou (2010), designed by Brian Curley, with volcanic rock formations and sprawling layouts.

Yunnan Province offers high-altitude golf at Spring City Golf & Lake Resort (1998), a Robert Trent Jones Jr.

masterpiece set amid Kunming’s rolling hills.

Meanwhile, the Pearl River Delta, including Shenzhen’s Genzon Golf Club (2014), showcases cutting-edge designs by European architects like Paul Jansen.

Signature courses highlight China’s ambition: Shanqin Bay (2012) on Hainan, a Coore & Crenshaw-designed coastal gem, blends rugged dunes with ocean vistas; Sheshan International Golf Club (2004) in Shanghai, host of the HSBC Champions, features dramatic elevation changes by Nelson & Haworth; and Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club (1997), a Peter Thomson design, is famed for its challenging water hazards.

Player development has surged with academies like the Gary Player Golf School at Mission Hills, nurturing talents such as Li Haotong, China’s top-ranked male golfer with multiple DP World Tour wins, and Feng Shanshan, a former world No.

1 in women’s golf.

Golf tourism thrives from March to November, with luxury packages bundling play at Mission Hills with cultural tours of the Great Wall or Guilin’s karst mountains.

Sustainability efforts are evolving, with courses like Beijing Honghua International adopting solar-powered irrigation, while Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club in Hong Kong has Audubon certification for preserving wetland habitats.

Future projects include the ambitious Beijing National Golf Complex, set to open by 2025, and China’s bid to host the Presidents Cup by 2030.

Despite government restrictions on course construction since 2017 to curb environmental impact, golf’s popularity continues rising, with juniors now representing 15% of players, per 2023 data.

China’s golf identity lies in its juxtaposition of ancient landscapes with ultra-modern courses, offering a unique fusion of tradition and innovation..