Hainan anticipates a goldmine in golf
- Source: Global Times
- [02:06 March 19 2010]
- Comments
By Xu Shenglan in Hainan
Officials on tropical Hainan Province wants to turn the island into China's golf capital and one of the top destinations for golf players and enthusiasts.
The ambitious plan was unveiled Thursday at a seminar held during the 2010 Bo'ao International Tourism Forum on the popular beach destination.
Allowing golf into the 2016 Olympic Games should also boost the development of the game in China and the world.
"Hainan's climate is suitable for the development of the golf industry as it's beneficial for grass growth and tourists can come to play in every season," said Chen Ci, the Hainan CPC standing committee member and Haikou Party chief.
He said an expanded golf industry could also boost local manufacturing, service and related industries.
"I never knew Hainan was such a good place to play golf before; I've witnessed its prosperity and I'll introduce it to all my friends," said Peter Walton, CEO of Golf Tour Operators.
Officials also want to turn golf into a game accessible to all residents, although average residents here do not understand the game's popularity.
"I don't know how to play it and I cannot afford it at all," said a taxi driver. "I earn more than 2,000 yuan a month, a one or two hour gold game would eat up most of my salary; it's still a luxurious game for wealthy people."
"But the boom of the golf industry will bring more tourists to Hainan, and more customers for us," he added.
"It'll cost a lot for the tool and course, and it needs more than 10,000 yuan a month to pay a coach," said Wu Jie, a local college student.
Others are worried that more golf courses would subtract from the natural beauty, but Yuan Weimin, former head of General Administration of Sport of China, disagreed.
"The golf courses will be transformed from a wasteland," he said.
Yuan suggested that Hainan build some public courses with proper prices make the game affordable for local people.
"More golf courses will help to solve the unemployment problem. But some farmers may lose their natural living resources," said a local reporter who declined to be named.
There are more than 80 golf courses in Hainan and it is estimated that the number of people in China who could afford to play the game would surpass 40 million by 2020.
