Bulldozers pose threat to Hong Kong Golf Club

Stakeholders have embarked on a fresh campaign to save the Hong Kong Golf Club, which is home to the prestigious Hong Kong Open.
The Hong Kong Open – which is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours – has been running since 1959.
The European Tour, as part of its global expansion, got involved at the turn of the century.
However, everything that has been achieved with Hong Kong golf, now hangs in the balance as authorities start earmarking private facilities for other land use.
The chief campaigner for the survival of the Hong Kong Golf Club is Danny Lai, chief executive of the Hong Kong Golf Association. He believes the destruction of this venue could be detrimental for the game in the entire region.
The Fanling facility was established in 1889 and is now home to four courses – Old Course, Eden Course, New Course and Deep Water Bay.
“The clubs have been providing all the training facilities for our players, especially the Hong Kong Golf Club and this is pivotal to the future of golf development in Hong Kong,” Lai told the Post.
“We are now a tier B programme at the Sports Institute and we are working hard to gain tier A status like the elite sports such as cycling, badminton and swimming,” added Lai.
The thing about the Fanling venue is that most of the land there is leased from the Hong Kong government. That places the club in a precarious position, especially after it has invested so heavily in the entire enterprise.
“We will be trying to send players to major multi-sport games such as the Asian Games, Olympic Games, China National Games and World University Games to help achieve our target of reaching the required benchmark. We have appointed a top coach from the United States, Gary Gilchrist, as the Hong Kong team head coach to help the players,” explained Lai.
“At grass roots level, we staged the inter-school competition for secondary schools for the first time this year which will be extended to primary schools under our plan.
“At international level, we will be staging more competitions, including the 2020 world amateur team championships featuring 80 teams from all over the world at a budget of more than HK$10-million. All these plans need the support of facilities.”
Latest
-
News
Lee Westwood resumes bid for record-equalling 11th Ryder Cup appearance
The 47-year-old occupied one of the automatic places in the team before the golf was stopped due to Covid-19.
-
News
Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew turns to Golfer’s CBD in pursuit of further success
Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew believes Golfer’s CBD could play a vital role in her future success.
-
News
Sponsor Ralph Lauren drops Justin Thomas following homophobic slur in Hawaii
The world number three uttered the derogatory word towards himself after missing a putt at Kapalua last weekend.
-
News
Bryson DeChambeau keeping brain relaxed to avoid repeat of Masters misery
DeChambeau said his brain went into overdrive at Augusta National.
-
News
European Tour preparing for business as planned in the Middle East
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is due to start next week.
-
News
Two-time major champion Angel Cabrera arrested in Brazil
The former US Open and Masters winner was on the run from the law.
-
News
On this Day in 2013: Paul McGinley given Ryder Cup captaincy
McGinley would go on to be involved in a sixth Ryder Cup victory.
-
News
Collin Morikawa keen to draw inspiration from family ties to Hawaii at Sony Open
Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas has withdrawn from the event after testing positive for coronavirus.
-
News
R&A: ‘No plans’ for Open to head to Donald Trump-owned Turnberry in near future
Trump National in Bedminster was on Sunday stripped of next year’s US PGA Championship.
-
News
US PGA Championship moved from Donald Trump-owned course in New Jersey
Trump National in Bedminster had been set to host the event.