Conference Set for Beijing in May
ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND: Former GOLF Magazine Editor-in-Chief George Peper has formed a new company whose mission is to introduce golf architects to course developers in China. ChinaLinks Golf Consulting will represent a select group of architects for projects within the Peoples Republic.
"Golf is only twenty years old in China, but it is on the verge of a major boom, with estimates calling for the construction of up to 1,000 golf courses over the next decade," says Peper. "We hope to help facilitate that expansion by linking Chinese developers with the very best course designers."
Peper’s two partners are colleagues from his magazine days, the owners of GOLF Magazine China. "Four years ago, the three of us worked together to launch GOLF in China, and it has since become the nation’s largest and most respected golf publication," he says. "Last summer, they approached me with the idea for ChinaLinks, and it seemed a perfect fit-I work with the architects in America and Europe, they work with the developers in Asia, and GOLF Magazine China provides publicity and promotion."
The company has opened offices in Beijing and Hong Kong, as well as Peper’s base in St. Andrews, Scotland, and has organized a China International Golf Conference in Beijing on May 19 and 20 when its first seven architect-clients will make presentations before more than 300 Chinese course owners, developers, and aspiring developers. The architects are: Mike Devries, Dana Fry, Don Knott, Mark McCumber, Kyle Phillips, Baxter Spann, and Peter Thomson.
The conference is supported by both the China Golf Association and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, and will feature several prominent speakers from the world of golf, including National Golf Foundation President Joseph C. Beditz, Former PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman, R&A Chief Executive Peter Dawson, PGA Tour Properties COO David Pillsbury, Volvo Event Management CEO Mel Pyatt, and Former PGA of America President Gary Schaal.
Contact:
George Peper
Managing Partner
ChinaLinks Golf Consulting
Arran House, 9A Gibson Place
St. Andrews, Fife KY16 9JE
United Kingdom
Tel. (011) 44 1334 478 980
gpeper@arranhouse.net
