St. Andrews, SCOTLAND: The first China International Golf Conference was held in Beijing last month, organized by ChinaLinks Golf Consulting, a company headed by George Peper, former chief editor of Golf Magazine. The more than 300 attendees included current and potential golf course developers as well as golf club owners and managers. China is the fastest emerging golf market in the world–at present there are some 300 courses in China and this number is predicted to rise to well over 500 by 2010.
Among the presenters were seven golf course architects chosen by the organizers for the quality of their designs and their interest in working in China. They were Mike DeVries, Dana Fry of Hurdzan Fry, Don Knott of Knott Brooks Linn, Mark McCumber, Kyle Phillips, Baxter Spann of Dye Finger Spann and five-time British Open Champion Peter Thomson.
Kyle Phillips, architect of internationally ranked Kingsbarns in Scotland and The Grove in England commented, "China is not only moving forward rapidly in its transportation and communication infrastructure, but in its tourism infrastructure as well. Clearly golf is seen as a key component for the present and future growth of tourism in China. At this moment, there seems to be a maturing of the golf market that appreciates professional designers who have proven an ability to create top quality courses and recognition of the value a well-designed course brings to a new development."
The conference, which was supported by both the China Golf Association and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, featured Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of the R & A, speaking on "China and the Global Community of Golf." The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has long taken an interest in this expanding market. The Elmwood College China-Scotland Partnership started in 2000 and has just received a grant from the R&A for almost $800,000 over the next three years to continue its education program.
Other prominent speakers from the world of golf included National Golf Foundation President Joseph C. Beditz, former PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman, PGA Tour Properties Vice President Tim Hawes, Volvo Event Management CEO Mel Pyatt, and former PGA of America President Gary Schaal.
ChinaLinks Golf Consulting, whose mission is to introduce golf architects to course developers in China, will represent a select group of architects for projects within The People’s Republic. The company has opened offices in Beijing and Hong Kong, as well as Peper’s base in St. Andrews, Scotland.
Contact:
Dove Jones
DoveJ77@aol.com
