The sacred flame arrived in the Chinese capitol this morning, and in just a couple of days fireworks will burst forth from "The Bird's Nest" (as China's Olympic National Stadium is affectionately known) signaling the start of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
For China...and for the entire world...the impact that this international sporting event will have will be nothing short of transformational. The years leading up to this Olympic summer have already transformed the city of Beijing physically, but it's the collective cultural and psychological transformation, that I'm thinking about. China will undoubtedly look at itself differently... and we, the rest of the world... will never again imagine China in the way we used to imagine it. China is going to be on display for the next couple of weeks as it never has in it's history.
Golf is not currently an Olympic Sport, and that's a whole nother story, but a couple of China's golf courses will featured during the games, in the equestrian events, which will be held in Hong Kong, not Beijing. The Cross-Country part of the competition will take place at the Hong Kong Golf Club and the adjacent Beas River Country Club in Sheung Shui. It's extremely hot and humid in Hong Kong, so huge misting tents have been brought in with large fans that blow icy sprinkles of water on the horses thus cooling them after a race. (I get the impression some of my TX golf buddies wouldn't mind that kind of post round cooling system at their courses right about now).
The fact is, many of China's courses will be discovered, visited and ultimately publicized, by Olympic spectators from all over the world who decide to incorporate a round of golf into their Olympic visit to China. Mission Hills, is the worlds largest golf complex and comprises 12 signature courses designed by golf legends: Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, Jose Maria Olazabal, Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Zhang Lian Wei, David Leadbetter, Greg Norman, Jumbo Ozaki, Vijay Singh, Annika Sorenstam and David Duval. The golf club recently introduced special golf packages in advance of the Beijing Olympics on the premise that many who come to China for he games "will take an extended vacation and stay to explore Beijing as well as other parts of China".
Like just about everything else in China golf seems ready to grow. In a major way - and very quickly. Not long after the excitement of the Olympics dies down, China will be setting up to host its first ever LPGA tournament. The new event will take place from Oct. 24-26 at the Hainan West Coast Golf Club in Haikou, the capital of the island dubbed "China's Hawaii". Sounds kind of ...nice...doesn't it?
I plan to write more about golf in China in coming months. Everything about it fascinates me: the sheer newness, the extraordinary potential and the unique Chinese style that combines traditional beauty and modern functionality.
So, Beijing here I come...hopefully soon.
Photograph: © Olympic National Stadium during a rehearsal for opening day of the 2008 Olympic Games. (Andy Wong/AP)
Look to India as well for a place where golf has gained massive popularity.
ReplyDeleteAnd a darkhorse at Oakland Hills this week for the PGA??? Jeev Milkha Singh, from...you guessed it, India.
Don't forget to take your oxygen tanks.
ReplyDeleteBeijing shut down unnecessary traffic a month ago to help clear the pollution - but arriving athletes have been wearing breathing masks.
Don't be surprised to see some of them competing in some sort of face covering. (fashion forward fabric and design, of course) :-)
Hey, GG, thanks for the interesting post. I wrote on golf in China in response to Ron Sirak a little while ago. Hope you find it interesting.
ReplyDeleteA friend of ours played at Mission Hills and said it was a delightful experience.
ReplyDeleteAs China becomes more and more prominent on the world stage tourism is going increase greatly as well. It would be great if golf could be part of that.
We've got the LPGA taken over by Asians. Nothing against them but they just don't appeal to the majority of golf fans here. We should be supporting our own players not dwelling on golf in Asia.
ReplyDeleteanon 10:22 (always feels like I'm listing a bible verse) :-)
ReplyDeleteso you're saying that Americans shouldn't bother playing golf anywhere other than here in the States ?
the LPGA has never been FOR Amerian golfers - it's for the best women golfers in the world, so don't blame the Asian girls for playing (and winning) here - get on the American girls who aren't as dedicated and single minded as the Asian women.
China is already crazy about golf and despite lots of domestic courses, many Chinese already start to discover Thailand - the true golfers paradise in Asia. Although I may be somewhat biased, living in the Land of Smiles for several years, my ranking is based on actual golf experiences all over Asia. By the way, there are lots of good Thai golfers too, including the Tiger (or 50% of him) ;-)
ReplyDeletehi..i have read your posts in your blog, i find interesting and full of factual information...keep on posting!!
ReplyDeleteledz