China Golf at the PGA Show

During the middle of January, the PGA Show was held in Orlando, FL. This was the first year an official delegation from China attended the show. There were twelve golf industry professionals who attended the PGA Show including Zhang Xiao Ning who is head of the Small Ball Sports for China (includes things like Tennis, Ping Pong, and Golf)

Sports in China are a little different from other countries. I will add a blog entry about sports in China at a later date. For a simple explanation: athletes are typically chosen at an early age and trained full-time in the sport officials feel they will excel. Sport and Sports Management is changing quite a bit in China with the Olympics being held this year.

During the PGA Show, there was a one hour spotlight on “Golf in China”. There were three speakers for this event: Zhang Xiao Ning, Director of Small Ball Sports; The General Manager for Spring City Golf Club (The top club in China), and Vice President for Octagon Sports. They each
had their own spin regarding golf in China but all had the same outcome: THE FUTURE IS VERY BRIGHT FOR GOLF IN CHINA.

During the session, it was stated that there are over 400 courses in the country at present. Golf Course construction is being controlled as it strains water and land resources in a country of 1.3 billion people. The China Golf Association official stated that they are working three strategies to make golf more of a game for the masses: 1 – returning the land to the original state by constructing golf courses, 2 – Serving the public, 3 – Serving youth. While course construction is controlled, a China Golf Association official stated that courses are increasing at 30% per year.

Among the three speakers, they stated there are currently between one and three million golfers in China. From my own sources I have heard numbers as low as three hundred thousand. Nevertheless, it was said that by 2020 China will boast more than twenty million golfers. Twenty million golfers are numbers like the United States is boasting now. If that is the case, the next sleeping giant in the golf world is definitely in Asia. As the middle class in China continues to grow, it is said that by 2020, China will boast a middle class of around 700 million. At this point, the masses will be able to enjoy golf, at least hitting balls at a driving range.

It is said that there are currently around 2,000 playing amateurs that want to turn pro and there are around 300 professional players in the country at present. In 2008, China Golf tournaments for professionals will cross a new barrier as there will be over twenty million dollars in prize money in tournaments such as the HSBC Champions, Asian Tour, and the Omega China Tour.

Some things the China Golf Association official stated was their goal to build a teaching training system and a more formalized competition system. He stated the CGA is currently starting to work with the Australian PGA in developing the coaching system for developing the
future coaches in China. Regarding competition, HSBC has signed on to be the sponsor of the “Junior Golf Development Program”. He stated that in early 2008, a more formalized competition system will be started for Professionals, Amateurs, and Youth.

The CGA official gave a request to PGA Members for help in the areas of golf management, tournament management, coaching development, and other general development areas. He stated that the CGA is interested in creating industry standards and research sharing with other countries.

This is a great start for China’s relation with the PGA of America. I hope there will be many good years of cooperation between the two organizations in the years to come.