Beijing, Nov 26: The first international-standard course was constructed in the southern province of Guangdong in 1984, and the south still is the main golfing location today. While some of the courses are said to be mere dog tracks, others are luscious resorts -- sprawling symbols of China's aspirations to wealth. And size matters: next year, Guangdong's Mission Hills Golf Club will become the biggest golfing complex in the world, costing roughly HK$3 billion (US$384.6 million) by the time it is completed. But at the same time, the once exclusive sport is coming within reach of a growing part of the population. "These days, new golf courses are being built all over China with incredible speed. There's a development from what used to be private golf clubs for members only towards public courses catering for mass use. So now a lot of golf courses are not actually that expensive to get into any more," said Li Man, manager of Beijing's Xinyi Golf Club.


The entrance fee here is 300 yuan (approx. US$37), but a membership card at one of the better clubs can cost as much as 830,000 yuan (approx. US$101,220).


While a majority of Chinese still live in poverty in a country with one of the biggest income gaps in the world, the lucky few are eager to spend their big bucks.


Globally, the rate of people taking up golf has slowed after a boom in the late 1990s fuelled by a vibrant economy in the United States and elsewhere and the emergence of Tiger Woods as a star.


China, however, has only just started to develop an appetite. "Golf is said to be a very refined sport. I have started coming over to practise with a coach. It looks very easy, and I used to do sports and thought I could easily get the feeling for it, but it's actually very difficult, very difficult," said beginner Liu.


Bureau Report