China closes 111 golf courses to protect land and water resources
China has announced the closure of 111 golf courses following a multi-year campaign to protect land and water resources. An additional 18 courses were ordered to return land and 47 clubs were told to halt construction.
Though building courses had been outlawed since 2004 in China, the number of golf courses has tripled in that time. Developers would often label courses as parks or housing ventures to get approval from local officials, secretly converting the projects down the line.
Eric Lynge, Chief Executive Officer, Asian Golf Industry Federation, told Golf Business News.com: “The Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF) and its members have been aware of the Chinese Government’s policies for some time now and this formal news is not unexpected.
“What we view as positive is that 496 courses are now completely clear for continued operation.
"There is undeniable demand for the game in China which now can be served by these courses and new projects which are built under the proper regulatory guidelines.
“The AGIF supports sustainable and environmental construction of golf facilities in all the markets in which we operate. These elements are pillars of our education and dialogue with owners, club managers and turfgrass professionals throughout Asia. We believe in the long-term growth of golf in China and the rest of Asia.”
China has announced the closure of 111 golf courses following a multi-year campaign to protect land and water resources. An additional 18 courses were ordered to return land and 47 clubs were told to halt construction.
Though building courses had been outlawed since 2004 in China, the number of golf courses has tripled in that time. Developers would often label courses as parks or housing ventures to get approval from local officials, secretly converting the projects down the line.
Eric Lynge, Chief Executive Officer, Asian Golf Industry Federation, told Golf Business News.com: “The Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF) and its members have been aware of the Chinese Government’s policies for some time now and this formal news is not unexpected.
“What we view as positive is that 496 courses are now completely clear for continued operation.
"There is undeniable demand for the game in China which now can be served by these courses and new projects which are built under the proper regulatory guidelines.
“The AGIF supports sustainable and environmental construction of golf facilities in all the markets in which we operate. These elements are pillars of our education and dialogue with owners, club managers and turfgrass professionals throughout Asia. We believe in the long-term growth of golf in China and the rest of Asia.”
Labels: GOLF NEWS
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