Golf remains exclusive to wealthy

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-03 10:55

Chen Long, president of a student golf association at University of International Business and Economics, said golf's development in China is being hindered by class issues.

"Sports shouldn't be divided into different classes as they have an equal value in terms of benefiting the public's health," he told METRO.

Certain sports in China are often regarded as upper-class pursuits because of the large expenses needed to take part. And golf clubs, in particular, are seen as places to conduct business rather than somewhere to practice the sport.

A local resident practises his driving.

Chen, 20, from Yunnan, wants golf to become as popular a game in China as in other countries. "Playing golf might cost you a pile of money today but it will be a good choice for exercise when it gets cheaper."

The average price of 18 holes in Beijing is between 600 and 800 yuan ($88 - $117) but most golf clubs only allow their members to play.

A local resident practises his driving. Feng Yongbin

The membership fee, usually between 100,000 yuan and 1.7 million yuan, tends to keep the general public away.

The top two luxury golf clubs in Beijing prove their exclusivity through high membership fees.

Reignwood Pine Valley asks for 1,700,000 yuan annually and Bayhood No 9 Golf Club requires 1.08 million yuan.

"There has been an annual rise of 10 percent in our fees since Bayhood No 9 opened in 2004," Zhang Qun, Bayhood No 9's director of Operating and Marketing, told METRO.

"Besides membership fees, we ask for an annual fee of 10,000 yuan. And for every game, an additional course expense of 7,000 to 8,000 yuan per group," he added, before remarking, "But we provide customers with the best services available."

Some golf clubs, however, have started to lower their prices to attract customers.

Changyang International Golf Club, in Beijing's Fangshan district, asks for just 150 yuan per game for members and 180,000 yuan for a lifetime membership fee, with rates unchanged on weekdays and weekends.

"Our price is about half the amount of similar-level northern Beijing golf courses," Shen Ran, director of membership department for Changyang International Golf Club, said.

The relatively low price allows more people to take a swing at the game, Wang Liwei, vice-president of the China Golf Association, told METRO.

"Golf should not be an activity tailored specifically to the upper classes," Wang said, "We are at the beginning stage of golf development and I believe prices will drop in the long run."

Currently, however, the class issue continues to be a challenging factor for the sport because of the city's large number of wealthy residents.

According to a survey conducted by Yang Tieli, a professor from the Capital Institute of Physical Education, 75 percent of Beijing golfers have an annual income of over 300,000 yuan and among them, 25 percent of people have earnings of over 500,000 yuan per year.

"Intense competition among golf clubs has led to the price cut," Yang said, "Among the 34 Beijing golf clubs he investigated, only 30 percent of them made money and 40 percent of them were losing money."

"But golf club owners are very optimistic about the future," Yang added, "They believe the public will grow to like it because golf is a sport that perfectly matches Chinese traditional culture."