Golf defies rules to gain ground

Golf, widely regarded as the rich man's game, is gobbling up the poor man's land in China.

Hundreds of golf courses that have popped up across the country after 2004, when the government imposed a moratorium to protect the country's shrinking land resources, are illegal, Dang Zuoji, director of the land planning department of the Ministry of Land and Resources said yesterday.

"We still don't know the exact figure. But we're working on it and will have the information by 2010. The culprits will face harsh punishment," Dong said.