Golf in China: The view from the top
Monday, 1st September 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
Arthur Yeo at Spring City Golf & Lake Resort
Recently US magazine Golf Digest selected what it considered to be China's top ten golf courses, with three of the top six courses being in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province.
Perhaps surprisingly for those unfamiliar with golf in China, the top two courses are both located at the same resort - Spring City Golf and Lake Resort in the Yangzonghai resort area, approximately 45 kilometers southeast of Kunming.
How did Kunming end up having the two best courses in China? China Sports Today spoke with Spring City General Manager Arthur Yeo - who has been involved in the Spring City project since its inception in the early 1990s - about the challenges and rewards of building a world-class travel destination in Kunming:
China Sports Today: Spring City's Mountain and Lake Courses were recently named the top two courses in China - what other awards has Spring City won in the last few years?
Arthur Yeo: In the last few years we have won many awards - we average about 10 per year – it would be too lengthy to mention all of them.
However, some of the more significant awards are: Best Golf Course in China and Hong Kong by US Golf Digest [1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 - they rank once in every two years], Best 500 Holes in the World in 2000 [18th hole mountain course designed by Jack Nicklaus] awarded by US Golf Magazine, Best Golf Course in Asia awarded by Asia Golf Monthly from 2004 to 2007, 100 Best Courses outside US ranked by US Golf Digest in 2005 & 2007 [ranked once every 2 years] and Best Golf Resort in China by World Travel Award [London] from 2005 to 2007
CST: How does Spring City overcome the challenge of having the best courses in China but being far from the coast?
Yeo: The recipe is a combination of good design, good construction adhering strictly to USGA specifications, good greenskeeping practice, good service management, spring-like weather all year round and being located in a very picturesque location with mountains and a lake.
This unique combination entices people to make Spring City Golf & Lake Resort a specific must-visit destination. Once they have visited the resort, they always come back again with their friends.
CST: What regions do Spring City's guests come from these days? Where do local Chinese fit into the picture?
Yeo: Our overseas guests are typically from Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea but we also have many local Chinese guests. We are also attracting a growing number of expatriates working and living in China – they tend to be from the USA, Australia and Europe.
Also, the number of golfers in Kunming is growing very fast and they form our bread-and-butter players.
CST: Yunnan has some of the best courses in China, do you think it can become synonymous with golf holidays like Florida in the US?
Yeo: Currently, no, as the number of golf courses in Yunnan is limited to seven at present.
However, this could happen in the future. Florida is a very established and developed golf community as compared with the Yunnan golf industry, which only started up 10 years ago.
CST: As golf becomes a more established sport in China and fewer new courses are built, what trends do you foresee for courses and golf as a sport in general around the country in the next few years?
Yeo: The development of golf has a positive impact on the economic and social development of the country - the current trend is that there are more and more golf courses popping up in China even with the central government clamping down on the development of golf courses nationwide. Also, there is a rapid increase in the number of Chinese learning and taking up golf.
Golfing in China will explode, however, the central government in my opinion should not curb the development of golf but rather monitor and control a healthy development of the golf industry in China. More emphasis should be given to:
1. Increasing education in golf maintenance and management to make sure that there are sufficient qualified people running and managing golf courses
2. Ensuring that minimal potential farmland is being used for golf development
3. Ensuring that quality golf courses are being built in a way that maximizes the use of land resources
4. Using 'green belts' within cities to develop public golf courses for public access at a reasonable price
5. Implementing strict environmental guidelines and controls for golf course developers in order to protect the environment.
Related article: China's top 10 golf courses: Kunming is king
Tags: Arthur Yeo, golf, golf course design, Jack Nicklaus, Kunming, Robert Trent Jones Jr, Spring City Golf & Lake Resort
Beijing Olympics golden for China
Sunday, 24th August 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
On the final day of competition, China took two gold medals and a silver in women's rhythmic gymnastics to end up with a total of 51 gold medals and 100 medals overall – its best Olympic medal haul to date. Number two United States and number three Russian Federation trailed China with 36 and 23 golds, respectively.
In terms of total medals, the US took the most medals, with 110, followed by China with 100. The Russian Federation took the third-largest number of medals with 72.
Zou Shiming wins China's first boxing gold
Zou Shiming ( 邹市明) made Chinese sports history on the last day of the Beijing Olympics by claiming the country's first gold medal in boxing. Zou was declared winner in the second round when light-flyweight opponent Serdamba Purevdorj of Mongolia pulled out of the match due to an injury sustained in a previous match.
China's Zou Shiming won China's first boxing gold today by defeating Mongolia's Serdamba Purevdorj in the final of the light-flyweight class. Zou hit Purevdorj with a combo of punches in the first round, earning one point.
"I wanted to give the spectators a wonderful show, but I did not expect that my opponent would get injured," Zou said. "However, the gold medal is the most important thing."
Zhang Xiaoping picks up second boxing gold for China
Shortly after Zou Shiming gave China its first taste of boxing gold, light heavyweight Zhang Xiaoping (张小平) quickly added another gold medal in boxing by beating Kenny Egan of Ireland 11 to 7.
"I'm really excited," said Zhang, "before the Olympic Games, I was just a normal athlete but now I am a gold medalist. I was perfect today and did very well psychologically and physically. Throughout the Games, I fought with 100 per cent of my skills. I put myself in a low position and tried my best to fight against my opponent."
Zou Shiming image: Xinhua
Tags: boxing, Olympics, Zhang Xiaoping, Zou Shiming
Slow medal day for China, US
Wednesday, 20th August 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
UPDATE: China added to its medal tally in the evening, with a gold for female taekwondo fighter Wu Jingyu (吴静钰) and a bronze for Zhang Wenxiu (张文秀) in the women's hammer throw.
Both China and the US had slow days at the Olympics on Wednesday, with China picking up one medal – a gold in sailing – and the US taking no medals on the twelfth day of competition as of 8:15 pm Beijing time.
China continues to lead the US and the rest of the world in gold medals, with 44. The US and Great Britain trail China with 26 and 16 gold medals, respectively.
China inched closer to the US in terms of total medals, with 77, just two shy of Team USA's 79. The Russian Federation was in a distant third with 45 total medals.
Yin Jian wins China's first sailing gold
Yin Jian (殷剑) finished third in the final race of the RS:X class windsurfing event to claim mainland China's first ever sailing gold, bettering her Athens silver in the process.
The event uses a complicated scoring system that runs over 11 races, with higher points for the final 'medal race'. Yin made a bad start, having chosen a different route around the course from her main rivals. She caught up well, but her overall status was unsure until late in the race. Italy's Alessandra Sensini struggled with the light winds, but won the race to take silver. Newcomer Bryony Shaw of Great Britain finished second to win bronze.
While this may be the mainland's first windsurfing gold, a Chinese sailor has taken gold on the board before - Lee Lai Shan (李麗珊), popularly known as "San San", took Hong Kong's first-ever Olympic medal in Atlanta, becoming a local hero in the process.
Yin Jian image: 2008.sina.com.cn
Tags: Olympics, Yin Jian
Liu Xiang writes open letter to China, promises to return
Wednesday, 20th August 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
Injured hurdler Liu Xiang has written a letter to the people of China and his supporters worldwide, which was posted on Chinese national track and field coach Feng Shuyong's (冯树勇) blog yesterday. Below is a translation of Feng's post:
I have already been in touch with Liu Xiang several times since he pulled out of the race as an absolute last resort. Right now as far as Liu Xiang is concerned, he needs to get back to normal as soon as possible, he needs to fully recover from his foot injury. Now via my blog, I will relay Liu Xiang's feelings.
To all the people who care about and support me:
I am thankful for all understanding and support the people who care about me have given me. At this moment in time I feel sad for all the people who are still disappointed at my pulling out of the race.
On July 13, 2001, the date that Beijing won its bid for the Olympics, it was also my 18th birthday. This intertwined the joy of my birthday celebration and the joy of the successful bid. Although I was an unknown athlete back then, the dream of every athlete was to participate in the Beijing Olympics. I've been putting in everything I've got toward this goal.
At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, I realized my dream of being an Olympic champion. From that moment onward, my unshakeable goal has been to defend my Olympic title in my own motherland. I've always enjoyed facing challenges and have never been willing to accept defeat – this is just the way I am. As a matter of fact, when I stepped onto Greek soil, I was very confident in myself.
As I won more and more championships and more people began to pay attention to me and give me support, I also endured growing pressure and puzzlement in my life. I am unable to relax and party without restraint like other people my age. I also can feel the expectations of the entire country at any moment.
I know that everyone was eagerly anticipating my performance yesterday [August 18] – I also wanted to fight to the finish, as you've all see me do before. But it's truly my foot… please believe that nobody is feeling more sadness and pain than me. At the same time, please believe that I'm the same Liu Xiang I've always been.
Innumerable friends sent me text messages and called me after seeing me get injured and walk off the track. I am sincerely thankful for the friends that understand, support and encourage me. I would also like to thank all the Chinese people, who in these years have given me tremendous support and credit.
I believe I still possess great strength. You all will see a Liu Xiang that runs even faster.
I am thankful for all understanding and support the people who care about me have given me. At this moment in time I feel sad for all the people who are still disappointed at my pulling out of the race.
On July 13, 2001, the date that Beijing won its bid for the Olympics, it was also my 18th birthday. This intertwined the joy of my birthday celebration and the joy of the successful bid. Although I was an unknown athlete back then, the dream of every athlete was to participate in the Beijing Olympics. I've been putting in everything I've got toward this goal.
At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, I realized my dream of being an Olympic champion. From that moment onward, my unshakeable goal has been to defend my Olympic title in my own motherland. I've always enjoyed facing challenges and have never been willing to accept defeat – this is just the way I am. As a matter of fact, when I stepped onto Greek soil, I was very confident in myself.
As I won more and more championships and more people began to pay attention to me and give me support, I also endured growing pressure and puzzlement in my life. I am unable to relax and party without restraint like other people my age. I also can feel the expectations of the entire country at any moment.
I know that everyone was eagerly anticipating my performance yesterday [August 18] – I also wanted to fight to the finish, as you've all see me do before. But it's truly my foot… please believe that nobody is feeling more sadness and pain than me. At the same time, please believe that I'm the same Liu Xiang I've always been.
Innumerable friends sent me text messages and called me after seeing me get injured and walk off the track. I am sincerely thankful for the friends that understand, support and encourage me. I would also like to thank all the Chinese people, who in these years have given me tremendous support and credit.
I believe I still possess great strength. You all will see a Liu Xiang that runs even faster.
Liu Xiang image: blog.iqilu.com
Tags: Feng Shuyong, injuries, Liu Xiang, Olympics
China leads with 41 golds, second in total medals
Tuesday, 19th August 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
As of 8:15 pm Beijing time on Tuesday, China had won two more golds, both in men's gymnastics, to bring their total number of gold medals to 41, or 16 more than Team USA's 25 golds. Great Britain was in third in the gold count with 15.In terms of overall medals, China trails the US, 77 to 72, with silver- and bronze-heavy Russia in third with 40 total medals.
Li Xiaopeng enters Chinese gymnastics pantheon
Li Xiaopeng (李小鹏) beat out Yoo Won-chul of South Korea and Anton Fokin of Uzbekistan to claim his fourth gold in men's gymnastics – this time in the parallel bars. This Olympics Li has surpassed Chinese gymnastics legend – and the star of these Olympics' opening ceremony – Li Ning as the winningest Chinese gymnast ever, with a total of 18 international first-place finishes to Li Ning's 14.
Zou Kai wins men's horizontal bar
Li's teammate Zou Kai (邹凯) beat out Jonathan Horton of the US and Fabian Hambuechen of Germany to win gold on the last day of artistic gymnastics competition. The medal is Zou's third gold medal in his first Olympics – earlier in the Beijing games he won gold in the men's team competition and also in the individual floor competition.
Li Xiaopeng image: news.cctv.com
Zou Kai image: english.people.com.cn
Tags: gymnastics, Li Ning, Li Xiaopeng, Zou Kai
Images from the Olympics
Tuesday, 19th August 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
The Olympics is a festival of images as much as it is a celebration of sports, and the Beijing games have already produced a number of memorable ones, from Michael Phelps' ecstatic celebration after his first gold to Liu Xiang crawling in agony on the track at the Bird's Nest.
Beijing-based photographer Toomanytribbles, has been covering the games from a spectator's perspective, her Flickr photostream features memorable images of Olympic venues, spectators, performers and even the Olympic flame attempting to consume the moon. They are of a different vein from typical media coverage of the Olympics and well worth a look.
Images: Toomanytribbles' Flickr photostream
Tags: Olympics, Toomanytribbles
Beijing booty: China leads with 39 gold medals
Monday, 18th August 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
After winning one gold medal and six total medals on Saturday and then seven golds and 14 total medals on Sunday, China is making a serious run at coming out of the Beijing games with the most gold and most medals overall.
As of 11:00 pm Beijing time on Monday, China leads the Olympic gold quest with 39 gold medals, 17 more than Team USA's 22. In terms of overall medals, China trails the US by five, with the Americans taking 72 compared to China's 67.
China won four more gold medals today, plus a silver and a bronze, but all the talk was about the medal that China was hoping to win more than any other – the men's 110 meter hurdles. As reported here and across global media, Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang has withdrawn from the event in which he won gold during the Athens games four years ago.
Tags: Liu Xiang
Day 6: More gold, more records for China
Thursday, 14th August 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
As of 6:45 pm Beijing time, China held its lead in the gold medal race, with 22, well ahead of second-place Team USA's 10 golds. South Korea, Italy and Germany were tied for third with six golds each.In terms of overall medals won, China retook the lead from the US, with 34 medals compared to the Americans' 33. South Korea and Australia were tied for third with a total of 16 medals each.
Yang Wei wins men's individual gymnastics competition
Yang Wei (杨威), who took gymnastics gold with his teammates on August 12, won the men's individual competition today. Although Yang is known for his consistent performance across all six disciplines, he came close to disaster in the last, the horizontal bar. Close to losing his grip, he held on to bring China its first men's all-round gold since Li Xiaoshuang 李小双 at the Atlanta games in 1996.
Chinese women swim into the record books
In the swimming pool, Liu Zige (刘子歌) won gold with a world record time of two minutes 04.18 seconds in the women's 200m butterfly. Her teammate Jiao Liuyang (焦刘洋) from Harbin took silver, also beating the previous world record. The ousted world record holder, Jessicah Schipper of Australia, took bronze.
Fourth shooting gold for China
Du Li (杜丽), having unsuccessfully defended her Olympic title in the 10 meter air rifle competition on August 9, today took gold in the 50 meter rifle three positions (prone, standing, kneeling) event. She did it in style too, with a new Olympic record of 690.3 points.
Zhang Juanjuan pulls off archery upset
27th-seeded Zhang Juanjuan (张娟娟) outshot top seed Park Sung-hyun of South Korea for a surprise win in archery's women's individual competition Thursday. Zhang scored 110 of a possible 120 points with Park taking the silver with 109 and her South Korean teammate Yun Ok-hee winning bronze.
Yang Wei image: The Australian
Liu Zige image: french.peopledaily.com.cn
Du Li image: 2008.sina.com.cn
Tags: Du Li, Jiao Liuyang, Li Xiaoshuang, Liu Zige, Yang Wei
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