The China Golf Market: An Interview in China Real Estate Business

Tianan Golf, Beijing

This interview first appeared in "China Real Estate Business," a Chinese-language newspaper with a national circulation in China, on November 12, 2011. 1. When did your company start to focus on the Chinese golf industry?   Did you focus especially on golf course management and operations?   What kind of problems have you discovered? JOHN STRAWN:  Hills & Forrest is a golf course architectural firm, so our focus is on designing courses.   We have also formed a joint venture with two Chinese partners, one of which, Cheng Jun Golf, does own and operate courses.    The courses they operate are private membership courses, and have bee... Full Story
The Golf Capital of America: The Road to Bandon Dunes

In its November, 2011 issue, Golf Digest finally gets around to recognizing that Oregon's Bandon Dunes is  the "Number One Golf Resort in North America," supplanting Pebble Beach in its annual rankings.   I've been telling everyone for years that Bandon Dunes isn't the best golf resort in North America--i Full Story

tl
tr
The Implications of Charles Mann’s New Book, 1493, for Golf’s Future in China

Charles Mann's observations about China's role in the forging of the modern world in his brilliant new book, 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created, are especially fascinating in light of China's embrace of golf.  A late-blooming minor component of the Columbian exchange, golf has a peculiar status Full Story

tl
tr
Tom Watson’s Advice Will Improve Your Game–A Great Golf Master Shares His Wisdom in “The Timeless Swing.”

Tom Watson is a class act, his character as sturdy as his everlasting swing.  He treats the game with respect, because he knows and appreciates how much it’s given him.  But Watson also gives back in equal measure, especially by treating amateur golfers with respect, acknowledging that while their skills Full Story