The 18th hole of the Hong Kong Golf Club’s Eden Course.
Hong Kong: Hong Kong Golf Club [HKGC], one of Asia’s most historic golfing establishments, has signed up with the Asian Golf Industry Federation [AGIF].
Founded in 1889, the club boasts 54 holes at its Fanling location in the New Territories as well as a nine-hole course at Deepwater Bay on Hong Kong Island.
Home to the Hong Kong Open since 1959, the club, which has become a Golf Facility Member of the AGIF, celebrated its centenary in 1989 and is regarded as the Home of Golf in the former British Colony that is now a Special Administrative Region of China.
As part of celebrations to mark the club’s 125th anniversary, the HKGC is offering Hong Kong residents a special HK$125 [about US$16] green fee rate on selected days. The HK$125 green fee represents a 93% saving off the standard visitors’ rate.
The HKGC is also a dedicated supporter of local charitable concerns and hosts numerous charity golf events throughout the year.
In 2014, golf events held at the HKGC raised more than HK$11.5 million [about US$1.5 million] for charity, a figure that the club hopes to increase to HK$15 million [about US$2 million] this year.
Ian Gardner
Ian Gardner, the club’s General Manager, said: “In conjunction with the Home Affairs Bureau, the Hong Kong Golf Club is committed to promoting the development of golf within Hong Kong and to providing greater access to the club’s facilities by outside bodies who do not ordinarily hold membership of the club.
“As a Golf Facility member we are looking forward to being involved with developing the game alongside the AGIF.”
Eric Lynge, the AGIF’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Hong Kong Golf Club is one of the region’s most prestigious golf clubs.
“As well as presenting a wonderful facility to its members and guests, the HKGC’s continued support to the Hong Kong Open has been hugely instrumental in ensuring it is one of the longest-running national Open championships in the world.”
Less than 15 months since the AGIF launched the Golf Facility category, dozens of the region’s most prominent clubs have signed up as members.
“Golf facilities represent an enormous part of our industry and as we continue to run an increasing number of educational events for course superintendents, and offer more benefits to clubs, we are confident that this category of membership will grow,” said Lynge.
With the addition of the HKGC to its list of members, the AGIF now has Golf Facility members in 11 countries or regions – Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.