ASIAN GOLF INDUSTRY FEDERATION

HKGC Bolstering City’s International Status

Hong Kong Golf Club to Host World City Championship low 1
The Hong Kong Golf Club will stage three international professional tournaments this year. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Hong Kong: In support of the ‘Hello! Hong Kong’ overseas promotion campaign launched by the Hong Kong Government, the Hong Kong Golf Club (HKGC) is planning to host three international professional golf tournaments at Fanling this year.

The news will come as a boost to the city’s standing as a must-visit destination for golf-lovers from around the world and significantly strengthen its reputation as a mega sporting event capital.

The recent trip by the Chief Executive to the Middle East aims to strengthen the bilateral relationship between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Aramco, one of the world’s largest energy corporations, will likely become one of Hong Kong’s most important business partners.

The debut of the Aramco Team Series in Hong Kong marks a meaningful step in Hong Kong’s efforts to introduce more mega-sport events.

In late March, Hong Kong will be the seventh stop on the Asian Tour’s 2023 calendar when the club hosts the World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club for the first time.

The Aramco Team Series, one of the most prestigious team tournaments in the women’s game, will make its Hong Kong debut in October. The following month, the Hong Kong Open will make its return after a three-year hiatus. 

“We are excited to be hosting these three world-class golf tournaments in Hong Kong. It is also an honour to partner with Saudi Aramco, one of the world’s largest energy corporations, to bring an important competition like the Aramco Team Series to our city,” said Andy Kwok, Captain of the HKGC, a Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

“The Middle East has become a dynamic centre of sports development in recent years, and the Series’ decision to make Hong Kong one of its stops speaks volumes to the quality of Fanling as the city’s premier tournament golf course.”

Kwok added: “The fact that these tournaments are coming to Hong Kong is also a sure sign that the city is reclaiming its place on the international stage. The club is committed to supporting the Government’s initiatives and in particular the ‘Hello! Hong Kong’ campaign by preparing for the arrival of visitors from all corners of the world.

“We are gearing up by planning for these tournaments with a view to welcoming first-rate golfers as well as overseas spectators. These efforts will also continue to further the development of golf in Hong Kong.”

The World City Championship (March 23-26), will be the first international golf tournament held in Hong Kong in the post-pandemic era. The event will feature 132 golfers vying for prize money totalling US$1 million.

It will also mark a momentous occasion in Hong Kong’s golfing history with local talents Matthew Cheung and Taichi Kho, who recently earned their Asian Tour cards, among the Hong Kong players in the field. In conjunction with hosting the World City Championship, the club will also offer a range of free entertainment and recreational events for the wider community to enjoy.

The Aramco Team Series, now entering its fourth year, makes its Hong Kong debut in October. The Series – title-sponsored by Saudi Aramco – is played by many of the game’s top women golfers. It adopts a unique format with a scoring system that enables matches to be played by teams comprising three professionals and one amateur, giving up-and-coming talents the chance to play alongside their more experienced, professional peers.

As a result, the Series has become a testing ground for some of the world’s best female amateur golfers who are planning to turn pro. A total of 36 teams will compete in Hong Kong.

Following hot on the heels of the Aramco Team Series will be the 62nd edition of the Hong Kong Open, which will be staged in November. A much-anticipated date on the local sporting calendar and Hong Kong’s oldest professional sporting event, the Hong Kong Open has contributed significantly to the city’s reputation as ‘Asia’s World City’ since the inaugural championship in 1959.

Over the decades, it has become a magnet for local and international spectators. More than 49,000 fans attended the 60th Hong Kong Open in 2018, and the tournament is broadcast live to over 400 million households worldwide.

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