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Why China's Golf Industry Is Booming Despite A 10-Year Ban

"Forbidden Game" author Dan Washburn discusses why "there are few things more aspirational in nature than golf in China."

Why China's Golf Industry Is Booming Despite A 10-Year Ban

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  1. The book focuses on three main characters: Martin, an American golf course construction executive in China; Zhou, a professional Chinese golfer; and Wang, a Hainan lychee farmer whose land is confiscated for golf course construction. Why did you choose these particular stories?
  2. What can we learn about the "Chinese Dream" from China's golf industry?
  3. In the book, golfer Zhou Xunshu and his peers face many struggles on the domestic competition circuit, yet Chinese pros such as Feng Shanshan and Guan Tianlang have been seeing major international success in recent years at tournaments such as the LPGA and US Masters championships. How are some able to reach this level of success despite the challenges in China's professional golf environment?
  4. New golf courses are often accompanied by the construction of luxury homes in China. Do you think most courses are being built to offer a high-quality playing experience or just to raise the value of nearby real estate?
  5. The Chinese government’s reasons for the ban on new golf courses state that construction uses up too much land and that villagers' lands have been illegally confiscated. How serious are these problems?
  6. The book discusses how golf course construction was able to flourish despite the moratorium. Since Xi Jinping came into power, how has China's anti-corruption campaign affected the golf course building boom?
  7. Golf is primarily a sport for the ultra-wealthy in China at the moment. Will it ever become more available to the country's middle class?
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Published June 30, 2014

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