Hong Kong Golf Club faces uncertain future
The Hong Kong Golf Club, celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, faces an uncertain future as pressure grows for the site to redeveloped.
With houses prices and social inequality rising in Hong Kong, the Club’s flat 176 hectare site at Deep Water Bay on Hong Kong Island is being viewed as an alternative to a new-town plan in the New Territories.
Following the lead of Singapore, which earlier this year announced plans to not renew the leases of two golf courses beyond 2024 (when it will use the land for housing developments), the Hong Kong Government is considering using the famous golf club, which has hosted international tournaments including the Hong Kong Open, to ease housing demand.
With it's lease due to expire in 2020, the Hong Kong Golf Club paid HK$2.1 million in rent this year – when equivalent commercial space might be worth as much as HK$600 million.
Commenting on the Club’s heritage and prestige, Club Captain Mark Roberts recently told the South China Morning Post “I've just shown Ernie Els around the club, a four-time major winner, and he said the history and heritage of this club are virtually unique.
"How many other clubs worldwide are 125 years old?
"It's that history and tradition which is being threatened … we've worked very hard over 125 years to build what we have now.
“If Hong Kong is 'Asia's World City' we need world city venues. We've got the Rugby Sevens and the Hong Kong Open and those two sporting events are sacrosanct.
“It is of concern to us. We’d like to have it resolved in our favour, that’s what we’re aiming for, as we want to preserve those traditions.”
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