China closes 66 golf courses to save on water and land

Mainland authorities closed 66 golf courses in a renewed crackdown on courses built in contravention of rules designed to protect arable land and save water, the top economic planning body said on Monday.

The central government last year ordered the demolition of courses built by five mainly little-known developers, the first real sign of enforcement of a 2004 ban. The ban was imposed to protect country's shrinking land and water resources.

Another reason was because the high use of fertiliser and pesticide to grow grass for golf courses was causing water pollution.

"Governments at all levels and relevant State Council organs have proactively carried out golf course rectification work and have achieved phased results," the National Development and Reform Commission said.

"At present, all levels of government have already banned the building of a series of illegal golf courses, and the rectification work has seen initial success."

Three of the courses it named in its list of the 66 shut were in Beijing, with the others spread out across the country, including in Ningxia .