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Opinion | Face it, the Hong Kong Golf Club needs a friendly landlord more than the doomed Old Course

  • Any legal challenge would be folly after Carrie Lam condemns century-old course to build housing
  • The reality is the government can crush them with the swing of a club

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Spanish star Sergio Garcia tees off during the second round of the Honma Hong Kong Open at Fanling last November. Photo: Richard Castka/Sportpixgolf.com

The Hong Kong Golf Club cannot win. It’s at the mercy of the government and will have to swallow a course concession if it wants to survive.

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That means surrendering the century-old Old Course at Fanling and being grateful the government will continue granting a new lease for the remaining 140 hectares of land – at least until 2027.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s endorsement of the land supply task force taking back the 32 hectares of land (eight holes out of the 18) for housing development is simply a political decision.

Parts of the golfing community are outraged, parts had already accepted the inevitable, others tried to launch save-the-golf-course campaigns, while the club mounted a charm offensive, emphasising it and the game is not just for the super rich.

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The 18th hole of the Old Course – what will happen to that? Photo: Edward Wong
The 18th hole of the Old Course – what will happen to that? Photo: Edward Wong
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