Hong Kong Ladies Open winner Liu Yan horrified to learn golf course will be sacrificed for housing
- The 21-year-old Chinese claims her first professional victory on the century-old course as teenager Du Mohan melts down
- Golf club ‘looking at alternatives’ as it waits for the government to move on taking back land
As a new wave of Chinese golfers emerged at the EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open on Sunday, the long-term future of the fledgling tournament was at the mercy of the Hong Kong government’s next move on housing.
China teenager Du Mohan blew a five-shot lead to lose to compatriot Liu Yan for the HK$175,000 first prize, but Liu and Du were horrified to learn that the famous Old Course at Hong Kong Golf Club would be sacrificed for housing.
The government announced in February it would be taking back eight holes of the Old Course – or 32 hectares – on the left hand side of Fan Kam Road. The controversial decision – widely viewed as political – divided society and sparked heated debate.
First, a detailed technical study has to be completed which could take years and a club insider said they hoped that environment concerns or some other factors would deter the government from going ahead.
