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Nazvi Careem

England’s Aaron Rai, the newly crowned Honma Hong Kong Open champion, said the Fanling course is a rare gem in world golf and it would be a shame if the government were to raze the site and build public housing on it.
US Masters champion Patrick Reed joined Rai and other golfers in expressing hope that the Championship course and other fairways are saved, though the American said the decision must be left to the people of Hong Kong.
When asked how he would feel if he were to return to Hong Kong in 10 years and find that the Hong Kong Golf Club course had been turned into buildings, the 23-year-old Rai said: “You know, it would be a real shame if that was to happen.
Push to develop part of Fanling golf course for Hong Kong housing gains momentum with support from indigenous villagers

“We play so many amazing courses on the European Tour, and sometimes the players as a whole are very hard to please and you kind of get mixed reviews about courses week to week.
“But this is one of those rare venues where 99.9 per cent of the people love it. It’s not crazy long. It’s tough,” said Rai, who shot a course record nine-under-par 61 on Friday on his way to a one-stroke victory over Matthew Fitzpatrick in the 60th edition of the tournament.
“You have to think well and you have to play well, and there are not many courses like this in the world, let alone Hong Kong, so that would be a shame.”
Talk of turning Hong Kong golf course into housing dominates city’s first public forum on land supply


Earlier this year, a government-appointed Task Force on Land Supply was given five months to carry out a public consultation to address the shortage of land for housing and economic development. Using the 170-hectare Fanling site, home to three courses, for housing was one of 18 options put forward. The government is expected to announce the results of the consultation in December.
The site has been run by the HKGC since 1911 under a government lease that expires in August 2020. The government’s decision could affect up to HK$6 billion worth of corporate memberships.
In May, then club captain Arnold Wong said the club would fight to protect all its courses and would not accept any proposal to redevelop even part of the grounds.
Partial development of Fanling golf course could provide housing quickly, task force says

Reed said he would be disappointed if Hong Kong were to lose the Fanling golf course.
“Personally I love the golf course,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed coming here to play in the golf tournament ...the fans, the people, the golf course, everybody around here have been welcoming and friendly so for me I’d be disappointed if it wasn’t still here.
“But at the same time, I want Hong Kong to do whatever is best for Hong Kong. At the end of the day, whatever is good for Hong Kong, the best decision needs to be made.”
India’s Arjun Atwal, who has been playing in Hong Kong for more than 20 years and has an intimate knowledge of the course, expressed surprise when informed of possible plans to tear it down.
Hong Kong Open: Aaron Rai claims maiden European Tour title with wire-to-wire victory at Fanling

“Really?” said Atwal, who has won on the USPGA Tour. “I would be terrible. Why would that happen? It would be sad. This is one of my favourite golf courses and probably one of my favourite tournaments in the world. So it would be a shame.”
Another Indian, Shubhankar Sharma – the European Tour’s rookie of the year last season – said: ‘I hope it doesn’t happen [that they raze it], that would be really sad.
“It’s a fantastic course and all the players really love coming back here, so I really hope that doesn’t happen and we keep coming back. It’s a wonderful course, not long, but very, very challenging and all the players love it.”
‘I just don’t like this course,’ says China number one Li Haotong while declaring he can still win Hong Kong Open

Hong Kong’s Matthew Cheung Hung-hai, the top amateur over the weekend and the only local golfer to make the cut, said the Fanling site is key to the development of golf in the city.
“It would be very sad. As it is there are only six golf courses in Hong Kong and for someone like me who really loves this game, I want it to continue to bloom,” said Chueng. “If you take away golf courses it gives less opportunity for people to play. I feel like the golf club have done really well, especially these last couple of years, to open it up and let locals play.
Hong Kong Open: European Tour larrikin Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston tells his best joke


Why Hong Kong must rethink Fanling golf course housing plan: if not for its rich heritage then in memory of players who brought glory to the game

‘Shame on you – Hong Kong is not a world city’: golfers furious over course being lost to housing

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

European Tour and Asian Tour could ditch Hong Kong Open if part of Fanling Old Course is taken away

Honma Hong Kong Open

UBS Hong Kong Open

‘There are not many golf courses like it in the world’ – Hong Kong Open champion Aaron Rai hopes Fanling is saved from bulldozers

The fifth hole of the Championship course at Fanling. Photo: Richard Castka

Aaron Rai during the fourth round of the Honma Hong Kong Open on 25 November 2018 at Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling, N.T., Hong Kong. Mandatory credit: Richard Castka/Sportpixgolf.com

Arjun Atwal, of India, holds the Sam Snead Cup on the 18th green after winning the Wyndham Championship golf tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010. Atwal won by a stroke Sunday at Sedgefield Country Club, becoming the first Monday qualifier to win on the tour in 24 years. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Patrick Reed during the second round of the Honma Hong Kong Open on 23 November 2018 at Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling, N.T., Hong Kong. Mandatory credit: Richard Castka/Sportpixgolf.com

Matthew Cheung during the third round of the Honma Hong Kong Open on 24 November 2018 at Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling, N.T., Hong Kong. Mandatory credit: Richard Castka/Sportpixgolf.com

Sport

Hong Kong

Golf

Englishman says it is one of the few courses where pros have nothing bad to say
The government is looking at proposals to build public housing on the site


Englishman says it is one of the few courses where pros have nothing bad to say


‘There are not many golf courses like it in the world’ – Hong Kong Open champion Aaron Rai hopes Fanling is saved from bulldozers

Englishman says it is one of the few courses where pros have nothing bad to say The government is looking at proposals to build public housing on the site

Englishman says it is one of the few courses where pros have nothing bad to say

The government is looking at proposals to build public housing on the site