"Golf is no longer a crime, decrees China's Communist party"

[Michael Graham]

According to this report in The Guardian newspaper the CPC has changed their stance on "the sport for millionaires."


http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/14/golf-is-no-longer-a-decrees-chinas-communist-party


I wonder if this will have any bearing on golf projects that are in limbo/have been mothballed.

[Marc Haring]

Some of the architecture deployed was pretty criminal.

[Peter Pallotta]

"The golf course is gradually changing into a muddy field where they trade money for power" charged a state-run newspaper last year.That was part of the problem -- if they had learned from America they could've exchanged money for power in nice firm and fast conditions instead! No one wants to go into court with mud on their trousers...

[Rick Emerson]

As someone who loves golf and currently lives in China I hope this is true. However, I'll believe it when I see it. Do you think this has anything to do with Golf being an Olympic sport?

[MCirba]

I think it has more to do with the sputtering Chinese economy than anything else.

[Ryan Hillenbrand]

No animal shall sleep in a bed - with sheets.

[BCrosby]

Relieved to hear golf is not a crime.


Bob

[Kalen Braley]

I've seen some sand-bagging GCA'ers who should be charged with a crime!! 

[Ryan Farrow]

Since the Mao years it has almost always been legal to play golf in China, certainly not a crime. There was a bit of a crackdown recently in that Government officials were not allowed to have golf memberships.  Sounds like that may have been lifted but I believe they were still allowed to play on their own time and dime.


So in reality they rolled back a ban on government officials that only lasted about a year.


Hardly news.

[Tom_Doak]

There was a bit of a crackdown recently in that Government officials were not allowed to have golf memberships.  Sounds like that may have been lifted but I believe they were still allowed to play on their own time and dime.

So in reality they rolled back a ban on government officials that only lasted about a year.

Ryan:


I think the President had decided last year that Party officials were not allowed to play golf, period.  So, it's a bit of a thawing, for whatever reason.  But as we both know, thinking about why things are done a certain way in China is a fruitless exercise.