Investors from China purchased high-end courses in Myrtle Beach

[Germain Pepin]

According to Allan Blondin- MyrtleBeachOnline- investors from China purchased TPC of Myrtle Beach and International World Tour, two high-end courses there. Many courses has been sold to these investors during the past months: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2014/12/16/4673898/group-of-investors-from-china.html?sp=/99/209/&ihp=1

[David_Tepper]

This looks like a re-run of the late 1980's - early 1990's, when Japanese interests bought a number of golf courses in the U.S., including Pebble Beach. We know how that turned out.   

[Tom_Doak]

Why exactly is this a problem?  Lots of courses are being sold to investment groups, who cares if one is Chinese? 

And why do we care if they make money or lose money any more than the previous owner?

[Brent Hutto]

I'd have thought the smart money would be in buying up Topgolf franchises.

[Steve Lapper]

I'd have thought the smart money would be in buying up Topgolf franchises.

   There are no Topgolf franchises (at least in the US). The company owns and operates all their facilities. So far, most of them are cash cows.

   I'm happy for Myrtle Beach that investors of any stripe are buying up golf properties.

[Tim Gavrich]

A Chinese company also owns the Sea Trail complex up on the NC side and, I believe, a Chinese golfer who played in the big World Am event a couple years ago decided to buy Crown Park Golf Course out on Hwy 9. Given that investment from China, I wonder if we'll see a casino go up in the next decade. It's always seemed like a fit for the area, though I do understand casinos aren't exactly booming of late.

[Greg Tallman]

They have purchased 15 MB courses to date and one of the principals at TPC says he expects that number to reach 30 in short order. And he is smiling all the way to the bank. 

[Tim Gavrich]

After listening to the very interesting State of the Game podcast on China, it's no wonder those with interests in golf in China are looking elsewhere. What a convoluted mess of a system they've got in place. Prospecting in the US must be a breeze by comparison.

[Tom_Doak]

I was approached a couple of years ago by a friend in China who said he knew investors there who were looking for distressed golf courses to purchase in the USA.

The main driver for the group he was dealing with was that, if you invest a million dollars in a business here, you get a green card for yourself or for someone in your family.  It's a little-known loophole in the immigration laws that Congressmen don't give speeches about.  On top of that, wealthy Chinese are generally happy to buy up real assets anywhere outside of China, because they feel more secure their assets are safe from government seizure.

Rich Americans can get the same treatment overseas, FYI.

[Joe Sponcia]

Wow, TPC has changed hands several times in it's short history.  One of my favorites on the strand.  Arguably the best set of Par 3's among the 100 or so courses.  Hopefully they will keep the standards high and space out the tee times a bit more.

[Greg Tallman]

Wow, TPC has changed hands several times in it's short history.  One of my favorites on the strand.  Arguably the best set of Par 3's among the 100 or so courses.  Hopefully they will keep the standards high and space out the tee times a bit more.

Not sure how many times, the two principals I know have been involved for well over a decade.

[Germain Pepin]

 I will be interested to see if conditions are improved at Chinese courses.  I have no idea if courses in China
are conditiond like The Dunes or like Azalea Sands (a lower tier course). That may determine how they treat course
conditions in MB.   Right now most rounds played at the Chinese courses are with 48 hrs rate, so they
can't be as profitable as Grande Dunes, Kings North, etc. 
 
I would like to see them buy Rivers Edge and see what they would do with it.