Professional golf to return to Hong Kong twice in 2023, as Asian Tour puts city back on sporting map
- New event scheduled for March as part of Tour’s expanded season next year
- Officials also planning for return of Hong Kong Open in traditional November slot
Professional golf will return to the city twice in 2023 as part of the Asian Tour’s expanded schedule, with a new tournament pencilled in for March and the Hong Kong Open expected to return in November.
Despite government plans to build houses on a significant portion of Hong Kong Golf Club leaving the long-term future of top-flight events in the city hanging in the balance, the Tour has made it the seventh stop for 2023.
The Tour’s announcement on Friday of its new schedule only covered the first part of the year until the beginning of May, but a spokesman for the Fanling course said plans were being made to stage the Open in its traditional slot in November.
“With the welcome easing of travel restrictions into the city, the club is extremely keen to put Hong Kong firmly back on the international golfing map as soon as possible,” the spokesman said.
“Whilst we are planning on staging the Hong Kong Open in its traditional end-of-year spot, we are currently working with the Asian Tour on a new event to be held at the club in late March.
“Details of this will be forthcoming, but there is undoubtedly great desire and excitement to welcome back world-class golfers and international and local spectators to the fairways of Fanling after a three-year hiatus.”
March’s tournament, which runs from the 23rd to 26th and boasts a US$1 million prize fund, will kick off a bumper four weeks of sport in the city, with the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens taking place the following weekend, and the Fairbreak Invitational women’s cricket competition running from April 3 to 16.
