Hands off Fanling: legendary Gary Player says Hong Kong Golf Club deserves protection from housing
With a task force eyeing the fairways of Fanling, South African warns against taking the wrecking ball to a Hong Kong landmark
All-time great Gary Player has appealed to government authorities to preserve Hong Kong Golf Club from any housing development, saying the historic club and its three courses are revered in the golfing world.
With the government-appointed Task Force on Land Supply meeting on Saturday and about to deliver its findings on building flats on all or some of the 170-hectare property in Fanling, Player said authorities should carefully consider the impact of “closing this Hong Kong landmark”.
“The course is revered in the world by both professionals and the general golf public alike, highlighted by being a ‘Platinum Golf Club of the World’,” said Player, referring to the prestigious status awarded by an international panel of private club experts.
“It has hosted many marquee events throughout its history, including the very first Hong Kong Open [1959], the first ever Hong Kong Ladies Open [2015] and the World Amateur Team Championships [to be held in 2020].”
The 82-year-old South African legend also said the club’s three courses, which are maintained to world-class standards without taking a drop of potable water or groundwater supplies, had been registered to become environmentally recognised Audubon Cooperative Golf Sanctuaries.
