Trying to restore golf's "Mr. Lu"
Like other sports, golf was once simply one athletic pursuit among many. However, according to studies by the ROC Forestation Association, at an average area of 60 hectares, an 18-hole golf course, serving 320 players per day, requires seven to 1,150 to 3,500 tonnes of irrigation, or seven to 15 tonnes per person-a full 15 to 30 times the average per capita water consumption. This statistic provides a good picture of the resource consumption at a typical golf course.
Chen Chia-hui believes that, given Taiwan's dense population and limited resources, golf's growth should be more deliberately and carefully mapped out. However, with the boom behavior in the economy the number of golf courses in Taiwan exploded within a mere decade. In stark contrast to the gradual development of golf in Europe, beginning in the 16th century, golf has developed too rapidly in Taiwan. "What other countries have developed in three or four hundred years, we've concentrated into just one decade," says Chen Chia-hui. Consequently, Taiwan's golf movement is associated with such unflattering descriptions as "environmental devastation," "the exclusive province of the privileged," and "social ball."
Chien Lung-Kuo relates that, due to the bumpy road golf has traveled in its development in Taiwan, at this time the Chinese Taipei Golf Association wants nothing more than to "return to the essence" of golf as a sport, "at least regaining the 'dignity of playing golf!'" Chien suggests promoting "indoor golf," which requires little room, is suitable for the whole family, and is easy on the budget.
When it comes to golf courses commonly seen as "exclusive," Chien offers that ways should be found to bring the game closer to the public, perhaps by holding fairs or other public service events such as charity fund-raisers, to give people a chance to get closer to the game. Alternately, perhaps a "golf day" could be designated when golf passes would be free or discounted, so that newcomers to the sport might get a chance to try their hand at it.
And if there is an appropriate piece of land, perhaps the government could put up the funds for the establishment of a public golf course, so that low-cost passes would enable anyone to play regardless of economic status. For instance, in Britain, where a golf pass at a public course costs just £8, people do not look askance at golfers. "Another purpose of public courses is to put pressure on privately run courses to keep them from getting too aloof with pricing," says Huang Wen-jung of the NCPFS.
When such steps are taken, more people will come around to appreciating golf, no longer seeing it as something out of their reach. With more people playing, and perhaps no shortage of players with refined skills, there will no longer be problems such as the Johnnie Walker Classic encountered, where the organizers, "looking to attract six of the top 30 money earners on the professional tour, were unable to get more than two qualified players interested," says Chen Chia-hui. Ultimately, the organizers relaxed the standards to include approximately 50 top players from the Asian Pro Tour, including Wang Teh-chang, Chang Tse-peng, Yeh Wei-chih, Lu Wen-teh, and rookie pro Hung Chia-yu.
Back when golf was the exclusive domain of the "lofty and rich," many children from poor families headed to the golf courses to serve as caddies for the wealthy, eventually making reputations themselves among Asia's few elite professional golfers. Such players as Lu Liang-huan, Hsieh Min-nan, and Chen Chih-chung share similar stories of struggle, from poverty to caddy, and finally to professional golfer.
Today, although society is wealthier and more people are playing golf, Taiwan's golfers have been unable to match the golfing skills of players from such upstart countries as South Korea and Thailand. Perhaps if golf's tarnished reputation is successfully cleared at home, Taiwan can one day regain the fine repute it once enjoyed on the world's golfing stage.
US golfer Corey Pavin participated in the Martell Skins tournament earlier this September. Pavin's infectious sense of humor went over big with fans.
These days, players establish themselves in the pro ranks earlier than ever, and often it helps to get an early start in childhood. Is there a 'Tiger' lurking somewhere in Taiwan's future?
In the 1980s, ROC female golfer Tu Ah-yu made a big splash in Japan. Golf has always suffered from a lack of female participants. Tu Ah-yu is one of the few females to achieve worldwide pro ranking. (photo by Cheng Yuan-ching)