A very special thank you to Vice-President Mr. Kuo Chen Su in welcoming AGW Executive Committee members Peter Dixon and myself to the Tianma Golf Club here in Shanghai.
Shanghai Tianma Golf Club is located just seven kilometers from the front gates of the Sheshan Golf Club and host venue this week for the 10th anniversary WGC – HSBC Champions event.
Joining Peter and myself in playing the course on a wonderful sunny and calm Tuesday morning was the European Tour’s Denis Blasdale and Hong Kong based Danny Hicks, leading golf correspondent for Agency France Press (AFP).
Mr. Su warmly welcomed us upon arrival at Tianma and then joined us afterwards relaxing on the verandah of the club.
Tianma proudly boasts 27 holes with three seperate nines – the New Course, the Old Course and the Tianma Course.
On our visit we played the 18-hole combination of the New and the Old Courses with the New off the white tees measuring 3,061 yards and the Old also off the white tees slightly longer at 3,077 yards for a total of 6,138 yards.
Tianma is set out within the Sheshan Nature Reserve and with Shenshan Mountain, and the only mountain range in the greater Shanghai region, visible from most holes on the golf course.
Also noticeable atop of Sheshan Mountain is the Basilica of Mary, Help of Christians and a prominent Roman Catholic church in Shanghai.
Mr. Su indicated Tianma Golf Club currently has a membership of some 1,000 members while it also runs a well patronized junior golf program that is only helping to grow the game in China.
Again, our special thanks to Mr. Su in affording the four of us the privilege of playing a rare game of golf in China.