The Hong Kong Golf Club

The Royal Hong Kong Golf Club was formed on Friday 10th May 1889 by "thirteen golfing enthusiasts". This group had difficulty finding any open land suitable for golf, but eventually obtained permission to play at Happy Valley. This area was used for football, polo, hockey and military parades, so the golfers had to take their turn at using the ground. Due to the other uses they were not permitted to construct bunkers, greens and tees. However, this was overcome by putting down nets for bunkers, whilst granite setts were used for the hole.
	By 1891 the membership had grown to over 100, so a small shed was built as a Clubhouse where refreshments were served. Due to the "crowded conditions", from 1896 the ladies were only permitted to play golf on a very restricted basis. As the pressure on starting times grew, the Captain and Club officials were forced to find an additional location. They found Deep Water Bay, which besides providing an area for a small course also provided perfect bathing. At this time, Deep Water Bay was only accessible by launch from Victoria Harbour. The first lease for the land at Deep Water Bay was agreed with the Government in September 1898. A Clubhouse was erected in this same year. Members used to ride round to the course in boats or ride ponies over Wong Nei Chong Gap, whilst the caddies walked carrying the clubs and picnics. In 1904 Happy Valley was turned over exclusively to the Golf Club, except for Wednesdays and Saturdays when soccer and cricket were played. Ladies were even allowed to play on a Sunday. Between 1906 and 1910 E.R. Halifax was the District Officer North at Taipo and he used to shoot and walk over Fanling. With his foresight and a few others, protracted negotiations took place with the Government and local farmers to secure sufficient land to build a full 18 holes. This was in 1911.
	The Club then gradually moved from strength to stength. The Old Course was laid by the end of 1911 and additional land was acquired in the late 1920's for the New Course which was opened for play in November 1931. The end of the War saw the Club virtually bankrupt with the courses at Fanling and Deep Water Bay in very poor condition. However, things moved ahead with strong support from members and local companies, to the extent that a third course, the Eden, was added in 1970.
	The quality of The Hong Kong Golf Club is such that it has been the home of The Hong Kong Open since the tournaments' inception, boasting Champions with internationally famous names, such as Peter Thomson (1960, 1965 and 1967), Mr Lu Liang-Huan (1959 and 1974), Tom Watson (1992) and Jose-Maria Olazabal (2001). The Club hosted the Eisenhower and Espirito Santo Trophies in 1984, and in recent years was chosen as the site for the Asian Zone qualifying rounds for the Dunhill Cup. The first Johnnie Walker Classic in Asia was played here in 1990, won by Nick Faldo after shooting a course record 62. Not to be outdone, Bernhard Langer shot a 63 in winning the Hong Kong Open the following year. The Club celebrated its Centenary in 1989 and has entered its second hundred years recognised as one of the leading golf clubs worldwide. In 1996, at the annual General Meeting of the Club, the Royal nomenclature was dropped. The Club is now known as The Hong Kong Golf Club. Its three full 18 hole courses at Fanling and a 9 hole Par 3 course at Deep Water Bay, along with its swimming pools, tennis courts, excellent restaurants and top class accommodation, have made The Hong Kong Golf Club one of the premier golfing complexes to be found anywhere.