Only one Beijing golf course is legal, says law committee

Only one golf course in Beijing has been developed legally, a member of the law committee in China's Parliament has announced.

The Chinese Government reinforced its ban of the development of golf courses last year, having originally legislated in 2004 following concerns about land grabs of prime farming land.

There are around in 20 golf courses in the capital and around 500 in total across the country, according to the China Golf Association.

"There are many golf courses in Beijing, but only the one close to the Ming Tombs has been legally approved," Sun Anmin, Deputy Director of the National People's Congress law committee, told Beijing Youth Daily.

The Beijing International Golf Club, which borders the Ming Tombs reservoir, was the first course built in Beijing in 1986.

The 'illegal' courses in Beijing include the Beijing Honghua and the CBD International, which have both hosted the European Tour-sanctioned China Open, and the Jack Nicklaus-designed Pine Valley.

Sun added the courses may be given legal status retroactively as they have helped China's economy by providing employment and green spaces in urban areas.

Image: Beijing International Golf Club