The astonishing growth of the Chinese economy is fueling a 21st century “Great Leap Forward” in advance of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. And while golf may not be an Olympic event, it too is enjoying phenomenal growth. In 20 years, the number of courses on the mainland has jumped from one to over 300. And with an increasing number of European tour events and elite players, golf in China looks set to continue expanding at a record-breaking pace.
   The fruits of that expansion are nowhere more evident than in Guangdong Province, where the Mission Hills Resort is justly famed for its ten courses designed by such golf luminaries as Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman. Other local standouts are the Spring City Golf and Lake Resort, with two courses designed by Nicklaus and Robert Trent Jones, Jr., and the Dongguan Hillview Golf Club, designed by Jim Engh.
   Further north, in Zhejiang Province, the new Fuchun Resort offers a memorable experience, with an 18-hole course that is situated with zenlike perfection beside a terraced tea plantation. missionhillsgroup.com; springcityresort.com; hillviewgolf.com; fuchunresort.com

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