Chinese teenagers enrolling at US colleges might not seem like anything out of the ordinary. But for Chinese golf it's like a butterfly flapping its wings and causing a hurricane on the other side of the world.
The freshmen-to-be are Hu Mu, and Wang Minghao, who will play collegiate golf for the University of Florida Gators and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, respectively.
They join University of Indiana Hoosier Han Ren, who last year became the first Chinese-born athlete to play men's collegiate golf in the US.
They are all members of the "third generation" of Chinese golfers and they couldn't be more different from their predecessors.
The first and second generations, led by Zhang Lianwei and Liang Wenchong, respectively, came from backgrounds where golf was a luxury known by only a few. But third generation golfers like Wang and Su grew up with fathers who played golf.
"Me, Hu Mu, Han Ren we're from wealthy families, we can say that. We have had good educations," Su explained.
"I went to a private primary school and a private high school. Our parents can pay this sort of money. Zhang Lianwei, his parents were humble people. They were living in poverty Zhang went looking for a job (in golf) to help pay for food."
Unlike their predecessors, the young guns all speak English fluently, which makes it easier to coach them since they can better understand some of golf's jargon.
"The quality of their education is one of the reasons why I believe they will go to a higher level," Zhang says.
New landscape
"Because they have English, they can discuss golf with other players from outside China. And they're not afraid to play with players from the European and US Tours. They are international players."
The landscape of golf in China has changed considerably since Zhang started competing. The first modern course in China opened in Zhongshan in the southern province of Guangdong in 1984. Zhang first touched a club a year later at nearby Zhuhai Golf Club.
"When I started there were only two golf courses in China. Before the age of 20 I didn't know anything about golf," Zhang, the "godfather" of Chinese golf, said.
"When I started I had no support. I was like a blind man. Hitting balls every day, but having no idea why they went where they went."
Many current professionals can tell similar stories. Most made their starts through ancillary jobs at courses or driving ranges having no idea what the sport was before they started working. Many in the second generation got their introduction to the sport in their late teens.
"We have had a better start. At 18 Zhang wasn't even playing golf and Liang had barely started," said Hu Mu, whose father introduced him to golf at the age of 7 before moving him to the IMG Academy in Florida at 11. The teenager has been coached by David Leadbetter for the past five years.
"Zhang started golf at 20 years old and just caddied and practiced. It's unbelievable where he got to. And it's the same thing with Liang," Hu said.
Next generation
Hu Mu also recognizes that the real future of Chinese golf is in the generation after his.
"I can be sure in 10 years' time there will be at least five more junior golfers with my talent.
"More and more people are playing golf in China so it's only going to get better," Hu said.
The infrastructure China has built to develop its players will also help players improve more rapidly.
"There are two sides to the plan - one is to select talented people and develop them into stars. The other is to get more and more kids playing golf," said Song Liangliang, deputy secretary general of the China Golf Association (CGA).
"We're building a bridge to get more and more children of various ages interested in golf. We're trying to make each generation bigger."
Source: China Daily/Agencies
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