CHINA
World-Class Golf
at Spring City Golf & Lake Resort

Studied China When Mao In Power

My fascination with China started over 40 years ago as a political science major at UCLA. I studied China in an undergraduate class during the late 1960s when the United States government and the Chinese government were bitter enemies, and most everyone in this country feared a war with China . Mao was in power and part of our required course reading was Mao's Little Red Book. I remember how odd I felt walking around campus with the Little Red Book, wondering what others might be thinking. As a political science student, I was fascinated with what was going on in China with its cultural revolution; also plenty fearful because China and the United States appeared to be on a military collision course.

So, as a young college student trying to understand the intricacies of China under communist rule in the mid-to-late 1960s, I now in 2006 had the opportunity to actually visit China and see the country with my own eyes. I remember when no flights from the U.S. were allowed to fly in and out of China . The U.S. government wouldn't allow Americans go to China and the Chinese government wouldn't allow Americans in. Mutual disdain ruled. I remember when China was referred to in America , usually with a snarl, as Communist China, Red China, or Mainland China . A lot has happened in 40 years, friendship between China and the United States is well established. While sitting on the plane, I felt it was an honor to be part of and contribute to the harmony that has grown.

What brought me to China ? I was invited to play in the 2006 GoTone Cup China International Media Golf Tournament hosted by Asia 's #1 golf facility, Spring City Golf & Lake Resort. Though my golf game, unfortunately, was nothing to write home about (I'll do better next time if invited!), my many adventures in China including the very beautiful and well manicured world-class golf courses were.

Beijing: Modernization in Progress

There's an old saying, "How do you govern 19 million people in a condensed city like New York; it's impossible." The same thing can be said of Beijing where 15 million live, and even more so for of all of China with an astounding population of 1.4 billion.

New highways in the Eternel City.

However, as huge and spread out as Beijing is, there is orderly chaos. The wonderful rhythm to the pedaling of bicycles and horn honking cars is the music and dance of the city.

Beijing is filled with the new and the old. You'll see a modern airport (Beijing International) immaculately clean and well organized. From the airport, by rental car or taxi you drive on a modern freeway that could be in any major city in the U.S. Go by a large newsstand and you're likely to see for sale Cosmopolitan, Vogue, National Geographic, Men's Health all written in Chinese.

High rise buildings are going up everywhere. Part of the construction has to do with preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games, but much of it is the on-going phenomenal growth China is experiencing. Next to some of the high rises, cracked sidewalks and ancient buildings show sad faces knowing that it's only a matter of time when they will be replaced.

Walk in the streets on any given day including Sunday, people everywhere are working industriously. They're busy, active, energetic. You know you're alive in Beijing. Everyone seems to be going somewhere and fast. Pleasant determination pervades. The only exceptions are the elderly playing checkers or chess on park benches, or moms and grandmas sitting on the sidewalk overseeing their children play cards. Even they play with energy. Beijing is city where pleasant determination pervades.

Spring City Golf Course (#16)

I personally did not have a chance to play golf while I was in Beijing, however, there are dozens of reputable courses in or around the city including Beijing CBD International Golf Club (where the PGA European Tour 2008 Volvo China Open is scheduled to be played), Beijing Hone Shee International GC, Pine Valley Golf Resort & CC, Beijing Willow GC, and many more.