|
|
|
2009 Volvo China Open winner Scott Strange with stewardesses from Emirates Airlines – long-term supporters of golf in China like Emirates will need to be kept on board.
|
Zhang did not rule out a future accommodation with the Asian Tour, although he emphasized that any such agreement would be a decision to be taken jointly by all the founding members of OneAsia. "I don't quite understand what the Asian Tour is about – whether it is a company or what kind of enterprise, and I'm also not sure whether it can speak for a single country, or what is its influence on the rest of the Asia region. This I need to take up with rest of the founding parties. We need to have a group discussion, and if all onboard say ok we can invite the Asian Tour to join OneAsia. The CGA will not have the final say."
He also pointed out at the instigation of the CGA, CCTV has added six daily "highlights" slots to its existing broadcasting coverage of the Volvo China Open, and the principal sponsors have been given 60m2 of exhibition space at the China Golf Exhibition. With typical Chinese pragmatism, he also noted that Volvo had sold several cars at the golf course over the previous three days.
There remains a question concerning the extent to which the major golf sponsors in China – companies like Volvo, HSBC, Omega, and potentially BMW – have been informed of and involved in OneAsia's plans, and to what extent they support these plans. Zhang claimed that over the previous year, during which extensive discussions had taken place with a whole range of parties both directly and indirectly involved in developments, there had been overwhelming support for OneAsia's proposals.
Later, a Volvo insider gave me a rather more nuanced view. "The CGA needs companies like Volvo," he said. "But Volvo needs China too. Both sides are playing poker, and both sides are keeping their cards close to their chest. It's a very political situation, and there will certainly be issues along the way."
Ben Sellenger responded robustly to suggestions that the OneAsia launch had been "haphazard" and "badly-timed". "The launch was hardy haphazard or rushed," he replied. "Discussions have been ongoing not for 6 months or a year, but for six or seven years – since well before my time. For example there have been discussions in Australia and in Japan. The parties involved have evolved over time, but 2009 has always been seen as a stepping stone – not the complete solution, but the first step in a long journey towards creating an elite platform for golf in Asia and the Pacific."
|
|
|
Looking further ahead – it is to be hoped that the OneAsia project will work to the benefit of future young golfers in China.
|
He did acknowledge that concerns expressed by one senior player from the region had added to the difficulties experienced, although he did not identify the player concerned. And he was unwilling to give details of the sums of money invested by the founding parties, describing these as "commercially confidential", although he said that they were substantial.
Later, he was bullish in his assessment of the future prospects for OneAsia and the Volvo China Open. "The main problem is the date," he said. "Coming the week after The Masters at Augusta, it's simply impossible for many of the top players to get here. That applies equally to some of our best players on the Australian tour and to top players from the European Tour. But if we can sort out that problem we will see a very high quality field here."
There is never a good time for attempting this level of change in any substantial organization or structure, and international golf is no different. But by the same token there is never a bad time either – there will always be reasons for not going ahead just yet.
It is clear that China in the form of the CGA has decided that the time is right to make its move. Zhang stated that China could have put together five or six events in 2009, but that it had been decided not to do this in order not to create an imbalance with the other participants. That certainly indicates a level of organization and preparation that goes beyond what has been so far apparent. He also announced that there would be 12-15 events in 2010, and a full schedule of 20-25 events the following season.
There will certainly be unforeseen problems, and circumstances that have not been planned for. Time will tell if the judgment of the OneAsia founders, and in particular of the CGA, is well-founded.
(China.org.cn April 22, 2009)
