AI Translated
As the MAEXTRO Presents DP World Tour Hainan Classic kicked off at Mission Hills Haikou, a series of youth golf activities unfolded simultaneously. From the Mini Golf 6-Hole Fun Tournament to the Mission Hills Youth Challenge, from "Beat The Pro" Challenge to Youth Master Classes, over 300 young people participated in various forms within a week, vividly showcasing the thriving ecosystem of Chinese youth golf from grassroots promotion to talent development.
Grassroots Promotion: Mini Golf 6-Hole Fun Tournament - Zero Barrier to Entry
Sometimes, all it takes is one easy swing to open the door to the world of golf. The Mini Golf 6-Hole Fun Tournament held on March 17 was a successful practice in popularizing the sport.
The fun tournament was free throughout, with two categories: youth and parent-child. Using competition rules tailored for mini golf, the six-hole course featured various challenges from straight putts to curved shots, from precision control to strategic thinking, making it accessible for zero-experience youth and families. Many participating parents said such activities allowed their children to experience golf up close, improving concentration while enhancing parent-child interaction, and they hoped for more such public experience events in the future.
At the opening ceremony, China Golf Association Secretary General Wei Qingfeng, CGA Vice Chairman and Mission Hills Group Vice Chairman David Zhu, The R&A Asia Pacific Development Director Huang Enyong, Hainan Golf Association Executive Vice Chairman莫壮飞，European Tour Group China Chief Representative Xie Fei, and CGA Youth Department Deputy Director He Zhenhua were present to witness the official launch of this youth golf gala.
This fun tournament not only broke down barriers between professional tournaments and the public but also built a communication window for professional events to engage with the masses through close interaction, allowing more people to feel the unique charm of golf.
Shining on Stage: Youth Players at Pro-Am Star Pairing Tournament
On the Hainan Classic course, youth players are proving themselves through action. From March 19 to 20, the Pro-Am Star Pairing Tournament unfolded brilliantly at Mission Hills Haikou.
Among the showdown of top professionals and amateur elites, 12-year-old Wang Ganzhou and his partner Wang Zi won the championship with an outstanding score of 32-under-par, totaling 112 strokes, thanks to their excellent chemistry and stable performance. The 6-year veteran young player spoke confidently to reporters: "Learning from professional players in this competition was a great gain. The wind was strong today, and the Blackstone Course was indeed challenging, but Hainan's weather was comfortable, and my overall performance was good." Wang Ganzhou said his idol is Tiger Woods, and he hopes through his own efforts, his skills will be as good as his idol's, winning glory for China on future international stages.
Also standing on this stage was Yu Zhuangping from Hainan Normal University. To deepen the tournament's connection with the local community and showcase Hainan youth's style, this Pro-Am Star Pairing Tournament specially opened recruitment to university students across the island, and Yu Zhuangping stood out from many candidates. Talking about the experience of playing alongside professionals, he said the professional tournament was very different from the university competitions he usually participated in, "Professional players are more focused and immersed when playing."
Building Bridges: Youth Challenge Selects Talents to Swing with Professionals
On March 20, the Hainan Classic and Mission Hills Youth Golf Challenge kicked off first. 66 youth players competed, and after fierce competition, Zhang Zixiu, Huang Yulong, Liu Ruohai, Zhou Yihang, Yan Heping, and Lu Yiyi won individual championships in their respective categories.
Outstanding players from this tournament got a precious opportunity to get close to the world-class stage. On the afternoon of March 21, a special "Beat The Pro" Challenge was held at the 15th hole of the Blackstone Course. 8 youth players had the valuable opportunity to compete alongside professional players who were playing the third round of the Hainan Classic—as long as their ball stopped closer to the pin on the green than the professional's, they would be considered successful challengers. Although no one ultimately succeeded in the challenge, the children gained a lot, truly feeling the pressure and charm of the professional stage, making the dream of "swinging alongside professional players" come true.
After the challenge, the Mission Hills Youth Master Class heated up at the practice range. Professional players Ding Wenyi, Jin Zihao, Anthony Quayle, and Kazuma Kobori, who had just finished their day's competition, came to the scene. The four professionals each led a group of youth in technical challenges. Under the guidance of professional players, children improved their swing skills through competition and spent an unforgettable golf time in laughter and joy.
Cultivating Soil: Multi-party Efforts Contribute to Chinese Youth Golf Development
Under the guidance of policies like "Sports-Education Integration" and the joint efforts of the entire industry, Chinese youth golf has shown a good trend of vigorous development in recent years. In the youth activities held concurrently with this Hainan Classic, from zero-barrier grassroots promotion to competitive talent cultivation, to deep linkage with top tournaments, a clear growth path from zero experience to standing on the professional stage is visible. Behind this path lies the joint escort of multiple forces.
The China Golf Association has long promoted the "Campus Golf Development Plan," laying a solid foundation for youth golf popularization through policy guidance and standard setting; the European Tour Group injects professional standards into youth activities with its international tournament operation experience; The R&A Asia Pacific Development Department fully supports the implementation of campus mini golf, GOLF SIXES League, and other projects in China, promoting golf popularization among youth through diversified and lightweight sports forms; Mission Hills Group, as a firm promoter of youth golf development, hosts over 80 youth tournaments annually, building a broad platform for countless young golfers from interest enlightenment to competitive growth; Hainan Golf Association has been deeply cultivating youth development for many years, fully creating brand tournaments like the Hainan Provincial Youth Golf Tour, while coordinating high-quality course resources within the province, significantly lowering the barrier to entry, laying a solid foundation for the flourishing development of Hainan youth golf.
As nearly 300 youth gain growth in this week's golf feast, Hainan is demonstrating the infinite possibilities of Chinese youth golf development with practical actions. The youth series activities throughout the Hainan Classic tournament week not only allow more children to contact and fall in love with golf but also show the world the vibrant vitality of Hainan Free Trade Port in the integrated development of "sports + tourism + education"—using golf as a medium to open a broader world for Chinese youth.
