The Foshan Open, as the penultimate event of the season which carries a lucrative prize fund, is a huge tournament for the careers of all the European Challenge Tour players, but there is a lot more to it than just golf. Here are just some of the reasons we just love this week in China…
The people
Everywhere you go, there is a wave, a smile and a greeting – whether hello or the Chinese translation, nĭ hăo, and the locals could not be more welcoming, friendly and helpful. Nĭ hăo to you too!
Volunteers at The Foshan Open
The crowds
Tens of thousands of people from the local area flock onto the Foshan Golf Club course eager to see the future stars of world golf, and the players absolutely love it.
The Foshan Open attracts some of the biggest crowds of the European Challenge Tour season
The final hole
Not just the 18th, but the ninth too – the severely undulating conjoined greens which sit right between the massive hospitality unit and a lake, guaranteeing drama aplenty, especially on the par five closing hole, which is a gut-wrenching finish for those coming down the stretch, but a mouth-watering one for the spectators.
The conjoined ninth and 18th green at The Foshan Open - just do not end up on the wrong one!
The mascot
Doudou has in many respects garnered as much, if not more, of the attention this week as our Challenge Tour stars. During a press conference with tournament officials on Wednesday, the tournament promoter was asked if Doudou, the teddy bear mascot, had a girlfriend or any children. The bizarre questioning continued into the player’ press conference, as Ricardo Gouveia was asked his opinions of the mascot and how it compared to others he had met. Ever the professional, the Portuguese somehow managed to answer with a (relatively) straight face!
Ricardo Gouveia and Sebastien Gros are hoping one day to be as famous as The Foshan Open tournament mascot, Doudou!
The media centre
Undoubtedly the biggest on the European Challenge Tour, the media centre is something to behold, with 60 desk spaces, a massive LCD screen to broadcast the scores and the live coverage (see below), while the media are treated like royalty – with fruit, beverages and an endless supply of Oreo biscuits to keep them topped up!
The European Tour-like Media Centre at The Foshan Open
The media coverage
All four days of the tournament are broadcast online to a huge audience in China, while the journalists in the aforementioned media centre are treated to live action as they file their reports. There are ten camera towers on the course, making it look and feel even more like a European Tour event.
A TV tower at The Foshan Open
The pro-am party
The players were treated to a host of Chinese traditional shows on the night before the tournament, with some truly beautiful music followed by a kung-fu show and a strikingly tranquil show of what was described as ‘etiquette’ choreography. It was a stunning opening show worthy of such a great event.
The enrapturing traditional Chinese music at The Foshan Open Pro-Am dinner was one of the many highlights
The food
The Western selection is over in the corner if you’re feeling homesick, but you’d be missing out on the delicious local fare. OK, noodles for breakfast is a bit much, but the lunches served at the club for the ravenous players as they come off the course are just superb. Make my Irish stewed mutton extra spicy please!
Ever wondered how to say 'Irish stewed mutton' in Mandarin? Now you know!
The tented village
It has been said by one of the tournament organisers that it would take three hours if one were to visit all of the stops and enjoy themselves at the huge tented village. With a Doudou (yes, that mascot again!) play centre for kids, a host of shopping opportunities and loads more to keep the casual golf fan busy, it might be a struggle to get out on the course and watch some golf – although of course we would not condone that sort of behaviour!
There are plenty of activities for kids at the huge Foshan Open tented village
