Scotland taps into China's golfing tourism boom
Scotland has further opened its doors to the booming Chinese golfing tourist industry by inviting China's Golf Channel presenter Wei Jian Li and his team to St Andrews. &nbsp;A recent survey has found that golf is the favourite sport of China's middle and upper classes and experts believe therefore that golf tourism is on the verge of a potentially massive new market.
Angus is braced for a golf tourism boom when the unique heritage of two its golf clubs will be explained to more than 23 million Chinese fans of the sport.

China Golf Channel presenter Wei Jian Li and his crew visited Forfar and Montrose in the wake of the Open Championship at St Andrews.

They had been staying at Forbes of Kingennie while covering the Open but were keen to play on some of the county’s lesser known courses.

Mr Li will now tell the story of their visit to Angus on their Golf Channel which reaches a huge viewing audience in mainland China.

David Valentine, owner of Simpson’s in Carnoustie the world’s second oldest golf shop has built up a relationship with the digital TV channel.

Through his former role as Angus Council’s economic development chief, Mr Valentine was also instrumental in forging the county’s well-established links with China.

“More golfers from China are now looking to more affordable accommodation options and are beginning to realise that there is more to the home of world golf than the Old Course which is out of reach for most people,” he said. “Chinese golfers who spend at least five to 10 times more than any other visitor will be coming here in ever increasing numbers.

“I believe that as the game takes hold the China market will become as important as the North American market was over several decades during the last century.

“We have a chance to tell our heritage story and focus not just on the many fabulous and well maintained courses but promote their unique history which is of great fascination to the growing numbers of Chinese golfers.”

The Golf Channel also interviewed Stuart Wilson who told of his experience as the British Amateur Silver Medal winner and playing in two Opens as well as the Masters at Augusta.

Similarly the story of how the Montrose courses evolved and adapted through the centuries were of immense interest to the Chinese visitors.

Mr Valentine added: “My aim is to make Carnoustie Country a must play destination and to do that we must all tell our stories.”

His company Valentine International co-produced 10 films with the China Golf Channel in February this year which have been broadcast as an ongoing series.

In a similar initiative, Valentine International will be bringing Travel TV (China Golf) to stay at the house of Turin near Forfar today to do some filming prior to playing and filming at Carnoustie Links tomorrow.

They will film the Simpsons story and the Ladies club as well as interview Links trustee Linda Gordon and head pro Colin Sinclair.