Put golf courses on hold

China should put in place more forcible and effective measures to stop the unrestrained and ill-planned construction of golf courses, as it is under growing pressure to defend its dwindling arable land to maintain national grain security.

The construction of golf courses has accelerated in China in recent years, thanks to the game being widely seen as symbol of wealth and status, and they are eating into its arable land which is far below the world's per capita average.

According to a recent People's Daily article, the number of golf courses in the country has increased to 600 from 170 in 2004, the year the central government imposed a ban on new constructions on arable land in a move to protect farmland and conserve water in the world's most populous country. Moreover, only 10 of the 600 golf courses received proper approval and licenses from relevant State departments.