The 22nd edition of the Volvo China Open will be staged from April 28-May 1, 2016, at the Ian Woosnam-designed Topwin Golf and Country Club, in the tournament’s birthplace of Beijing.
Situated on the northern outskirts of the capital city, at the base of the Great Wall of China in the hills of Huairou, the par 72 Championship Course opened in October 2011.
The stunning parkland layout runs through rural countryside amongst fruit and pine trees, chestnut orchards, and an abundance of natural wildlife, and affords frequent views of one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Zhang Xiaoning, Director General, Multi-Ball Games Administrative Centre of General Administration of Sport, and Vice President and Secretary General of the China Golf Association (CGA), said: “We are thrilled that Volvo is bringing the 22nd Volvo China Open back to Beijing for the first time in seven years.
“It seems a very fitting venue, and we are all very proud of the history of our national Open. As golf rejoins the Olympic Games in 2016, the Volvo China Open will be a perfect opportunity for Chinese players to experience world-class competition in the run-up to Rio.”
The Volvo China Open, which is the country’s longest-running professional golf tournament, joined The European Tour International Schedule in 2004.
Beijing played host to the first three events, starting in 1995, and has now hosted the tournament on no fewer than six occasions.
Zhou Zhichang, the General Manager of Topwin Golf and Country Club, said: “To host our nation’s Open championship is the greatest possible honour. We are very much looking forward to working together with both Volvo and The European Tour during the coming months. The whole team here is now focused on preparing the course to absolute perfection. Playing in the shadows of one of the Seven Wonders of the World will be a unique experience for the international field, and I believe it will really inspire their play.”
Per Ericsson, President of Volvo Event Management, said: “Topwin Golf and Country club will be an excellent test, and it follows our principle of moving this great event around China. The Volvo China Open has many great memories from Beijing – it started here in 1995, has hosted the championship six times, and is coming back after a break of seven years. It is also, of course, a very important area for Volvo’s businesses. The Volvo China Open will be held alongside the Beijing Motor Show, and this underlines just what an important market Beijing is.”
The Volvo China Open, which carries a prize fund of RMB 20 million (approximately $3.2 million), will mark Volvo’s 85th tournament on The European Tour.
The event will be organised by the China Golf Association with Volvo Event Management as co-organisers and promoter, and co-sanctioned by The European Tour and OneAsia.
