St Andrews Uni to offer Chinese golf scholarships

The University of St Andrews and Missions Hills golf resort in China, have taken a further step to establishing scholarships to support bright Chinese students to study in Scotland. Scotland’s oldest university was recently the beneficiary of a high-profile charity golf tournament held at Mission Hills giant golf complex at Dongguan.

Played over the Annika Sorenstam-designed course at Mission Hills Dongguan, the tournament attracted nearly one hundred VIP players. It’s the third year in a row that Mission Hills has hosted a VIP golf event to raise scholarship funds.

Once established, the scholarship will aim to help academically gifted young Chinese golfers live and study at St Andrews, combining classes with the chance to improve their skills at the Home of Golf. Mission Hills will identify potential candidates from the cream of China’s golfing youth, before St Andrews makes the final selection on academic merit.

Mission Hills will also provide funding for a minimum of one semester and this can be extended to a whole academic year of a full degree course. The student will also be considered for acceptance into the University of St Andrews’ Saints Golf Programme for the duration of the overseas study term.

Tenniel Chu, vice-chairman of Mission Hills Group said, “This tournament is about embracing the future – specifically, China’s golfing future. Both Mission Hills and the University of St Andrews share a commitment to grow golf in China by providing talented young Chinese players access to a world-class university to study and improve their game. We feel strongly that a sustainable long-term future for golf in China depends on growing the game at the grass-roots level. This programme is a significant investment in that future.”

Mr Derek Watson, St Andrews quaestor and factor said, “It has been a great pleasure for those of us who have travelled from St Andrews for this event, to see Mission Hills’ magnificent courses and facilities. We may be from the home of golf, but from what I have seen here, China will play a huge part in the future of the great game.

“This event will contribute towards our scholarship funds. These will be used to give students from China and Hong Kong the opportunity to come and be part of our family. We will welcome them, nurture their talent and educate them, and move forward with them as they write our future.”

The tournament is part of a programme of activities and exchanges between Mission Hills and the University of St Andrews. These include Mission Hills making a financial contribution to the town’s museum, to which St Andrews has responded by donating exhibits for the soon-to-be-opened Dr David Chu Golf Museum – the first such public facility in China – at Mission Hills Shenzhen.