The four-day event, which is marking its historic 65th edition, teed off on Thursday to much fanfare as the sport’s biggest stars descended upon the SAR.
Hans, a local resident attending the tournament for the second time with his kids, told RTHK that the Hong Kong Open is a great opportunity for families to get up close and personal with some of the world’s top athletes.
“It’s a great event, walking around with the kids… getting close with the different golf professionals,” he said.
“It’s an awesome experience, being so close to the professional players and also they do a good job of bringing the fan village together,” he added. “It’s fun for the kids.”
Hans also commended the event’s fan-friendly atmosphere, saying the interactive stalls, games, and entertainment made the tournament stand out from other sporting events.
Another local fan, Leon – who is attending the event for the sixth year in a row – echoed the sentiment.
“Personally, I play golf and I’m a member of the club. [This event] has such a nice outdoor area for the kids, every year we take them over and have some fun,” he told RTHK.
He also pointed out that there were many elements of Hong Kong culture on display at the fan village.
“[Besides] the golf, we have Hong Kong culture, cultural stuff… which is very fun for the kids. I’d definitely recommend it.”
Bryant Lu, captain of the Hong Kong Golf Club, said that the competition is a great opportunity for all sports fans to get a taste of a different side of the bustling city.
“I think what we offer is a very unique experience,” he told reporters outside course’s clubhouse.
“Being a golfing event we have outdoors… and we can come all the way up to the Northern Metropolis. I think this is the new future for Hong Kong, and hosting an event here not only brings people to play golf but [they can] also experience what changes the Northern Metropolis brings to Hong Kong, I think that’s very important.”
“I think coming up here you can experience a different side of Hong Kong – beautiful trees, nice grounds, fresh air, and lots of smiling faces.”
