Updated on Wednesday, February 14, 2007, 00:00 IST

Beijing, Feb 14: China has about 300-thousand golfers who play at least once a week, Allen said - a tiny percentage of its 1.3 billion population.

The figure rises to five million for golfers who play at least once every six months.

China has pinned its hopes on its female golf players enjoying the same high profile as other sports stars - in particular - Yao Ming, the centre with the Houston Rockets of the American NBA.

"We believe that it is possible for us to have some breakthrough first among the Chinese female golf players, we might have our female golf player as famous as Yao Ming in the world in the future.": Zhang Xiaoning, Chief secretary of China Golf Association.

Bureau Report