Shanghai Silport has become a very familiar course to top golfers over the years, but today’s Silport is different. Early this year, Golf reporter Lu Yong sat down with Silport Deputy General Manager Jack Huang, the man in charge of course re-designs, and discovered the secret.

First, here’s the story of the first VOLVO China Open: In October 2001, a PGA officer mentioned that players were grumbling that the course was too difficult, and it was suggested that the long grass be shortened. Huang reported this to Beta Soong and Mel Pyatt, and to Huang’s surprise, Mel said, why? It’s the China Open!” It is perhaps this kind of confirmation that encouraged Silport to confidently raise the level of difficulty of the course at Silport. With the history of the China Open in mind, Huang spent nearly six months overseeing to the re-design of the course.

By the end of 2006, Silport had four 9-hole courses. Except for the new north course, all have played host to the Open, with the east course slated for further re-design. By the time the Golf reporter arrived at Silport, everything was already completed, with two additional bunkers on each course, and at the 2nd, 4th and 7th in the east, with most of them deeper and larger than before.

Although Silport has successfully hosted the VOLVO China Open six times, the event still remains a major challenge to the club. At other courses in Shanghai, tournaments take place at fixed times each year. But a spring event represents a new “first” for Silport; slow-growing, mixed-grass greens are usually allowed to grow and thrive during this “alternate season,” hence the difficultly in keeping up quality greens. Regardless, Manager Huang confidently promised that during the VOLVO China Open, “greens will be 10-15cm, and speeds not less than 11 kpm.

At the past six VOLVO China Opens, the overall top player’s lowest score was –16. What will happen on the new Par 71 Silport remains to be seen on April 15, 2007. Be there!