More women on the fairways

There is an estimated number of 77,900 women golf players in China, which is quite a progress compared with a few years ago.[Photo provided to China Daily]

The increase in male golfers has also led to a hike in women golfers

Shenzhen resident Chen Xing is among the lucky ones whose job is also her passion.

The 40-year-old loves playing golf, and is the director of the club member affair department with Shenzhen Golf Association, an non-government organization that aims to promote golf among Shenzhen residents and beyond, and the only legal organization that can represent the Shenzhen municipality to take part in international golf association events.

Chen's job allows her to get to know and make friends with people whose jobs are associated with golf, or those who love playing golf, just as she does.

"Some people think golf is a sport meant only for men, but it is not. Women can play golf, and play just as well as men too," Chen says.

Chen played golf for the first time back in 2001 with her brother, and fell in love with the sport immediately.

"Unlike other sports that requires fierce competition and great physical strength, golf is very graceful and gentle, and very lady-like," Chen explains.

She played the game at least five times a week for the first three years after she started on it. Nowadays, she still manages to play at least once a week, even though she is busy with work.

Chen is among the fast growing population of women amateur golfers in China.

Women golfers make up 19 percent of the regular golfer population in China, which is about 410,000 in China, according to the 2014 Forward White Paper, or the 2014 China Golf Industry Report, released earlier this year by the Forward Management Group, a national leader in the golf industry whose business includes golf course design and construction, golf club management, and organization of golf events.