WUNRN
China:
Women Golf Caddies in China - Economic & Social Opportunities
By Ajitha Menon
Kunming (Women's Feature Service) - The Spring City Golf Club and Lake Resort,
near Kunming in China is consistently voted among the world's 100 best golf
destinations. And that's not just because of its excellent facilities but also
because of its amazing service - which includes 250 world-class caddies, all of
them women.
As any golfer will tell you, a caddie can make or break the player's game. The
women caddies at Spring City Golf Club earn full praise from their clients for
their efficiency and knowledge of the two courses. "I hire Ivy Li as my
caddie whenever I play here. Her knowledge about the course is phenomenal and I
often depend on her valuable insights for improving my game," says Bada
Grey, an American golfer, who comes down to the club every month from Beijing
for a game.
"The club has a mountain course designed by Jack Nicklaus and a lake
course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. All of us here know the lay of these
courses like the back of our hand and often offer helpful tips to the
players," says Ivy, 27, from Tiazhi village.
China has around 350 world-class golf clubs, which employ over 70,000 women
caddies. For the women themselves, this employment opportunity has brought
about a socio-economic revolution.
"All of us come from the villages surrounding this 500-hectare golf
resort. Our family income was from farming, which was often uncertain. But now
my monthly salary of RNB 2,000 (US$1 = RNB 6.8) and tips from clients at the
Spring City Golf Club has brought economic stability for my parents and
siblings," says Amy Zhao, 27, also of Tiazhi village. Amy is sponsoring
the schooling of her younger brother and saving for a foreign language course.
"The women started here from nothing. The average annual profit of rural
farming families hereabouts is only around US$100 - from the cultivation of
maize, paddy and vegetables like beans. Their existence was hand-to-mouth. Most
of them worked as daily labourers for a wage of US$2 during the construction of
the golf club," says Arthur Yeo, General Manager, Spring City Golf Club.
The management decided to utilise this human resource and hired the women as
caddies when the Club opened in 1998. They underwent a rigorous training of six
months. "We were taught to drive the battery-operated golf buggies,
identify the clubs, learn how to care for them, learn also about the course and
the game itself, like rules, placing the ball, etc," says Carmen Ly, 28,
of Qujing village. Carmen and her husband, a cook in Kunming, have saved and
built a concrete house in their village now. They have a two-year-old son,
looked after by Carmen's parents when the couple is at work.
Because of their poor economic background, most of these women did not have
proper social habits. Many did not bathe for days and personal hygiene was
poor. "I know that some clients initially complained to the management
that we smell. We were then provided separate washrooms at the club where we
bathe as soon as we report for work and then change into our uniforms laundered
here," says Susan Yang, 25, who hails from Chao Jian village. "Now I
have introduced similar hygienic practices at home. I have built a proper
washroom and we all wear well-washed clothes," she adds proudly.
Improvement in economic and social standards has also aroused ambition in the
women. Mimi Zhao, 22, of Tiazhi village, joined as caddie for RNB 1,500 just
two years after finishing school. "I plan to go to Yunnan University to
major in English, which my farmer parents cannot afford. I get good tips here
and salary hikes are regular. By working here for about five years, I can not
only improve the economic standing of my family, but also save enough for my
course fees," says Zhao with conviction.
Even though most women from the surrounding villages had school-level
education, there were no prospects other than joining the farming activities
along with family members or waiting at tables in Kunming city for a poor
salary. There was no scope for bettering themselves. Now, if nothing else, they
can even make caddying a profession. Many girls have moved on to other golf
courses across the country with salary hikes.
"I worked as caddie for Mr Yeo, the General Manager for a couple of years,
saved money and went for a Thai language course. I returned here to be closer
home. But now I work at a higher salary in the front office of the Club and act
as interpreter for Thai golfers," points out Angel Tang, 29, from Yang
Tian Cun village. "Even when I worked as a caddie here I felt it had more
dignity and social standing than working as a waitress in the city," she
declares.
"I am putting my 17-year-old younger sister through school right now. In a
couple of years I will go for a teachers' training course myself. I am sure
that with so many families shifting into these villas here, nurseries and
schools will come up along with other businesses. I hope to find a job as a
teacher here then," says Eileen Mo, 24, from Yang Tian Cun village.
Families from countries such as Thailand, Korea, Japan, the US, Malaysia and
Singapore are regular visitors to the golfing and spa facilities. The caddies
know that retaining these contacts can help them considerably in the future.
"Most of the girls come here to work for two to three years. Then they go
on for higher education or languages and secretarial courses. They know that
good relations with these families could get them job offers as au pairs,
assistants, interpreters or teachers abroad," says Angel Tang, one of the
oldest staff members at the resort.
As for the game itself, most women caddies have developed a passion for it.
"We encourage them to play regularly during off season. We provide the
equipment. We believe a caddie who knows the game can be of better service and
more useful for the selection of clubs when the golfer plays," says Arthur
Yea, General Manager, Spring City Golf Club.
"Under normal circumstances, we could not even dream of being on a course
or using these fine clubs. Some of us even contemplate turning
professional," admits Ivy.
Golf is known as the game of the elite but by providing employment to such a
huge number of women, golf courses in China have expanded choices for rural
folk.
Courtesy: Women's Feature Service
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