China will set up their first ever national golf team to develop the sport in the country, an official said in Beijing on Thursday.

Executive vice president of Chinese Golf Association (CGA) Zhang Xiaoning said that the first big-scale national training camp has been opened in Shenzhen, South of China, in order to select the best golfers for the national squad.

"Even in Asia, China is ranked below those first-tier countries and regions in the level of golf, and we need to get up a gear as quickly as possible, "said Zhang.

Currently there are few professional golfers in China and the coaching level remains to be improved.

"Most of Chinese golfers are amateur, which is not helpful for the improvement of golf.

"By setting up the national squad, we hope to find an effective way to develop Chinese golf," said Zhang.

He added that to raise the performance level of the national team will be one of the top priorities for the CGA which is bidding to break new ground in the Asian Games in Qatar in December.

The national training camp in Shenzhen, which will end on March 31, will be followed by a trial before eight men and six women golfers are selected for the Asia Games, added Zhang.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2006)