Written by Staff Writer
Editor’s Note — This article is part of a series produced for the China Ocean Travel Company’s coverage of tourism and business in China . It was translated and edited by Yi Xiwen.
© Tshuma Ngweni Tshuma Ngweni is the CEO of the China Tourism Academy. Tshuma Ngweni is the CEO of the China Tourism Academy. (© Tshuma Ngweni)
This is the story of a golfing time machine for Charlie Chaplin and Shanghai to play out in early 1900s England. Tshuma Ngweni is the CEO of the China Tourism Academy , a developer of networked virtual reality and augmented reality products, and the go-to authority on virtual reality in China
“Charlie Chaplin loved golf and tried to make it his career — he achieved a first in 1914 by winning his first tournament on the Europe Tour, aged 28. This led to his training for only 21 years.”
“From this personal story, I developed the “Chaplin Golf Academy,” an exhibition of Chaplin’s everyday life through a virtual reality module designed for golfers and golf course designers to use in designing and constructing courses, so it can help bring back the charm and innocence of the 19th century golf course design.”
“Through technology innovation, we hope to revive the Japanese and European classic golfers into the 21st century golfers, who enjoy the beautiful scenery, authentic culture and lifestyle of China.”
Chaplin is surprised by a group of people on his way to a ceremony at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club at Bootle in England in October 1900. He inspects the members-only golf club members. Chaplin is surprised by a group of people on his way to a ceremony at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club at Bootle in England in October 1900. He inspects the members-only golf club members. (Courtesy: Heritage Classic Tours)
World famous golfing superstar Charlie Chaplin is believed to have gone to one of China’s most famous golf courses, Waterville Golf Club at Erksine, Guangdong province each year. Tshuma Ngweni, CEO of the China Tourism Academy, explained this amazing story.
“Charlie Chaplin loved golf and tried to make it his career — he achieved a first in 1914 by winning his first tournament on the Europe Tour, aged 28. This led to his training for only 21 years.”
“From this personal story, I developed the “Chaplin Golf Academy,” an exhibition of Chaplin’s everyday life through a virtual reality module designed for golfers and golf course designers to use in designing and constructing courses, so it can help bring back the charm and innocence of the 19th century golf course design.”
“Through technology innovation, we hope to revive the Japanese and European classic golfers into the 21st century golfers, who enjoy the beautiful scenery, authentic culture and lifestyle of China.”
“Waterville Golf Club was built as a private club in the 1970s as a second golf course. It is now a land for the development of youth sports and sports culture in Guangdong province. [It] has international history in the creation of culture based on the Internet. Recently, it decided to organize an exhibition to allow more people from the field of golf to explore the history of the course.”
First year members of a Shanghai high school group pose with a portrait of Charles (Charlie) Chaplin at the Waterville Golf Club at Erksine, Guangdong province in October 1900. First year members of a Shanghai high school group pose with a portrait of Charles (Charlie) Chaplin at the Waterville Golf Club at Erksine, Guangdong province in October 1900. (Courtesy: Heritage Classic Tours)
First time visitors to the web course, following the famous golfer for a day, observed that the tour became much more fun by being able to travel through the tour guide’s virtual reality module to recreate the entire tour route in a virtual reality like environment. In the first day it may sound like just a teaching feature, a way for golf courses to advertise themselves — but the experiences created by this game travel back into the past.
Modern day management teams may think about virtual reality development as a technology used in product development or fashion design, but today it is viewed as a relevant trend in the travel industry, helping to introduce new experiences to tourists as a sort of traveling time machine.”
“Whether it’s virtual reality or augmented reality, it’s a powerful new technology that will not only enhance the current experience but will also help in the future as well.”