National High-Level Competition Reignites Water Town Passion - 2025 National Minigolf Open (Kunshan Station) Successfully Held

Justin D. Lee

From November 15 to 16, 2025, the 2025 National Minigolf Open (Kunshan Station) was successfully held at the Invengo Minigolf International Stadium in Zhouzhuang, Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province. As the closing event of this year's Minigolf calendar, following the inaugural China Minigolf League (Kunshan Station) in 2024, the southern Yangtze River water town of Kunshan Zhouzhuang once again welcomed the grand staging of this national sporting event.

This tournament attracted 33 high-level teams from across the country, including representatives from Shanxi, Jiangsu, and Fujian. This year marked the first inclusion of 11 youth teams and 22 adult teams, setting a record high for participant scale. Nearly 200 competitors presented a high-level duel showcasing both professionalism and spectacle at the Zhouzhuang Invengo Professional Minigolf Stadium. The competition saw experienced veteran teams and debutant squads contend against each other, adding extra brilliance to the event.

The tournament was hosted by the Social Sports Guidance Center of the State General Administration of Sports. It was co-organized by the National Minigolf Sports Promotion Committee, the Jiangsu Provincial Social Sports Management Center, and the Kunshan Culture, Sports, Radio, Television, and Tourism Bureau. The event was co-sponsored by the Jiangsu Social Sports Instructors Association, the Suzhou Social Sports Instructors Association, and the Zhouzhuang Town People's Government, with operation and execution handled by Suzhou SmartPutt Sports Technology Co., Ltd.

At 9:00 a.m. on November 15, the opening ceremony commenced in a solemn and warm atmosphere. Attendees included Huang Qiang, Deputy Director of the Social Sports Guidance Center of the State General Administration of Sports; Li Wenyong, Director of the Third Sports Department of the Social Sports Guidance Center; Cai Ying, Deputy Director of the Jiangsu Provincial Social Sports Management Center; Zhu Yehua, Vice Mayor of the Kunshan Municipal People's Government; Su Peilan, Director of the Kunshan Culture, Sports, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau; Jin Lei, Deputy Director of the same bureau; Ye Jianhong, Chairman of the Zhouzhuang Town People's Congress; Li Zhiping, Deputy Director of the National Minigolf Sports Promotion Committee; along with leading guests from social departments, universities, enterprises, and institutions across over 20 provinces and cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Heilongjiang, Anhui, Guangdong, and Fujian.

Over the two-day competition, players competed fiercely on the 18-hole flying disc standard lanes and 18-hole flying disc standard ways. On various fairways with challenging obstacles, players stabilized their center of gravity, controlled their breathing, locked onto the hole cup direction, and used both hands to gently push the ball out with their clubs. When the ball accurately entered the hole along the intended path, the venue erupted with cheers and applause. Players responded calmly, aimed with focused momentum, and executed precise shots, all striving for a winning stroke.

After intense competition, each group's events concluded smoothly. The competition referee took the stage to announce the final results for individual and team competitions.

In the adult team competition, the Kunshan Minigolf Association Dragon Team secured first place with excellent performance. The runner-up and third place were won by the Shenfeng Minigolf Team and the Kunshan Zhizhun League Minigolf Team, respectively.

In the adult individual stroke play competition, the men's title was won by Dai Wenbo from the Zhongsha Minigolf Team. The runner-up and third place were awarded to Zhao Zhongzheng from the Shenfeng Fan Minigolf Team and Zhang Jingcheng from the Kunshan Minigolf Association Dragon Team, respectively. For the women, the champion was Li Jiasheng from the Kunshan Minigolf Association Dragon Team. The runner-up and third place went to Sheng Yuhong, also from the Kunshan Minigolf Association Dragon Team, and Wu Min from the Shenfeng Minigolf Team.

In the youth group, the Jinxi Senior High School Fan Minigolf Team clinched first place in the team competition with outstanding performance. The runner-up and third place were secured by the Zhouzhuang Primary School Minigolf Team and the SuperStar Fan Minigolf Team, respectively.

For the youth individual competition, the men's championship was won by Wang Wentao from the Zhouzhuang Primary School Fan Minigolf Team. The runner-up and third place were Liu Haoran from the Jinxi Senior High School Minigolf Team and Gu Ziyu from the SuperStar Fan Minigolf Team. The women's champion was Li Xinyi from the SuperStar Fan Minigolf Team. The runner-up and third place were Li Zixuan from the Zhouzhuang Primary School Fan Minigolf Team and Li Jiaxin from the Jinxi Senior High School Fan Minigolf Team, respectively.

The successful hosting of the National Minigolf Open (Kunshan Station) not only provides a platform for Minigolf players to continuously showcase their skills and exchange expertise but also further promotes the popularization and development of Minigolf in China. On November 22, the first 2025 Shanghai City Minigolf Amateur Challenge is also set to commence. We look forward to the wonderful performances of Minigolf enthusiasts in Shanghai, the "Magic Capital"!

Finally, we extend our sincere gratitude to all relevant functional support units, referees, staff, volunteer teams, and sponsoring enterprises such as Yin Sumei Biological, Zhencai, Kunshan Shuangxia, and Shengdexin Packaging for their strong support.

[Related Introduction]

Minigolf refers to a global sport played on a very small course (approximately 1-10 mu, or 1000-6600 square meters) featuring different types of lanes (9-18 holes). Using a putter and a Minigolf ball, the objective is to hit the ball into the hole cup at the end of each track with the fewest strokes. Combining coordination, concentration, and intelligence, it possesses both competitive and leisure characteristics. Popular in Europe and the United States since its inception in the early 20th century, it has no age restrictions and is deeply loved by the public.

In recent years, with the continuous flourishing development of national fitness initiatives, many emerging sports beyond traditional ones have gradually entered public life, attracting increasing attention and enthusiasm. "Minigolf" is one of the representative sports among them.

The promotion and popularization of Minigolf in 2025 has progressed steadily. In August, the first national referee and coach training course was successfully held in Kunshan, Suzhou, establishing a professional talent team of nearly 200 individuals. In early October, the 2025 National Minigolf Championship concluded successfully in Yiyang, Hunan Province. That event attracted 14 teams from 6 provinces and cities, garnering nationwide attention. With the successful hosting of the 2025 National Minigolf Open (Kunshan Station), the "Minigolf fever" continues to rise.

Under the guidance of the Social Sports Guidance Center of the State General Administration of Sports, the National Minigolf Sports Promotion Committee in 2026 will actively cooperate with partners from all sectors to continuously improve the competition service system, strengthen the training of referees and coaches, increase publicity and promotion for events, and facilitate the entry of Minigolf into communities, campuses, enterprises, scenic spots, and other settings. The aim is to make it a national fitness project that the public "loves to participate in, can participate in, and frequently participates in." Simultaneously, using competitions as a link, stakeholders will jointly chart a new blueprint for the development of Minigolf and contribute further to the cause of national fitness!