GOLF IS GROWING in China — and not just among the businessmen.

Thirteen-year-old Shi Yiting recently set a record at the China Ladies Golf Open as one of the youngest golfers to finish fourth. And on the golf course near Tianjin Binhai International Airport, 11-year-old Ada Li (Li Yunxin) is pursuing her passion for the game.

Vincent Du is a professional photographer and documentary filmmaker. He has spent a lot of time tracking the development of Chinese society. Recently he spent some with Li and her father to get a glimpse of the life of an up and coming female golfer in China.

Not yet a professional golfer, Li is driven to master the game. The growing interest in golf in China, especially among the young population, has made the sport one of the more popular extra-curricular activities and pastimes. But it isn’t cheap.

Li’s golf equipment cost more than $3,000. Her father has purchased a 30-year golf club membership, costing thousands of dollars per year, and coaching lessons that run to about $50 a session. Over the last three years, the family has spent tens of thousands of dollars on Li’s golf training.

Although Li and her family have not decided if she should pursue a career in professional golf, Li still sees it as a possible back up. “If I can’t find a good job in the future, I might take the professional golf qualifying examination and then become a coach.”