Peking University President Xu Zhihong said unexpectedly vehement online debate forced him to abandon the plan. (Photo: The Beijing News)   Oct. 29 - One of China's most prominent universities has decided golf is out of bounds.

 

Peking University has shelved plans to build a practice green after a storm of criticism on the Internet and in Chinese media, the state-run Xinhua News Agency said Saturday.

 

The university's announcement in August that it would build a green prompted complaints that golf was too elitist for China, where most people still live in poverty.

 

The university and several other Chinese schools have been promoting golf lessons for business students to prepare them for a commercial world where deals are often made on the links.

 

Peking University President Xu Zhihong said unexpectedly vehement online debate forced him to abandon the plan, Xinhua said.

 

He was quoted as saying it was "too sensitive" to comment on whether the plan might be revived later.

 

Earlier this month, Xiamen University in the southeastern city of Xiamen made golf a required class for economics and computer software majors. A professor there was quoted as saying it was intended to help students improve their job prospects.