A physical education department officer said construction had not started and could not proceed without higher-level permission. 'The department doesn't have the final say. Permission from the university is needed so that money will be allocated,' the officer said.

Xinhua reported that the planned driving range would be able to accommodate 30 students at one time and up to 100 a day.

The university's decision to consider golf as part of its physical education programme surprised students yesterday. Third-year student Meng Fanji said he never thought golf would be available on campus and that the sport was not popular among his classmates.

'Isn't golf a sport of the elite?' he said. '[It costs] nearly 1,000 yuan for a round - that's almost the monthly income of a family from small cities.

'Eight students out of 10 know little about golf and the other two would have learned about it by watching games on television.'

But Mr Meng said he would not turn down the chance to try the sport if it were offered. 'Taking the course and learning about the rules of golf would be good for our futures,' he said. 'As a young man, I prefer football, tennis, swimming and travelling. But golf might be a favourite when I reach my 40s.'

Even without a course or a driving range, golf already has a profile on campus with the founding in April of the mainland's first college golf association.

According to the website of the association's president, Yue Dazhou, the group's activities included a visit in May by members of the Taiwan University golf association.

The website said the association was also planning an invitational tournament next year for students from some of the world's big universities.