By David Ferguson

Watching golf in China is never dull. There is always something happening, whether directly or indirectly related to on-course events.

Paul McGinley of Ireland in action during the 2nd round of the Volvo China Open at the Beijing CBD International Golf Club on April 17, 2009 in Beijing, China. [CFP]

One thing that is not unique to golf in China is Colin Montgomerie. One might wish that he could show some signs of mellowing as he passes through the veteran stage on his way to senior status, but it seems that one hopes in vain.

If there is one man in the world of golf who needs the course marshals on his side it is surely Mr. Montgomerie. So shouting at them for not getting into position quickly enough to quell the murmuring crowd, as he did on the green of his final hole Friday, would seem rather counter-productive on his part. In the context – the marshals are student volunteers giving their time free of charge, with little experience of the game, and trying to marshal one of the most unruly crowds in golf, it seems well to the wrong side of the boundary of rudeness. I believe that Colin is being paid a sizable fee just for being here.

It is true that some elements of the crowd, whose enthusiasm exceeds their understanding of spectator etiquette, can be trying. Mobile phones ringing – and being answered – are par for the course, as is the widespread clicking of cameras at the top of the backswing.

But I saw a new one. As the Song/Summers/Murphy group prepared to tee off on the 1st - their 10th of the day – a couple of spectators were seen to be making a detailed inspection of the middle of the fairway at a distance of about 280 yards from the tee. Eventually, after having been shouted at by everyone within view, including the golfers making their way up the 18th fairway, they came to a realization that they were somewhere that they did not belong and ambled off.

The golf itself also provided some interesting cameos. Australian Scott Laycock, playing the 17th alongside Michael Lorenzo-Vera of France and Taiwan's Chan Shih-chang, found sand from the tee. He was a little heavy with his bunker shot, and found more sand 140 yards or so further on and still short of the green. It wasn't until he had putted out that he realized that both his sand shots had been played from the same bunker, a snaking affair that runs down more than half of the 17th fairway. He called a possible 2-stroke penalty on himself, as his caddy had raked out the bunker for his first shot before he had played his second – which could count as "testing the surface" – but the rules officials found in his favor.

The day had started with only 21 players under par. It ended with only 11. To a superficial examination the conditions did not appear particularly difficult – warm and bright and with a fitful breeze – but the CBD course is a testing challenge.