SAN FRANCISCO, CA, November 2005 – As the European Tour kicks off its 2006 schedule in China, some of the world’s elite touring pros will get a triple dose of courses designed by the internationally acclaimed team of Nelson & Haworth. What could possibly be a first for any golf course designer, a professional golf tour will play three consecutive events over a three-week period on courses in Asia designed by the same architect.
"This is the ultimate achievement for a golf course architect," said course architect Robin Nelson from his office in Mill Valley, California. "Three major tournaments in three weeks are unprecedented. I am proud of my partners Neil Haworth and Brett Mogg; our contractors and shapers; and I am very pleased for our clients, all of whom are extremely deserving of this recognition."
Kicking off the hat trick will be inaugural HSBC Champions tournament on November 10-13, at The Shanghai Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China, opened in 2004. This event, the richest on the Asian continent with a prize fund of $5,000,000, marks the start of the 2006 European Tour and will bring together many of the world’s leading players, including the professional tournament debut in China for number one-ranked Tiger Woods.
"I can’t wait to come to the HSBC Champions tournament in China," said Woods. "The best players in the world teeing up head to head, it is going to be a blast for all of us as competitors, but it is also going to be a very entertaining event for all of the people of China."
The following week, much of the same field, including Woods, will compete in the Phoenix Dunlop Tournament, November 17-20, in Miyazaki, Japan at the Phoenix Country Club. This course was completely remodeled by Nelson & Haworth in 2003. Nelson & Haworth also designed the David Duval Golf Academy, the top-ranked teaching facility in Japan.
Completing the Nelson & Haworth circuit on November 24-27 is the Shenzhen Golf Club, host of the Volvo China Open, the oldest and most established professional golf championship in China. Opened in 2000, Shenzhen Golf Club is Southern China’s most prestigious golf club and occupies a prime site close to Hong Kong in mid-downtown Shenzhen.
Nelson & Haworth designed courses are no strangers to other prestigious events. Numerous Asian and European tournaments have been played on their venues around the world, including the PGA Tour Senior Skins at their Mauna Lani Course in Hawaii. About Nelson & Haworth:
Founded in 1987, by senior partner Robin Nelson, the design firm of Nelson & Haworth operates independently via offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Montreal and San Francisco.
The head office of the company is situated in Singapore and is the base for operations throughout Asia Pacific, Europe and Africa. Haworth and Mogg are based in Shanghai and Singapore, respectively, to provide timely and economical design services to clients in the region.
The U.S. operation of the company is conducted through the independent offices of Robin Nelson Golf Course Architects, a design corporation owned and operated by Robin Nelson in Northern California. Nelson & Haworth provide design and documentation support to this office as required and the two offices collaborate on projects frequently.
"We pride ourselves on producing high quality design drawings that enable our projects to be built with a high degree of accuracy, says Nelson. "We also spend an enormous amount of time on site designing and directing the contractors and shapers to ensure that our concepts fit exactly with the natural lay of the land."
With over 60 courses in a dozen countries, Nelson & Haworth are one of the most recognizable golf course design firms in the Asia Pacific region. Their work is rated among the regions best, with courses such as the Bali Golf & Country Club, Sabah’s Shan Shui Golf & Country Club and Mimosa Golf & Country Club in the Philippines.
Nelson & Haworth were recognized as Asia’s "Best Golf Course Architect" by Asian Golf Monthly Magazine in 2002 and Nelson was selected "Golf Course Architect of the Year" by Boardroom Magazine in 2000.
For more information on Nelson & Haworth and a complete list of their courses, including current projects, visit their web site at www.nelsonhaworth.com.
Contact:
Robert Kaufman
In The Loop Golf Public Relations
(415) 721-0558
eglglf@yahoo.com
