Golf Inc. Lauds Chu for Role in Golf’s Rise to Prominence in China
(SHENZHEN, China) – Mission Hills Golf Club – the world’s largest collection of premier golf courses with 12 layouts designed by many of the greatest golfers and golf-course architects from five continents – today announces that Dr. David Chu, Chairman, Mission Hills Group, makes his debut at #16 on Golf Inc. Magazine’s annual list of the "Most Powerful People in Golf" appearing in the publication’s October issue.
Chu’s ranking occurs in the first year that Golf Inc.’s list was expanded to include leadership positions in golf outside of the United States.
The magazine’s editors recognized Chu, the first Chinese national to make the list of golf power brokers, not only as the developer of Mission Hills but also as the individual most-responsible for the game’s growth in China. A life-long golfer, he has been indispensable in popularizing the game, bringing more than 50 international tournaments to the country and engineering Tiger Woods’ first visit in 2001.
"I am honored to be recognized not only for Mission Hills’ sustained growth and success, but also for my commitment to spread the game of golf throughout China," says Chu. "It is quite exciting that our hard work at Mission Hills has been applauded through my inclusion on this prestigious list and believe that the club’s continued presence on the international stage will solidify it as the epicenter for Chinese golf."
Mission Hills’ staying power on that stage is evidenced by the fact that the 28-nation Omega Mission Hills World Cup will be contested at the club from 2007 through 2018.
"The World Cup demonstrates international goodwill through golf, and the fans both in China and at Mission Hills are looking forward to welcoming players from around the world to begin a new era of golf development in China," says Chu.
Moreover, Chu’s significant contributions to China outside of golf as an entrepreneur, business mogul, scholar and sportsman were deemed noteworthy by the publication. Chu has played a major part in the country’s dramatically increased role in world commerce and entrepreneurial development, as he is a multi-term member of the National Chinese People’s Political Consultative Council, serving as Vice President of the council’s Committee for Handling Proposals.
Other key figures in the game on Golf Inc.’s list include Jack Nicklaus (#1), Tiger Woods (#5), PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem (#7), Greg Norman (#11), Gary Player (#12), Arnold Palmer (#20), USGA Executive Director David Fay (#26), and Nike Golf CEO Bob Wood (#32).
In 1979, Dr. Chu became one of the first entrepreneurs to invest in Mainland China. A little more than a decade later, the Hong Kong-born Chu had built the country’s largest corrugated packaging conglomerate.
Inspired by his life-long passion for golf and a desire to popularize the game in China, Dr. Chu set out to build the largest, most opulent golf resort in the world in 1992. The first course at Mission Hills – the World Cup Course by Jack Nicklaus – opened in 1994 and was immediately hailed as one of Asia’s best. It was the first course in China to receive PGA accreditation and was the venue for the 41st World Cup in 1995. In 2004 The Guinness Book of World Records officially recognized Mission Hills as the largest golf club in the world.
Dr. Chu has an honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Toronto and is active in endeavors ranging from the promotion of tourism to support for academic research as it relates to the Asia Pacific economy. His athletic commitments include serving as the Vice-Chairman of the China Football Association, China Tennis Association and China Volleyball Association. Notably, he was the Strategic Advisor to the 2008 Beijing Olympics Bid Committee and made significant contributions toward the success of the bid.
About Mission Hills
Stretching across the lush, rolling hills of Shenzhen and Dongguan in southern China, Mission Hills is China’s highest rated golf club, and the largest golf club in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The property is home to 12 resort and championship courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Pete Dye and Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt (Schmidt-Curley Design) in conjunction with the many of the world’s greatest golfers including: Vijay Singh, Ernie Els, Jose Maria Olazabal, Nick Faldo, David Duval, and Annika Sorenstam. Mission Hills is a full-service, luxury resort, featuring four spas, a 315-room, five-star hotel, 51 tennis courts and numerous fine dining establishments serving cuisine from around the world. It has hosted more than 50 international tournaments, including the 1995 World Cup of Golf and the Tiger Woods China Challenge in 2001. The Olazabal Course will host the Omega Mission Hills World Cup beginning in 2007 and extending throu! gh 2018.
Mission Hills’ awards and accolades include:
IAGTO Golf Resort of the Year-Rest of World Category
Best Golf Development and Best Development China by Bentley International Property Awards
5-Star Mobile Travel Guide
"The Most Favorite Golf Club to Millionaires in China by Euromoney China
The golf club in China most frequently visited by PGA TOUR players
The "Most Preferred Golf Club" in the 2005 Survey of the Preferred Brands of China’s Richest (Hurun Report)
Destination of Tiger Woods’ first visit to China
Getting There: Mission Hills Golf Club is a short drive north of Hong Kong International Airport,www.hongkongairport.com. Flights on most major airlines from most major cities are available into Hong Kong. From the airport, Mission Hills transports golfers in luxury shuttles across the border to the resort hotel.
For more information about Mission Hills Golf Club, visit www.missionhillsgroup.com, emailinfo@missionhillsgroup.com, or call (852) 2122 1616 (Hong Kong) – (86 755) 2802 0888 (Shenzhen) — (86-769) 8728 8888 (Dongguan).
Contact:
Shane Sharp
Buffalo Communications
704.519.8381 (cell)
ssharp@billycaspergolf.com
Stephen Reynolds
Buffalo Communications
703.761.1444
sreynolds@billycaspergolf.com
