Participants from Around the World Invited to Compete for Grand Prize Trip to St. Andrews
(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 its summer tradition, the 5th Mission Hills Golfathon, begins May 1 and will run through August 31, 2008.
Dubbed "The Ultimate Golf Challenge in the World," the Golfathon is a unique opportunity to compete for fantastic prizes while experiencing Mission Hills’ world-class golf and amenities.
Grand prize for the overall champion is a trip to St. Andrews to play the Old Course, a spot in the 2008 Omega Mission Hills Pro-Am and participation as an Honorary Observer during one round of the tournament.
The top three finishers in each of the event’s four divisions (Senior, Men, Women and Juniors) will win a trip to play Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket, Thailand and participation as an Honorary Observer during one round of the 2008 Omega Mission Hills World Cup.
"This year’s prize package is the most impressive to date," says Dr. David Chu, Chairman, Mission Hills Group. "We think it will increase the already robust participation in the Golfathon, an event we look forward to every year to showcase our superb golf courses and lavish accommodations."
Competitors must complete a qualifying round on each of the following courses before August 31: Annika, Duval, Els, Faldo, Leadbetter, Norman, Ozaki, Vijay and World Cup. The top 100 scorers (top 15 Seniors, top 50 Men, top 15 Women, top 10 Juniors and top 10 finishers who have not otherwise qualified) will play the Golfathon Final on September 14. This year’s Final will be held on the Olazabal Course, site of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup through 2018. Individuals who do not qualify for the Final may play the Olazabal Course in the 30-day period following the Final.
For those competitors who’d like to push the limits of endurance, an "Iron Man" award will be presented to anyone who completes the nine qualifying matches in five consecutive weekdays. One complimentary weekday green fee and a 40 percent discount on any spa treatment offered by the Mission Hills Spa await these hearty souls. In 2007, 189 of the Golfathon’s 2,753 participants earned "Iron Man" status.
Overseas guests registering by May 31 pay an entry fee of 7,200 RMB (approximately $1,000). This covers 10 weekday greens fees, cart, caddie, locker and breakfast. Participants also receive a complimentary 15-minute golf swing analysis by an instructor from one of the club’s three golf academies, and discounts ranging from 10 to 30 percent on lessons, golf apparel and spa treatments.
The Mission Hills Golfathon enrolls thousands annually from more than 20 countries, including the United States, Canada and Australia. Men must have a handicap less than 24 to participate; women less than 36. For more information visit www.mhgolfathon.com.
About Mission Hills Golf Club
Since opening in 1994 and hosting the World Cup in 1995, Mission Hills Golf Club has emerged as one of world’s leading venues for international golf events, hosting more than 50 tournaments including the 2001 Tiger Woods China Challenge. In a resounding statement about its place in the pantheon of international professional golf, Mission Hills and the Olazabal Course will be the permanent home of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup through 2018. In addition, Mission Hills has firmly entrenched itself as the epicenter of golf in China, one of the fastest growing markets in the world for the construction of new golf courses and grass roots growth of the game via junior golf programs.
Mission Hills seeks to create ‘International Goodwill through Golf.’ The Club occupies over 15 square kilometers of land and boasts 12 signature courses designed by golf legends from five different continents: Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, Jose Maria Olazabal, Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Zhang Lian Wei, David Leadbetter, Greg Norman, Jumbo Ozaki, Vijay Singh, Annika Sorenstam and David Duval. Each course is reflective of the designers’ style, offering unique risk / reward challenges to the player. As a complete golf destination, the Club houses a five-star hotel and world-class spa and was voted Best Golf Resort in Asia by readers of Asian Golf Monthly in 2006 and Golf Resort of the Year in the Rest of the World category in 2005 by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO). In May 2004, the Club was accredited by the Guinness World RecordsTM as the World’s Largest Golf Facility, making a name for itself in the world of premier golf through its exceptional ability to deliver an unsurpassed level of service excellence.
The Chu family, true ambassadors for the game of golf, have also invested heavily in practice facilities and instructional academies in order to promote the sport through retention of players. There are three practice ranges on site — all with state-of-the-art amenities and TOUR-level conditioning. And Mission Hills has the rare distinction of having two teaching facilities from renowned instructors in the same location: the David Leadbetter Academy and the Mission Hills Golf Academy by Cindy Reid. In conjunction with international golf star Nick Faldo, the club hosts the Faldo Series Asia grand final. The Faldo Series provides the best young golfers in Asia with grass roots level access to the game through a series of goodwill competitions.
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, email info@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