Faldo Course at China’s Premier Golf Club Also Rated Among Top 10
(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 – announces its Olazabal Course has been ranked the number one resort course in Asia by Golfing Magazine in the Summer 2008 issue. The club’s Faldo Course was ranked number five.
Opened in 2003, the Olazabal Course was designed by its namesake, the two-time Masters champion, in collaboration with Scottsdale, Arizona’s Schmidt-Curley Design. The layout hosted the inaugural Omega Mission Hills World Cup last year, won by the Scottish team of Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren, and received rave reviews from the world’s best professional golfers. Known for its expert routing over some of China’s most breathtaking terrain, it’s slated to host the event through 2018.
The Faldo Course opened in 1999 as China’s first “stadium course.” The six-time major champion teamed with Schmidt-Curley Design to craft a layout focusing on precision over power. Case in point is the island green, 163-yard, par-3 16th that’s every bit as challenging as its famous cousin at Sawgrass. The Faldo Course is home to the Grand Final for Asia’s premier junior circuit, the Faldo Series Asia.
“The respective rankings of the Olazabal and Faldo Courses are welcomed affirmations of the significant inroads Mission Hills is making for golf in China,” says Dr. David Chu, Chairman, Mission Hills Group. “The recognition bolsters our belief that efforts to grow the sport in our nation are on the right track, and we look forward to reaping additional accolades in the future.”
About Mission Hills Golf Club
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 World RecordsTM. The property is home to 12 resort and championship courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Ernie Els, Jumbo Ozaki, Vijay Singh, Zhang Lian Wei, Greg Norman, Jose Maria Olazabal, Annika Sorenstam, David Duval, David Leadbetter, Nick Faldo and Pete Dye in collaboration with Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt (Schmidt-Curley Design).
Mission Hills is a full-service, luxury resort, featuring four clubhouses, four spas, two five-star hotels, three golf academies (including schools from world renowned instructors David Leadbetter and Cindy Reid), 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 through 2018.
Mission Hills’ recent awards and accolades include:
* IAGTO Golf Resort of the Year (Rest of World Category)
* Best Golf Resort in China – Asian Golf Monthly (2007)
* Pete Dye Course named the “Best New Course in Asia” – Asian Golf Monthly (2007)
* Olazabal Course ranked the number two course in China – Asian Golf Monthly (2007)
* Dr. David Chu, Chairman of Mission Hills Group, named one of the “Most Powerful People in Golf” – Golf Inc. (2007)
* Dr. Kenneth Chu, Vice Chairman of Mission Hills Group, named one of golf’s “Most Admired Operators” – Golf Inc. (2008)
* World Cup Course named one of the 10 “most significant and influential courses” of last 20 years – LINKS Magazine (2008)
* Olazabal Course ranked the number one resort course in Asia – Golfing Magazine (2008)
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
www.buffalocommunications.com
Stephen Reynolds
Buffalo Communications
703.761.1444
sreynolds@billycaspergolf.com
