A Guest of World’s Largest Golf Club, World-Renowned Instructor Observes China’s Explosive Golf Industry
(SHENZHEN, China) – Mission Hills Golf Club, the world’s largest golf facility and epicenter of China’s golf boom, welcomed world-renowned golf instructor Hank Haney as its VIP guest during the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.
Haney has been an instructor to more than 200 touring professionals over his 30-year career, including the world’s current number one player. He visited to gather information about the club that is the catalyst for China’s explosion onto the worldwide golf scene, and to become more familiar with the country’s rapidly maturing golf infrastructure and industry.
“I’m honored to have been at Mission Hills during the World Cup,” says Haney, ranked No. 2 in Golf Digest’s 2009 list of “America’s Top 50 Teachers.” “Learning about its central role in shaping China’s modern golf history was fantastic. Golf in China is primed to erupt; there was a palpable excitement rippling through the tournament galleries unlike any I’ve ever experienced.”
“Hank is one of golf’s most revered teachers and we were thrilled to have him as our guest,” says Tenniel Chu, Executive Director, Mission Hills Golf Club. “We share a common vision of Asia’s budding promise and are enthusiastic about the prospects of partnering to further our mutual goals.”
Haney’s four-day itinerary at Mission Hills included inspections of the club’s various teaching facilities as well as clinics for the public, juniors and the media.
“This was Hank’s first major public appearance in this part of the world,” Chu continues. “While he was here, we sought his valuable counsel on our instructional efforts, acquainted the public with one of the greatest golf teachers of our time, and explored the potential for future collaboration.”
Since 1994, Mission Hills has been bringing the world’s leading golf instructors and touring professionals to a new generation of Chinese players. The club is home to several academies and full-time junior golf development programs.
In addition to its instructional infrastructure, Mission Hills is the only club in the world to sponsor a complete series of tournaments to test gifted players at every level of competition. In 2006, Mission Hills became home of the Faldo Series Asia, and 2008 saw Jack Nicklaus partner with the club to create the Mission Hills Jack Nicklaus Junior Championship. Earlier this year, The Masters and The R&A chose Mission Hills to become the inaugural host of the Asian Amateur Championship. The club also recently established the Mission Hills Golf Series Junior Tour to give aspiring young golfers the chance to develop their skills in a regular, bi-weekly tournament setting.
The size of five Central Parks, 12-course Mission Hills has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest golf club in the world. Located 30 minutes north of Hong Kong, it also features a five-star hotel, four clubhouses, three spas, 51 tennis courts and numerous restaurants serving cuisine from all corners of the globe.
“Mission Hills is an astounding place,” says Haney. “I can see why it’s considered China’s premier club. Its dedication to cultivating golf throughout the Pacific Rim, breathtaking size and countless luxury amenities unquestionably make it golf’s nucleus in the Far East.”
About the Omega Mission Hills World Cup
The 2009 Omega Mission Hills World Cup continues a new and exciting era in the history of the event. John Jay Hopkins, a noted Canadian industrialist, founded the tournament in 1953 as a way to promote goodwill among nations through golf. Initially named the Canada Cup, it became the World Cup in 1967.
In 2007, Mission Hills secured an unprecedented agreement to host 12 editions of the tournament. With $5.5 million in prize money, the Omega Mission Hills World Cup boasts one of the highest purses for a golf tournament in Asia, and is the continent’s first golf event to be sanctioned by all international PGA Tours.
It is a four-day team event featuring a four-ball (better-ball) format on days one and three, and a foursomes (alternate shot) format on days two and four.
In its past two years as host, Mission Hills’ Olazabal Course has been universally lauded by participants and media alike. Its namesake, the two-time Masters champion, collaborated with Schmidt-Curley Design (www.schmidt-curley.com) to create a well-bunkered and dramatically contoured layout. Memorable holes abound, like the par-5 15th, featuring 24 bunkers, and the long par-4 18th finishing in the shadows of the massive Dongguan Clubhouse.
For more information, please visit http://worldcup.pgatour.com/.
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 Records. The property is home to 12 resort and championship courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Annika Sorenstam, Ernie Els, Jose Maria Olazabal, Vijay Singh, David Leadbetter, David Duval, Jumbo Ozaki and Zhang Lian Wei.
Mission Hills is a full-service, luxury resort, featuring four clubhouses, three spas, a five-star hotel, three golf academies (including one from world-renowned instructor 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 2001 Tiger Woods China Challenge. In 2007, Mission Hills began its role as long-term host of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup. The club will also host multiple editions of the Asian Amateur Championship.
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 (2006-2008)
Pete Dye Course named the “Best New Course in Asia” – Asian Golf Monthly
Olazabal Course ranked the No. 2 course in China – Asian Golf Monthly
Dr. David Chu, Chairman of Mission Hills Group, named one of the “Most Powerful People in Golf” – Golf Inc. (2007, 2008)
Dr. Kenneth Chu, Vice Chairman of Mission Hills Group, named one of golf’s “Most Admired Operators” – Golf Inc.
World Cup Course named one of the 10 “most significant and influential courses” of last 20 years – LINKS Magazine
Olazabal Course ranked the No. 1 resort course in Asia – Golfing Magazine
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).
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