(SHENZHEN, China) — Mission Hills Group will be making history again this week by hosting the first ever officially sanctioned European Senior Tour Event in China. The ISPS Handa Senior World Championship will be held on the famous Jack Nicklaus-designed World Cup Course from March 11-13 and will feature some of the biggest names on the Senior Tour.
The field, which features three Major Champions, two winning Ryder Cup Captains and over 20 nationalities, sharing between them 125 European Tour Titles, began arriving at Mission Hills today, following the conclusion of the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters presented by the Stapleford Forum, won by South Africa’s Chris Williams.
Mission Hills Group is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest golf facility and continues be at the forefront of China’s golf development by hosting this milestone event. It is host to many international golf tournaments and home to a number of championship courses designed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo, Pete Dye, Greg Norman and other golf legends.
Mission Hills is also home of the Faldo Series Asia, which recently held its fifth Grand Final on the Faldo Course from March 2-4, 2011. This global youth golf event is supported by ISPS (International Sports Promotion Society), Title Sponsor of the Senior World Championship.
Faldo Series founder, six-time Major Champion Sir Nick Faldo said: “Our friends at ISPS and Mission Hills bring valuable support and vision to the game of golf. It is their commitment that makes the Faldo Series Asia possible and allows us to provide experience and opportunity to young people through golf. I would like to wish the seniors competing at Mission Hills the best of luck this week.”
Tenniel Chu, Executive Director of Mission Hills China, added: “It was always our position to be at the forefront of China’s golf development. Mission Hills is delighted to host the first European Senior Tour event in Shenzhen, China. Mission Hills has created another unprecedented platform for international exchange and goodwill through this golf event.”
Chris Williams, currently sitting third on the Senior Tour Order of Merit after his win in Brunei said: “The guys on the Tour are really excited about being here at Mission Hills this week. It’s a new venue for the Tour, which is important for the growth of the game in Asia. The World Cup Course looks fantastic and there is a great feel and buzz about being here.”
Visitors to the ISPS Handa Senior World Championship will be able to watch some of the legends of the game including Sandy Lyle, Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam for free.
For more details about getting to Mission Hills Shenzhen, go to www.missionhillschina.com. High resolution images can be downloaded from the event FTP:
Address: ftp://217.20.28.222
Username: missionhills
Password: password1
About ISPS
ISPS is a ‘General Incorporated Association’ based in Tokyo. The organisation was founded by Japanese philanthropist, Dr Handa. ISPS contributes to society through supporting various sporting interests – currently focusing on golf. ISPS actively supports disabled golf and the International Blind Golf Association in addition to supporting a number of other charities for handicapped people.
See more information at: www.ispsgolf.com
About Mission Hills China
Owner and operator of Mission Hills Shenzhen, China and Mission Hills Hainan, China, Mission Hills Group China is the pioneer in the country’s fledgling hospitality, sports and leisure industry. Since 1992 it has invested heavily in sports and leisure facilities, hotels, major sporting events, and grassroots and global programs to promote golf’s growth in China.
Mission Hills Shenzhen, China is located 30 minutes north of Hong Kong and recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest golf facility. The property is home to 12 resort and championship courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, Greg Norman and other golf legends. It also features four clubhouses, three spas, two five-star hotels, three golf academies, 51 tennis courts, Asia’s most exclusive residential community and more.
Recently unveiled Mission Hills Hainan lies in the volcanic region of exotic Hainan Island, China. The resort sets a new standard in leisure, recreation and wellness experiences. It was home to the first-annual Mission Hills Star Trophy and will host the 2011 Omega Mission Hills World Cup.
For more information go to: www.missionhillschina.com
About WSM Sponsorship
WSM is a specialist sports marketing agency and a leading promoter of international golf events. WSM offers specialist collaborative divisions across sponsorship consultancy, digital, events, PR & media, experiential, design and CSR. WSM has been working with ISPS since 2009 and its other clients include Aberdeen Asset Management, Brit Insurance, Henderson Global Investors, MasterCard, Optimum Nutrition, Standard Chartered and Thomson Reuters.
WSM’s head office is based in London with international offices in the US and UAE; the agency is currently managing projects across five continents worldwide.
For more information go to: www.wsmsponsorship.com
Contact:
Stephen Reynolds
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3509
sreynolds@buffalocommunications.com
www.buffalocommunications.com
www.twitter.com/buffalocomm
David Wood
Buffalo Communications
703.635.0577
dwood@buffalocommunications.com
