(HAIKOU, China) – Mission Hills is pleased to announce the World Celebrity Pro-Am will take place at Mission Hills Haikou from October 19-21, 2012.
The Pro-Am will see world famous celebrity participants playing alongside some of the biggest names in golf. It will be hosted at Mission Hills’ world-class resort on tropical Hainan Island. The island is a focal point of a government-led initiative to develop Haikou as a global golf-tourism capital and overall international tourism destination.
The World Celebrity Pro-Am is yet another commitment of Mission Hills continuing its dynamic role at the forefront of the golf boom in China and the region. Combining a golf tournament with entertainment and tourism, the World Celebrity Pro-Am will see elite professional golfers playing alongside international sports and entertainment icons.
Dr. Ken Chu, Chairman and CEO of Mission Hills Group said: “Mission Hills has created this event to become the third major international celebrity Pro-Am alongside the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. The huge success of the 2010 event helped raise awareness of golf and broaden its popularity. Hosting some of the world’s top celebrities for the World Celebrity Pro-Am is the logical extension of that and we’ll be working together with our partners to ensure the event becomes one of the leading tournaments in world of golf.”
According to Dr. Chu, three major event features will be emphasized. One, the World Celebrity Pro-Am will showcase a field of top international athletes and stars from the world of entertainment to golf and lifestyle aficionados around the world. Secondly, the tournament will utilize the Stableford scoring system, making it a more entertaining and competitive tournament. And finally, celebrity and professional golf participants will be announced in a series of press conferences throughout China in the build up to the event.
Commenting at the official launch of the World Celebrity Pro-Am, Mr. Tenniel Chu, Vice Chairman of Mission Hills Group added, “As the year progresses, Mission Hills will hold press conferences in a number of cities to gradually announce the participation of Hollywood and Asian celebrities and international professional golfers to the tournament line-up. At the same time the official website and the social networks Weibo and Facebook will provide latest tournament news around the clock.”
Distinguished guests present at today’s press conference included, Simon Yam, winner of Hong Kong’s Best Actor Award, China’s top golfer Feng Shan Shan, 2010 Ladies European Tour Order of Merit winner Lee-Anne Pace from South Africa, leading English golfer Melissa Reid, LPGA players Candie Kung from Chinese Taipei and from the Philippines, Ms. Jennifer Rosales and Mr. Fan Xiao Jun, Director-General for the Hainan Province’s Department of Culture Radio, Television, Publication and Sports.
Simon Yam, eagerly anticipating the contest, said: “My participation in the 2010 tournament left me with a lot of great memories. The facilities and quality of service at Mission Hills are world-class, and I’ve made a lot of friends from the last tournament. I’m sure I will have even more fun this year.”
Candie Kung, the 2010 champion in the team event, said that she was hoping to partner with Eric Tsang, her teammate in the last event: “It is such great fun to be on the same team as Tsang. He is a great person and there is no pressure at all to play with him. With modifications to the tournament format, we might have to change our tactics to win again.”
South African Lee-Anne Pace, the LET money list leader in 2010, said, “I did not attend the Pro-Am last time, but I was told by my friends that it was a lot of fun with the celebrities and the audience getting involved. I usually do well in China and I’m very excited about coming to Mission Hills. The warm climate, wonderful facilities and exceptionally beautiful views make for a great venue; I can’t wait to return here in October.”
Melissa Reid, who finished second on the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit list in 2011 and won two LET tournaments, said: “It’s an honour to play at such as event; it’s not often that the world of sport and celebrity collide so to be involved will be an amazing experience.
In October 2010, the tournament attracted a number of leading golf and movie stars and the 2012 World Celebrity Pro-Am will not disappoint on this front, with a host of leading golfers and celebrities set to be named over the course of the next few months.
For more information about the World Celebrity Pro-Am, please visit www.missionhillschina.com.
About Mission Hills Group
Mission Hills Group (www.missionhillschina.com), owner and operator of Mission Hills Shenzhen, Mission Hills Dongguan and Mission Hills Hainan, is the pioneer in China’s fledgling hospitality, sports and leisure industry.
Mission Hills, recognized as the leading golf brand in the world and synonymous with high-end, luxurious residences of rare and exquisite design, has created three world-class leisure and wellness resorts. It has hosted more than 100 international tournaments, including the 1995 World Cup of Golf and the Tiger Woods China Challenge in 2001. In 2007, Mission Hills began its role as host of an unprecedented 12 editions of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.
Mission Hills Hainan
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. Nestled amid lush, green gardens, it caters to golf enthusiasts and features 10 acclaimed golf courses, each designed by American Brian Curley of Schmidt-Curley Design. Other state-of-the-art features include 518 elegantly designed guest rooms and suites, a three-story clubhouse, China’s first Hank Haney Golf Academy, meeting facilities, 12 world-class restaurants, a fully-equipped sports and recreation center, Hainan’s only aquatic theme park, therapeutic volcanic mineral springs, a spa oasis, and shopping arcade.
Mission Hills Hainan’s Blackstone Course hosted the inaugural Mission Hills Star Trophy in October 2010, a ground-breaking celebrity pro-am golf tournament for Asia, and the 56th World Cup of Golf in November 2011. A magnificent addition to Hainan’s tropical island paradise, Mission Hills Hainan is poised to become the island’s premier sanctuary, attracting visitors from around the globe.
Getting There: Mission Hills Hainan is 15 minutes from Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK). Flights from major cities throughout Asia — including Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore — to Haikou are available.
Contact:
Stephen Reynolds
Buffalo Communications
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sreynolds@buffalocommunications.com
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