(HONG KONG) – Tenniel Chu, Vice Chairman of Mission Hills China, has joined OneAsia as a senior official as the golf tour embarks on its fourth and biggest season yet.
Chu, who has extensive relationships in golf throughout the world, joins as Secretary-General, reporting directly to OneAsia Commissioner and Chairman Sang Y. Chun.
He will handle an array of responsibilities including working with national golf governing bodies, professional golf associations, tournament sponsors and course and resort owners to develop additional events for an OneAsia platform that has already seen extraordinary growth since its launch in 2009.
OneAsia already boasts the national Opens of five countries — Australia, China, Indonesia, Korea and Thailand — among its 14 tournaments, and with a total purse of over US$16 million is the most lucrative regional tour in the Asia-Pacific.
“It is an honor to have Tenniel Chu join the OneAsia team,” said Sang Y. Chun.
“Mission Hills and OneAsia share a common vision about the enormous potential of golf in Asia, and both are pioneers in elevating the status of the game in the region.”
Chu hails from a family that put golf on the map in China. The conglomerate founded by his father, Dr. David Chu, owns and operates Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen and Dongguan southern China, which with 216 holes is listed by Guinness World Records as the world’s biggest golf club.
Its more recent development on Hainan Island boasts 10 courses designed by Brain Curley which celebrate landmark designs and signature holes from around the globe.
Chu’s appointment comes soon after OneAsia’s 2012 season teed off with the U.S. $1 million Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open, which for the first time was co-sanctioned by the Japan Golf Tour Organisation as part of an historic three-year deal.
The tour moves to Tianjin next week for the Volvo China Open (April 19-22), which is co-sanctioned by the European Tour.
“In OneAsia I see a platform that suits my vision for golf in the Asia-Pacific region,” Chu said.
“The collaboration of national amateur golf bodies and professional golf associations with an executive boasting world class broadcasting expertise and business acumen means all our stakeholders are taken care of — from the players and fans, to the tournament organizers, corporate sponsors and golf developers.”
The combination of Chun and Chu gives OneAsia’s executive a potent mix of youth and experience.
Born in Hong Kong in 1976, Chu graduated with a degree in economics from University of Toronto and furthered his interest in golf by taking up a post-graduate study for Professional Golf Management at Humber College. At the completion of his studies, he worked at PGA TOUR headquarters before joining the family business.
OneAsia was formed by the China Golf Association, the Korea Golf Tour, the Korea Golf Association and the PGA of Australia to provide a stage for the region’s top players to showcase their talent and, ultimately, a destination to complement the PGA Tour and the European Tour.
All OneAsia tournaments are broadcast live on a global television platform that includes ESPN Star Sports across Asia, Korea’s SBS television, One World Sports in the U.S., and SuperSport across Africa, giving prime exposure to players, events and corporate sponsorship partners.
About Mission Hills Group
The Mission Hills Group, owner and operator of Mission Hills Shenzhen 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 two superb leisure and wellness resorts. It has held 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 Shenzhen
Stretching across the lush, rolling hills of southern China, Mission Hills Shenzhen is the country’s premier golf club, and also the “World’s Largest Golf Club” as accredited by the Guinness World Records. The property is home to 12 signature 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 Shenzhen is a full-service, luxury resort, featuring four clubhouses, three award-winning spas, a five-star hotel, three golf academies (including one from world-renowned instructor Cindy Reid), Asia’s largest tennis facility with 51 tennis courts and professional tennis academy, and numerous fine dining establishments serving cuisine from around the world.
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 comprises specially-designed golf courses, each incorporating native lava rock formations. 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. It also hosted the Omega Mission Hills World Cup 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 — are available on Air China (Star Alliance member), Asiana (Star Alliance member), China Eastern Airlines (SkyTeam Alliance member), China Southern Airlines (SkyTeam Alliance member), Hainan Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, KLM, Shanghai Airlines (Star Alliance member) and more.
For more information about Mission Hills, visit www.missionhillschina.com, email info@missionhillschina.com, or call (852) 2122 1616 (Hong Kong) — (86 755) 2802 0888 (Shenzhen) — (86 769) 8728 8888 (Dongguan) — (86 898) 6868 3888 (Hainan).
About OneAsia
OneAsia is a non-profit organization developed to maximize tournament opportunities for the best players in the Asia-Pacific region. The founding members of OneAsia are the China Golf Association, the Korea Golf Tour, the Korea Golf Association and the PGA of Australia. Our elite suite of tournaments includes the national Opens of Australia, China, Indonesia, Korea and Thailand, as well as numerous other prestigious events.
Contact:
Stephen Reynolds
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