(SHENZHEN, China) – Mission Hills Group – China’s leading golf brand and a driving force behind the country’s sports and leisure industry – announces the 9th annual Mission Hills Golfathon.
It will be held from April 1 to September 30 at Mission Hills Shenzhen & Dongguan and Mission Hills Haikou. Golfers from anywhere in the world can play at China’s leading golf club and resort, testing their skills and endurance on 20 acclaimed courses.
The 2012 Mission Hills Golfathon Champion will be eligible to play in this fall’s Mission Hills World Celebrity Pro-Am, and will win a romantic getaway package at Mission Hills’ reciprocal club – Palazzo Arzaga Hotel SPA & Golf Resort in Italy. All division winners and 1st runners-up will win a Mission Hills Haikou package. Each player will also receive a Golfathon Passport, which will grant access to all 20 courses at Mission Hills and opportunity to experience leisure facilities at special rate.
“This year is Mission Hills’ 20th anniversary, and we are pleased to see the number of Golfathon participants annually increasing as golf becomes more popular in China,” says Mr. Tenniel Chu, Vice-Chairman of the Mission Hills China. “We invite amateurs to experience the different styles of courses we offer and to enjoy the superb facilities at Mission Hills.”
The Mission Hills Golfathon was launched in 2004 to celebrate the recognition of Mission Hills as the world’s largest golf club by the Guinness Book of World Records. Over the last eight years, the Golfathon has attracted nearly 30,000 golf enthusiasts from more than 30 countries and regions. They include Europe, North America, Australia, South Korea and Japan.
Members from the Hong Kong Artist Golf Association were on hand to kick-off the 2012 edition. They included Gilbert Lam, Liu Dan and Cindy Lee. Representatives from sponsors TOTO, a luxury bathroom brand, and Tibet Glacier Mineral Water 5100 also participated.
Last year, the Golfathon was extended to the 10 volcanic courses at Mission Hills Haikou, increasing overall participation numbers by nearly 40 percent. Mission Hills anticipates a large growth in the number of 2012 entries as well.
The Golfathon employs an Individual Double Peoria Stoke Play system, enabling players to compete with one another over the 10 qualifying rounds. Adding spice to the competition, the Golfathon also has an ‘Iron Man Honor’ which will be awarded to any player who completes 10 qualifying matches within 5 days.
In 2011, Mission Hills Charter Diamond Member Luo Qiufu completed all ten qualifying matches in only 27 hours and in doing so created a new record for the Golfathon Iron Man.
To provide them with more tournament experience, special packages for both junior players and full-time college students are available.
For more information, please visit the Golfathon’s official website: www.golfathon.missionhillschina.com.
About Mission Hills Group
Mission Hills Group, owner and operator of Mission Hills in the heart of the Pearl River Delta and the tropical island of Hainan, is the pioneer in China’s fledgling hospitality, sports and leisure industry.
Founded in 1992, Mission Hills is recognized as the leading golf brand in the world and synonymous with high-end, luxurious and exquisitely-designed residences. Mission Hills has been the major driving force behind the sports and leisure industry in China. Its three world-class integrated leisure and wellness resort destinations have hosted more than 100 international tournaments. Mission Hills has also been accredited the “World’s Largest Golf Club” by the Guinness World Records. With the number of both domestic and international visitors surpasses three million each year, Mission Hills was named the 5A Level Tourist Attraction by National Tourism Administration in 2011.
Mission Hills’ properties sprawl over 40 sq.km. They include 22 championship courses designed by renowned players and architects from five continents, five-star resorts, award-winning spas and volcanic mineral springs, an international convention center, golf academies and Asia’s largest tennis facility. Mission Hills is also the official training headquarters of China’s Tennis and Golf Associations.
The Group’s “golf and more” leisure philosophy has catalyzed its tourism-related business expansion. Mission Hills Centreville and Mission Hills Lan Kwai Fong Haikou are family-friendly metropolitan leisure complexes and low-carbon town centers. Hubs for business, leisure, wellness and entertainment, their highlights include 1,000-plus international anchor brands featuring the latest fashion labels, finest jewelry and watches; trendiest restaurants, cafes and bars; state-of-the-art multiplex cinemas; ice skating rinks; bowling alleys; world-renowned auto showrooms; and many other exciting offerings. A total of six hotels are showcased in these developments, among them Marriott International’s Ritz-Carlton and Renaissance hotel brands, and Hilton International.
Today, Mission Hills Group has achieved many milestones and become the preeminent conglomerate in the sports, tourism, leisure and entertainment industry. The next breakthrough in the Group’s evolution will occur as it brings its tried and true branding and golf management services to Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Yunnan, Chongqing and other destinations.
Contact:
Stephen Reynolds
Buffalo Communications
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