World's Largest Golf Club Donates More Than $3 Million, Organizes Charity Tournament to Benefit Orphans
(SHENZHEN, China) – Mission Hills Golf Club – the world's largest collection of premier golf courses with 12 layouts designed by many of the greatest golfers and golf course architects from five continents – donated more than $3 million and hosted a charity tournament to benefit orphans of the May 12 Sichuan earthquake disaster.
Proceeds were used to establish "Dr. David Chu's Care Fund for Orphans." It will be administered by the China Charity Federation and Shenzhen Charity Federation to provide for the future living expenses and educational needs of those orphaned by the tragedy. Dr. David Chu is the Chairman of the Mission Hills Group.
The "Golfers 5.12 Fundraising Campaign," a charity tournament organized by Dr. Chu, raised additional funds. The event was staged on seven of the club's courses and featured 800 participants teeing off simultaneously. Supported by more than 20 golf associations from China and Hong Kong, it netted $800,000 for the cause.
"We're deeply saddened by the catastrophe that's gripped our neighbors in Sichuan," says Dr. Chu, whose generosity and patriotism has been praised by the central government. "We want to do what we can to stand with them during their time of need, and hope our donations will facilitate the healing process."
The establishment of the fund continues Mission Hills' recent track record of significant and timely altruistic donations following natural disasters. Over the last decade, Mission Hills has contributed to victims following the February 2008 blizzards in southern China, the 2006 and 2005 floods in southern China, the 2003 SARS outbreak in Hong Kong, and more.
About Mission Hills Golf Club
Since opening in 1994 and hosting the World Cup in 1995, Mission Hills Golf Club has emerged as one of the world's leading venues for international golf events, hosting more than 50 tournaments including the 2001 Tiger Woods China Challenge. In a resounding statement about its place in the pantheon of international professional golf, Mission Hills and the Olazabal Course will be the permanent home of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup through 2018. In addition, Mission Hills has firmly entrenched itself as the epicenter of golf in China, one of the fastest growing markets in the world for the construction of new golf courses and grass roots growth of the game via junior golf programs.
Mission Hills seeks to create 'International Goodwill through Golf.' The Club occupies over 15 square kilometers of land and boasts 12 signature courses designed by golf legends from five different continents: Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, Jose Maria Olazabal, Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Zhang Lian Wei, David Leadbetter, Greg Norman, Jumbo Ozaki, Vijay Singh, Annika Sorenstam and David Duval. Each course is reflective of the designers' style, offering unique risk / reward challenges to the player. As a complete golf destination, the Club houses a five-star hotel and world-class spa and was voted Best Golf Resort in Asia by readers of Asian Golf Monthly in 2006 and Golf Resort of the Year in the Rest of the World category in 2005 by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO). In May 2004, the Club was accredited by the Guinness World RecordsTM as the World's Largest Golf Facility, making a name for itself in the world of premier golf through its exceptional ability to deliver an unsurpassed level of service excellence.
The Chu family, true ambassadors for the game of golf, have also invested heavily in practice facilities and instructional academies in order to promote the sport through retention of players. There are three practice ranges on site – all with state-of-the-art amenities and TOUR-level conditioning. And Mission Hills has the rare distinction of having two teaching facilities from renowned instructors in the same location: the David Leadbetter Golf Academy and the Mission Hills Golf Academy by Cindy Reid. In conjunction with international golf star Nick Faldo, the club hosts the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final. The Faldo Series provides the best young golfers in Asia with grass roots level access to the game through a series of goodwill competitions.
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).