Mission Hills China’s Chairman Ken Chu and Vice Chairman Tenniel Chu have been recently ranked top Golf Inc.’s inaugural list of the most powerful people in Asia and ranked top 10 on Golf Inc.’s international list.
The Golf Inc ranking is compiled by its editors around the world and considers each person’s impact on golf course management, education and training, environmental sustainability, financial sustainability, golf course development and promotion of golf as well as other factors. The magazine has ranked the most powerful people in golf since 1998, but this year added a ranking specific to Asia, as Editor In Chief of Golf Inc. Jack Crittenden explained: “Asia is the fastest growing continent in the golf industry, and yet few people know the power brokers behind the business of golf. This list should help explain the industry better and shape its future growth.”
Golf Inc’s recognition of the Chu family evinces China’s increasingly crucial role in global golf. The Chus join PGA TOUR commissioner Tim Finchem and Jack Nicklaus in the top 10 – the highest ranked Asians in the list.
Speaking of the honour, Dr. Ken Chu, Chairman and CEO of Mission Hills China said, “Our vision of Mission Hills spearheading the growth of golf, leisure and tourism industry in China and the region has come to fruition,” says Dr. Ken Chu, “We are thrilled to receive such an honour, especially given the calibre of people in the global golf industry. China in now the fastest growing golf region in the world and this prestigious honour certainly acts as an incentive for Mission Hills to continue in its efforts to develop the sport in China and beyond.”
With less than two weeks, the two most influential men in Asian golf will play host to the game’s two most recognizable competitors when Tiger Woods duels with Rory McIlroy in The Match at Mission Hills to be played round the Blackstone Course at Mission Hills Haikou on 28th October.
Tenniel Chu, Vice Chairman of Mission Hills Group, said: “The Match at Mission Hills is another example of the Group’s commitment to the development of the game in China and throughout the region. We’re delighted that Tiger and Rory will come to play together at Hainan for the first time and we look forward to creating a golfing spectacle for the world to enjoy,” continued Chu.
While the arrival of the two most recognized faces in world of golf will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the year, it won’t be the first time that Mission Hills has fostered the game’s continuing rise to prominence through a variety of initiatives with some of the biggest names in sport, entertainment and show-business in an effort to build a long term and sustainable future for the game in China, while taking the game to completely new audiences across the region.
In addition to staging the WGC HSBC World Champions and World Ladies Championship, the last 12 months has seen the Group stage some 36 junior golf tournaments, host a second World Celebrity Pro-Am – combining the worlds of golf, entertainment and sport – and embark on a new golf course designed by the US Open Winner Justin Rose and Ian Poulter.
Acknowledged as a pioneer and leader of China’s burgeoning tourism sector, Dr. Ken Chu leads Mission Hills Group in developing and operating championship golf courses, world-class family resorts, award-winning spas, and high-end residential developments in Southern China.
Under the Chu’s leadership, Mission Hills is expanding into world-class leisure and living industry with number of new developments in the pipeline encompassing retail, leisure and entertainment and modern living in a series of exciting new projects in Beijing, Yunnan, Chongqing, Pearl River Delta and HainanIsland.
Tenniel Chu, who heads up the Group’s golf developments, has supplemented his responsibilities at Mission Hills with his appointment as the Secretary-General of the OneAsia tour. In 2013, Tenniel Chu became the Member of the R&A and is the first and only member from China to hold such a position.
Mission Hills Group www.missionhillschina.com