Mission Hills Golf Club – the largest collection of world-class golf courses with twelve layouts designed by many of the greatest golfers and golf-course architects – has retained Buffalo Communications to provide media relations and publicity services.
Buffalo Communications will create and execute a comprehensive pr programme for the world’s grandest member club and golf resort located just north of the China/Hong Kong border. As a result, Mission Hills will consistently receive editorial coverage about its award-winning championship golf courses, luxury accommodations, swimming pools, spa, tennis, and lifestyle amenities.
“The partnership with Buffalo Communications extends our commitment to introduce our world-class golf club to a wider audience,” says Dr. David Chu, chairman of the Mission Hills Group. “There is truly something for every golfer and non-golfer at Mission Hills, and we are eager to further get the word out among avid and recreational players that Mission Hills is a ‘must see, must play’ golf experience.”
“We are excited to raise the Mission Hills profile in vital markets,” says Brian Curley, whose firm, Schmidt-Curley Design (Scottsdale, Ariz.), developed the resort’s master plan, oversaw construction and was heavily involved in the design of each course. “We’ve only scratched the surface of the impact that Mission Hills can have on not only the game, but the global travel and leisure market overall.”
Mission Hills is the brainchild of Dr. Chu, who in 1992 had a vision of building the largest, most opulent golf resort in the world. The first course at Mission Hills – the World Cup Course by Jack Nicklaus – opened in 1994 and was immediately hailed as one of Asia’s best. It was the first course in China to receive PGA accreditation and was the venue for the 41st World Cup in 1995.
Ken Chu, vice chairman of the Mission Hills Group, was the driving force behind the completion of Mission Hills’ signature courses from Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Jumbo Ozaki and Vijay Singh, and spearheaded the 16-month expansion program from 2002 to 2004 that lead to the David Duval, David Leadbetter, Annika Sorenstam, Greg Norman and Jose Maria Olazabal courses opening on the nearby rolling terrain of Dongguan.
Adding to Mission Hills’ standing at the largest golf club in the world (Guinness Book of World Records), two new courses opened in the summer of 2007: the 18-hole regulation Pete Dye Course, the first Dye design in Asia, and the par-3 Zhang Lian Wei course, the first par-3 course in China. Both courses were designed in conjunction with Schmidt-Curley.
Encompassing more than 3,000 acres (15 square kilometres) and developed on southern China’s most breathtaking terrain, Mission Hills is a surreal vision, a golfer’s paradise that must be seen to be believed.
The original five golf courses emanate from the palatial Shenzhen Clubhouse, a 300,000 square-foot masterpiece of Far-Eastern architecture with fine dining, a full-service spa and swimming pools. Five of the remaining seven courses are accessed from the Dongguan Clubhouse, a staggering 600,000 square-feet building that houses the “World’s Largest” golf shop and is also the largest clubhouse in the world. A third clubhouse to serve the Faldo and Dye courses is under construction and is scheduled to open soon. Upwards of 1,800 female caddies clad in imperial red uniforms attend to the need of every member and guest.
Mission Hills also offers members and guests access to a diverse set of practice ranges: The Golf Academy Range, located at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, features two floors, 58 bays, 64 fairways and floodlighting at night; The Shenzhen Club Driving Range includes bunkering and lakes flanking practice greens; and the Faldo Driving Hole is a three-hole simulated course with a par 3, 4 and 5.
For golfers arriving late or who desire to play as much golf as possible, Mission Hills provides state-of-the-art floodlighting on several courses for night golf. In addition to the renowned Leadbetter school, golfers can also acquire instruction at the Mission Hills Golf Academy by LPGA legend Cindy Reid. Reid relocated to Mission Hills after spending 18 years at TPC Sawgrass where her clients included Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk and Davis Love III.
With its proximity to Hong Kong and Shenzhen, Mission Hills has rapidly evolved as China’s most exclusive address for high-end golf real estate. “Mission Hills Golf Mansions” and “Golden Green,” both located at the centre of the World Cup Course, feature sandstone-clad facades, neo-traditional interiors, arches, columns, spacious balconies, private gardens and lavish swimming pools. Residents of Golden Green have access to a private putting green and driving range accessible through individual passageways.
Mission Hills Golf Club www.missionhillsgroup.com