Dr. Kenneth Chu, Vice Chairman, Mission Hills Group, Featured Among Golf's 'Most Admired Operators'

SHENZHEN, China, April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 - today announces that Dr. Kenneth Chu, Vice Chairman, Mission Hills Group, has been recognized as a "Most Admired Operator" in Golf Inc.'s April issue.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080422/NETU123 )

Chu's ranking occurs in the first year Golf Inc.'s annual list was expanded to include golf operator positions outside ofthe United States.

Mission Hills encompasses more than 4,500 acres (the size of five Central Parks), yet runs with exceptional efficiency thanks to the efforts of Chu, his father Dr. David Chu, his brother Tenniel and their staff of 7,500. Chu's responsibilities include oversight of the property's golf, hospitality and residential components.

Founded in 1992, Mission Hills is a full-service, luxury resort, featuring three clubhouses, four spas, a 315-room, five-star hotel, 51 tennis courts, three golf academies and numerous fine dining establishments serving cuisine from around the world. It is also home to perhaps the most desirable residences inChina, some selling for as much as $20 million. Mission Hills has hosted more than 50 international tournaments, including the 1995 World Cup of Golf and the Tiger Woods China Challenge in 2001, and its Olazabal Course will annually test the world's best through 2018 for the OMEGA Mission Hills World Cup.

Last year, Mission Hills hosted more than 600,000 rounds of golf. Despite an enormous volume of play, Chu and his team have developed processes to ensure seamless operation of the club. For example:

"On a peak day about 3,000 golfers play our 12 courses," says Chu. "Thus, there are 6,000 bags coming and going which have to be coordinated with our fleet of 1,800 golf carts and 3,000 caddies and delivered to the right course at the right time. This enterprise is very similar to airport baggage management from a logistical standpoint. Our team devised an ingenious system to tackle the issue and we're very proud of the success it's enjoyed."

A graduate of the University of Western Ontario in 1996, Chu became the youngest honorary doctorate recipient in school history in 2007. AsChina's golf boom continues, he sees Mission Hills' status evolving just as quickly.

"Mission Hills has grown beyond a golf club - it's a golf destination," says Chu. "We've embraced our role as the epicenter of golf in the world's fastest growing economy and welcome all guests to Mission Hills to indulge in an unforgettable experience."

About Mission Hills

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 inChina, 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 resort and championship courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Pete Dye and Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt (Schmidt-Curley Design) in conjunction with the many of the world's greatest golfers including: Vijay Singh, Ernie Els, Jose Maria Olazabal, Nick Faldo and Annika Sorenstam. As a complete golf destination, the Club houses a five-star hotel and world class spa and was voted Best Golf Resort inAsia 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 Records 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 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 inAsia 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 ofHong Kong International Airport, www.hongkongairport.com. Flights on most major airlines from most major cities are available intoHong 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).

SOURCE Mission Hills Golf Club

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