If you were asked to guess the location of the world's largest golf course, chances are China wouldn't be your answer. But it's true: In 2004, the Mission Hills Golf Club in China was officially recognized as the world's largest golf club by the Guinness World Records.
China is golf's newest and fastest-growing frontier. With the dollar down and the euro up, China has become an increasingly attractive tourist destination for bargain hunters. According to the World Tourism Organization, tourism in China is growing faster than in any other country, due in part to the excitement surrounding the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. By 2020, China is expected to attract 130 million visitors and replace France as the most popular tourist destination in the world.
From a nation determined to do everything bigger and better, Mission Hills can be described as the proudest golfing achievement thus far. The club stretches over 50 miles and boasts 180 challenging holes of golf spread over 10 championship courses designed by golf legends from five continents. This represents the most courses in a single facility anywhere in the world.
The courses were designed by such golf notables as Jack Nicklaus, Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Jumbo Ozaki, Vijay Singh, Jose Marie Olazabal, Annika Sorenstam, David Duval, Greg Norman and renowned golf instructor David Leadbetter.
Founded in 1994, Mission Hills is spread between Shenzhen and Dongguan, the first and fourth largest export cities in China, and is a 30-minute drive from Hong Kong. It has hosted the World Cup of Golf, the Tiger Woods China Challenge and the inaugural Dynasty Cup, in which Asian players compete against Japanese tour players.
More than just a golf club, Mission Hills is a world-class resort as well, with two five-star hotels. Its Tennis Centre is the largest tennis facility in Asia, with 51 floodlit courts where members can play in the evening. For visitors with children, the Playworld at Mission Hills Country Club is the largest outdoor play system in China, with a wide range of scheduled activities throughout the week. And finally, Spa La Quinta, where ancient Eastern healing meets modern Western pampering, has an extensive menu of invigorating spa treatments.
The entire complex has won international awards for environmental management and livability. It provides employment for over 6,500 people and amounts to more than $400 million worth of investment to date. |
| Author: Rick Young |
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Author Bio:
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