Golf Business Forum 2011
Lifetime Achievement Award
Chairman
Mission Hills Group and Mission Hills Golf Club in China
Known as the “Father of Golf in China”
He is the driving force behind golf’s global growth and development,
as he explores new horizons and popularizes the game of golf in China.
He is an idealist and a visionary.
Within a decade, he has successfully established the world’s largest golf facility in China in a region where golf was virtually unknown.
Established in 1993, Mission Hills features 12 layouts designed by many of the greatest golfers and golf course architects from five continents – a novelty in the golf world. With 12 courses and 216 holes, Mission Hills is officially accredited as the world’s largest golf facility by Guinness World Records. Starting from 2007, he has developed another world-class golf resort in Hainan, known as the ”Hawaii of the East”, with 10 courses on volcanic terrain.
He is the creator of many “Firsts”.
As early as 1995, Dr. Chu introduced the 41st World Cup of Golf into China, which was the very first golf tournament staged and televised in China.
In 2003, Dr. Chu proposed to have a Ryder Cup-like event in Asia and subsequently co-created and hosted the Dynasty Cup in which Team Asia challenged Team Japan. In 2006, The Goodwill Trophy and Forum were set up with the trophy contested by representatives of the Ryder Cup against international federations.
In just over a decade, Dr. Chu has introduced over 30 professional and amateur international tournaments in China, which has formed a platform for communications and collaboration through golf between the East and West.
Since 2007, the World Cup of Golf has been held at Mission Hills China and will be for 12 consecutive editions. Every year, more than 800 million people in 231 countries and regions around the world watch the event, a new record for golf tournaments.
With his unwavering effort, China was able to host its first World Golf Championship in 2009, opening a new chapter in the country’s golf history.
In 2010, he has inaugurated the Mission Hills Star Trophy, the first ever Pro-am golf tournament that congregates professional golfers and celebrity stars in Asia.
He is a major force in junior golf development.
Mission Hills is home to Asia’s most prestigious annual junior golf tournaments, including the Faldo Series Asia and the Mission Hills Jack Nicklaus Junior Championship. These events are an ideal platform and gateway for young golfers to achieve their dreams in the golf world.
On 16 February 2009, Mission Hills Golf Club, the Augusta National Golf Club, The R&A, and the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation jointly announced the launch of the Asian Amateur Championship, which allows the winner to compete at The Masters. Mission Hills has been the stepping stone for junior golfers to achieve their goals.
Most importantly, Dr. Chu’s success will continue to inspire junior golfers!
He is a true ambassador for the game of golf.
In 2001, Dr. Chu invited Tiger Woods to Mission Hills for a tournament in the world-renowned golfer’s honor, which was also Tiger’s first trip to China. Within the past 10 years, many legendary golfers including seven Golf Hall of Famers have been invited to visit Mission Hills, they are: Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player Annika Sorenstam, Greg Norman, Vijay Singh, Jose Maria Olazabal and Nick Faldo.
He is also the engine that has been driving the Chinese sports industry to the world stage.
He made significant contributions to the successful bid of the Beijing 2008 Olympics Games, the Shenzhen 2011 Universiade and the Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games.
The PGA TOUR has recognized Dr. Chu's groundbreaking contributions to golf in China and his effort in popularizing the sport globally by establishing an award in his name – the David Chu Award - and honored Dr. Chu as its first recipient in Nov. 2009. Previously, the PGA TOUR has only so honored Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Payne Stewart in the past. Dr. Chu is the only Asian who has received this honor.
Since 2007, Dr. Chu has been the only Asian to be ranked amongst the “Most Powerful People in Golf “ by Golf Inc. magazine, and this year he stands at No. 9 on the list.
Click here to view past recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Recognition for Dr. David Chu
“Dr. David Chu is a pioneer, visionary and philanthropist whose legacy has provided a platform for golf in China to take root, grow and flourish – the effects of which are certain to exceed all expectations in the years to come.”
“David Chu has been a true visionary and a driving force for the growth of golf in China. I believe one publication once wrote that the World Cup course we designed for David and Mission Hills back in the early 1990s was one of the most influential golf courses of the last 20 years, and I think that is because David had the vision and plan to use that course as a springboard for the maturation of golf throughout his country. Mission Hills and its world-record number of courses now stand as representation of that phenomenal growth. David has a true commitment to the game, and with his guidance and inspiration, his sons Tenniel and Ken are continuing that commitment to grow and nurture the game.”
“David Chu and his family have literally put golf on the map in China with their Mission Hills properties. Mission Hills Shenzhen was a first of its kind golf Mecca, and now David and his group are making Mission Hills Haikou the premier golf resort destination in all of China. He has been so instrumental in growing the game in all of Asia and I am happy to have worked with his family. ”
"The success of new industries in emerging markets has historically always depended on a visionary pioneer to pave the way. Dr. David Chu has quite simply changed the face of golf in China with his bold moves at Mission Hills and now on Hainan Island. I have visited Mission Hills during several trips to China, and the scale of their accomplishment is incredible. All of us doing business in golf in China are now benefiting from Dr. Chu’s hard work and perseverance."
Greg Norman
“David Chu has been a true visionary and a driving force for the growth of golf in China. I believe one publication once wrote that the World Cup course we designed for David and Mission Hills back in the early 1990s was one of the most influential golf courses of the last 20 years, and I think that is because David had the vision and plan to use that course as a springboard for the maturation of golf throughout his country. Mission Hills and its world-record number of courses now stand as representation of that phenomenal growth. David has a true commitment to the game, and with his guidance and inspiration, his sons Tenniel and Ken are continuing that commitment to grow and nurture the game.”
Jack Nicklaus
“David Chu and his family have literally put golf on the map in China with their Mission Hills properties. Mission Hills Shenzhen was a first of its kind golf Mecca, and now David and his group are making Mission Hills Haikou the premier golf resort destination in all of China. He has been so instrumental in growing the game in all of Asia and I am happy to have worked with his family. ”
Annika Sörenstam
"The success of new industries in emerging markets has historically always depended on a visionary pioneer to pave the way. Dr. David Chu has quite simply changed the face of golf in China with his bold moves at Mission Hills and now on Hainan Island. I have visited Mission Hills during several trips to China, and the scale of their accomplishment is incredible. All of us doing business in golf in China are now benefiting from Dr. Chu’s hard work and perseverance."
Gary Player