Inland Empire Golfer - March 2008 - (Page 9)

hile interviewing Brian Curley, master golf course designer, the extraordinary undertaking that went into the design of Mission Hills, an exclusive array of 12 golf courses, came to mind. No, Mission Hills is not located in the Inland Empire. In fact, it’s not even in the United States. These magnificent courses sit on the other side of the world stretching across Shenzhen and Dongguan, in China, about a 30minute drive from Hong Kong. Though Mission Hills is the largest golf course resort in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, there’s a common thread with respect to the layout of some of the Inland region’s more contemporary courses. Brian Curley notes China’s climb to the top of the golf world with its master-designed Mission Hills Golf Resort and Clubhouse that includes a dozen of the most exclusive, challenging golf course venues in the world. As with golf courses in the Inland Empire Mission Hills is designed by such renowned architects as Lee Schmidt, Brian Curley, Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman. And the management of Mission Hills went one step farther. They asked a host of PGA and LPGA tour players for professional input on each Mission Hills course layout. Unlike most amateurs whose only concern is to find a landing spot somewhere on the fairway, between fairway bunkers, tour professionals have a common thread--they choose specific targets from tee to green, and this was an important design considerations, according to Curley. Curley says there are many comparisons between Mission Hills courses and courses in the Inland Empire, such as the rough terrain at Oak Quarry and Oak Valley with severe slopes and rock formations giving these courses their character and a unique challenge. South China’s Mission Hills, like Oak Quarry, Oak Valley, Goose Creek, and the SCPGA courses, is located in a warm and mild belt for year-round golfing, Curley says, adding that these balmy conditions dictate grass type, vegetation and watering considerations that go into the design and layout of each course. “Mission Hills was not an easy layout for us because it required www.inlandempiregolfer.com W 30-million cubic meters of dirt to be moved to calm down the property, to fill slopes and valleys, to give the courses form and function. It was a monumental task, but the results are spectacular,” says Curley. “Each designer brought his unique design features to Mission Hills, such as Pete Dye’s signature railroad ties, deep pot bunkers, and stretched waste bunkers that you also see on many Inland Empire golf courses.” “Clubhouse demands are different [in china],” says Curly, citing that most golf clubhouses in the Inland Empire and throughout the United States take a secondary role to the course. He says US golfers enjoy a beer or meal to complete a round, while Mission Hills’ exclusive clubhouse designs offer a built-in lifestyle where golfers and non-golfers can enjoy a day of varied activities. Like Dongguan Clubhouse, 680,000 square feet, the largest clubhouse in the world and home to the “world’s largest” golf shop. All amenities are located under one roof and include: • 315-room, five-star hotel • Four premier spas featuring different atmospheres and treatments • Eight fine dining establishments • Two golf academies: David Leadbetter Golf Academy and Mission Hills Golf Academy by Cindy Reid • Four courses (Annika, Duval, Els and Ozaki) offer nines equipped with floodlighting to allow for nighttime golf • Three state-of-the-art practice ranges • 51 tennis courts and home of the world’s first Michael Chang Tennis Academy From this writer’s prospective, the extraordinary Clubhouse at Mission Hills in Shenzhen adds yet another wonder to China’s list of places to visit while there: Beijing (home of The Great Wall and Forbidden City), Xi’an (gateway to the “Silk Road” and best known for the world famous Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, Shanghai, Chengdu (Panda City) and Three Gorges. About Mission Hills Golf Club Dr. David Chu, Chairman of Mission Hills Group has been quoted as saying: 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 international 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 INLAND EMPIRE GOLFER March 2008 9 http://www.inlandempiregolfer.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Inland Empire Golfer - March 2008

Inland Empire Golfer - March 2008 Contents Cover Story: Shenzhen China & The Inland Empire The Looming Water Shortage Artificial Turf Demand Grows Leisure Living Bob Hope Chrysler Classic Mechanics Of The Bunker Shot The Proper Golf Swing Motion Callaway Squareways What's New? How Well Do You Know The Rules? Golf Course Reviews IE Golf Course Directory

Inland Empire Golfer - March 2008

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