More Courses Open at Massive Mission Hills in China


Schmidt-Curley Design has announced the opening of the Pete Dye and Zhang Lian Wei courses at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China. The courses are the 11th and 12th to open at Mission Hills, the largest golf club in the world according to Guinness World Records. Partners Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley developed the master plan for Mission Hills in the early 1990s and oversaw the design and construction of each of the club's layouts.

The Pete Dye Course at Mission Hills Golf Club, his first design in China, offers a marked departure from the property's other 11 courses. Dye's trademarks are all present on the 6,800-yard layout, including small pot bunkers, tee-to-green waste areas, railroad ties and walkway steps framed by native grasses. Dye and Schmidt-Curley routed the course through rolling hills, where the course will be serviced by a new clubhouse slated to open at a later date.

An executive course and the first par-3 track in China, the Zhang Lian Wei Course features design elements and greens borrowed from many famous golf venues, including the Postage Stamp green from Royal Troon, the Road Hole green at St. Andrews and Donald Ross-style "turtle-back" green complexes.

Zhang Lian Wei has won numerous events in China and on the Asian Tour since turning pro in 1994. In 2003, he captured the Caltex Masters on the 72nd hole with a birdie putt, becoming the first Chinese golfer to win on the PGA European Tour. Zhang received a special invitation to play in the Masters in 2004, becoming the first player from mainland China to grace the fairways of Augusta National. In 2006, he topped the Order of Merit on the Omega China Tour, and over the course of his career, has played on the World Cup, Dunhill Cup, Dynasty Cup and Royal Trophy teams.

"We are excited to add our 11th and 12th courses and to present our members and guests with 216 holes of outstanding, world-class golf," says Dr. David Chu, Chairman of the Mission Hills Group. "It is an honor to have Pete Dye and Zhang Lian Wei represented at Mission Hills and we look forward to a lasting relationship with both gentlemen."

"With the addition of Dye and Zhang Lian Wei course, the variety and quality of golf at Mission Hills is further unrivaled," added Curley. "Having been involved with this grand golf club since its early days, it is rewarding to see it all come to fruition."

Schmidt and Curley have worked with Dye on numerous projects over the years. Curley was intimately involved in the design of the Dye Course at Mission Hills and is the architect of record for the Zhang Lian Wei Course. A student of the game who grew up caddying at Pebble Beach and playing the great courses of the Monterrey Peninsula, Curley wanted to create a "memorable" short-course experience by recreating many of the world's most famous greens.

"It is as fun to play as it was to design and build," he said. "Players will have many more options around the green than they would at a typical par-3 course, and architecture buffs will enjoy its historical elements."

For more information about Mission Hills Golf Club, visit www.missionhillsgroup.com.