I've been to numerous expansive golf resorts, but never one as large as Mission Hills in Shenzhen, China, which is listed as the World's Largest Golf Club by Guinness World Records. The enormity of the 6,000-acre mega-resort cannot be fully realized by visiting their website or reading promotional material.
Immaculately manicured with native foliage and flowers, the private, gated complex looks as if it has been magically air-dropped from Palm Springs or Palm Beach. In addition to 12 signature designer golf courses, three golf academies, and the world's largest golf clubhouse, Mission Hills has a seemingly endless amenity lineup, including nine restaurants and lounges, a spa, and a variety of meeting rooms and banquet halls in its three clubhouses.
My accommodations were impressive, with hardwood floors, marble bathrooms, and plush European-style bedding highlighting my well-appointed, spacious 500-sf room. The 315-room hotel offers private balconies with panoramic views of the fairways, lakes, and mountains. Condominium accommodations are also available.
The 216 holes at Mission Hills are designed by a Who's Who lineup of professional golf notables including Jack Nicklaus, David Duval, Pete Dye, Nick Faldo, David Leadbetter, Jumbo Ozaki, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Greg Norman, Jose Maria Olazabal, Annika Sorenstam and China's Zhang Lian-Wei.
Meeting facilities at Mission Hills are as impressive as the array of golf courses. The gargantuan 630,000-sf Dongguan clubhouse has a 24,000-sf grand ballroom with capacity for 1,500 theater-style and 38 meeting rooms, ranging from 236 sf to 2,000 sf.
Mission Hills' location in the Pearl River Delta region is ideal for American meeting and incentive groups. Shenzhen, a thriving metropolis with 9 million residents, is only a 30-minute drive, and Hong Kong is 70 minutes away. Both cities offer a wealth of luxury and market shopping, sightseeing, dining, and entertainment opportunities.
Originally published Jan 01, 2009For more ideas, tips, and tools for better meetings and events,
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