Windy Shao

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MISSION Hills Golfathon 2023 will be held from April 7 to Sept. 18 in Shenzhen and Dongguan, organizers said.

Launched in 2004 to celebrate Mission Hills’ recognition as the world’s largest golf club, the event offers the opportunity for golf enthusiasts to play the club’s 10 award-winning golf courses in the two cities.

Over the past years, it has attracted nearly 100,000 participants from over 30 countries to compete over courses designed by golf legends like Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo and Annika Sorenstam, with their ages ranging from 5 to 91 years old.

Some teenage players stood out from the competitions, winning the championship for six consecutive years from 2011-2016. Chen Guangshi, who was only 10 years old, won the title in 2011 and defended his title the following year.

This year’s competition will be divided into men’s evergreen group, men’s group, women’s group, boys’ group aged 15-17, boys’ group aged 12-14 and girls’ group aged 12-17.

Unlike the previous editions, all participating groups will have a complete set of gold, silver and bronze awards.

Players who finish the qualifying rounds on or before Aug. 31 will be qualified to participate in one of the semifinal rounds Sept. 11 at the Rose-Poulter Course. The top 100 players will be shortlisted for the Grand Finals to be held Sept. 18.

Han Zhishan, general manager of Mission Hills Golf Club, said that the event has gained popularity among golf amateurs.

“Although we have been affected by the pandemic in the last three years, we have achieved a stable growth in the total number of participants year on year,” he said.