Mission Hills Resort: Top 100 Golf Resorts in the World
Quick Facts
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Number of Rooms
Ritz-Carlton Haikou—91 rooms/16 suites/16 villas -
Amenities
Library / spa & fitness center / kids’ club / night safari -
Number of courses
21 -
Course designers
World Cup Course (Jack Nicklaus), Vijay Course (Vijay Singh), Ozaki Course (Jumbo Ozaki), Faldo Course (Nick Faldo), Els Course (Ernie Els), Pete Dye Course (Pete Dye), Olazabel Course (Jose Maria Olazabel), Annika Course (Annika Sorenstam), Rose-Poulter Course (Justin Rose & Ian Poulter), Leadbetter Course (David Leadbetter), Norman Course (Greg Norman), Blackstone Course (Brian Curley), Sand Belt Trails Course (Brian Curley), The Vintage Course (Brian Curley), Stepping Stone Course (Brian Curley), Lava Fields Course (Brian Curley), Meadow Links Course (Brian Curley), Stone Quarry Course (Brian Curley), Double Pin Course (Brian Curley), The Preserve Course (Brian Curley), Shadow Dunes Course (Brian Curley)
Resort Overview
Mission Hills China is a unique development designed not so much as a stand-alone golf resort but quite literally as an entire city. Or really several cities. Call it a county. It’s a playground certainly for golfers, but it’s a destination open to tourists of every stripe and poised to satisfy every possible desired adventure. But you’re here for the golf, so here goes. Officially there are 12 courses by former professional players that every golf fan would know. That’s the most of any single golf resort in the world. But there are 10 additional courses at nearby Mission Hills Haikou, all designed by Brian Curley of Schmit-Curley Design. (Curley actually helped the signature designers with the nuts and bolts of 10 of the 12 courses at Shenzhen.) The consensus is that the World Cup and Olazabal courses are the strongest of the lot. The World Cup by Nicklaus is the one that started it all. Built specifically to host the 1995 World Cup of Golf, the first-ever international tournament held in China. It kicked off the golf boom in the area and wears well its status as the OG of Mission Hills. The Olly course at MH Dongguan (his first) might be the strongest test on property. It will challenge your short game something fierce and has hosted the World Cup four times.
Highlights
Mission Hills holds the Guinness Book of World Record for most golf courses. Pinehurst is number two.
The resort features a proprietary mall, galleria and amusement park
Movietown Haikou is the Chinese version of the Universal Studios backlot
3 things to know
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Best time to go
Plan your trip between October and April for milder temps and lesser chance of typhoon. -
Best non-golf amenity
The Ecological Sports Center is an impossibly cool and surprising marriage of high-level activity and eco-tourism. -
Insider Tip
With so many different courses and activities to choose from, plan your trip in detail ahead of time so as not to get discombobulated once on property. You can always come back.