2025 Mission Hills Golfathon launches

The 2025 Mission Hills Golfathon officially kicked off on Friday at Mission Hills Dongguan, marking the commencement of its 22nd annual amateur golf carnival.

Established in 2004 to celebrate Mission Hills’ recognition as the world’s largest golf club, the Golfathon provides golf enthusiasts with the unique opportunity to experience the club’s award-winning golf courses located in Shenzhen and Dongguan.

Han Zhishan (C), general manager of Mission Hills Golf Club, speaks during the opening ceremony at Mission Hills Dongguan on Friday. Courtesy of Mission Hills Group

Over the past 21 years, the Mission Hills Golfathon has successfully attracted nearly 130,000 participants from over 30 countries, competing on courses designed by golf legends including Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, and Annika Sorenstam.

Participants can enjoy a variety of packages while experiencing the Golfathon. Those who complete their rounds across nine different golf courses within five days will be awarded the "Ironman Spirit Award" certificate.

At the opening ceremony, Han Zhishan, general manager of Mission Hills Golf Club, emphasized the club's commitment to hosting the tournament for 22 consecutive years. "Driven by our original intention of 'connecting five continents, exploring China,' we have seen hundreds of thousands of players swing their golf clubs on our uniquely styled courses. It has become an annual golf carnival for our fans every summer," he noted. The event is a celebration of inclusivity and enjoyment, featuring seniors competing alongside young players and families participating together, highlighting the accessibility of the sport.

This year’s tournament features multiple categories, including the Men's Evergreen Group, Men's Group, Women's Group, Boys' Youth Group and Girls' Youth Group. All participants must complete nine qualifying rounds within the five-month tournament period. The top 100 players will advance to the finals, which will take place on September 26.

Looking ahead to the future of the tournament, Tenniel Chu, vice chairman of Mission Hills Group, expressed, “Our goal is to further internationalize this event and make it a grand occasion shared by amateur golf enthusiasts around the world.”