Will be the second of back-to-back events in China on the Asian Swing Will have a prize fund of US $2,500,000 The DP World Tour has today announced that the inaugural Hainan Classic will take place at Mission Hills Haikou from April 24-27, 2025. The Hainan Classic will be the second of two consecutive events in China, co-sanctioned by the China Tour, on the 2025 DP World Tour schedule following the Volvo China Open, further strengthening the Tour’s presence in the region while also marking the end of the Asian Swing, the third of five Global Swings that form the first phase of the 2025 Race to Dubai. Mission Hills Haikou, located on the tropical island of Hainan, is one of Asia’s most prestigious golf resorts. It boasts ten championship courses, including the renowned Blackstone Course, which will play host to the Hainan Classic. The venue previously hosted the 2011 World Cup of Golf, which was won by American duo Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland. Ben Cowen, Chief Tournament & Operations Officer at the DP World Tour, said: "We are delighted to confirm Mission Hills Haikou as the host venue for the inaugural Hainan Classic, which marks an exciting milestone in the DP World Tour’s continued commitment to China. “As the second of back-to-back tournaments in the country, this event will play a key role in the Asian Swing on the Race to Dubai, offering players another fantastic opportunity to compete at an elite level in this region. Our thanks must go to our Strategic Alliance partners at the China Golf Association for their sanction and support of this event. “I would also like to thank the Chu family and Mission Hills for their support in securing the venue. Mission Hills Haikou has long been a flagship venue for golf in Asia, and the Blackstone Course is a world-class test that has previously showcased some of the game’s greatest talents. We are excited to bring the DP World Tour to this outstanding resort." Tenniel Chu, Vice Chairman of Mission Hills Group, stated that as both a witness and participant in the evolution of golf in China, Mission Hills has consistently embraced its mission to advance the industry. “The establishment of the DP World Tour in Haikou, Hainan, not only aligns with the international sports objectives of the Hainan Free Trade Port but also represents a significant milestone for Chinese golf in its integration with the global event framework. Having been entrenched in the golf industry in Hainan for over a decade, we recognise that the introduction of premier international events will offer Chinese players a platform to compete against world-class athletes, thereby accelerating the development of local talent through real competitions. “Additionally, Hainan's distinctive tropical coastal climate and its year-round lush sports environment render it an unparalleled ‘winter training paradise’ on the global golf landscape. We extend our gratitude to the effective collaboration of the governments of Hainan Province and Haikou City, which have provided comprehensive policy and infrastructure support, showcasing the Free Trade Port's commitment to fostering international sports events. “Mission Hills is poised to utilise its leadership role within the industry and will leverage this event as a catalyst to assist Haikou in establishing a golf ecosystem that encompasses competitive sports, grassroots engagement, and youth training initiatives through a model of ‘event platform and industry network’, thereby positioning this green sport as a prominent emblem of the Hainan Free Trade Port.” He Fengxiang, Chairman of China Golf Association, said: "The China Golf Association is delighted that following the Volvo China Open, another top event under the DP World Tour, the Hainan Classic, will be hosted in China. “This not only provides opportunities for domestic golfers to compete against top international players, greatly enhancing the competitive level of golf in China, but also promotes the coordinated development of sports tourism, business cooperation, and other fields through the hosting of the event, effectively driving the prosperous development of the sports event economy and contributing to the construction of China as a sports power." Known for its striking volcanic rock landscape and strategic design, Blackstone has previously staged events such as the World Ladies Championship and the biennial World Celebrity Pro-Am, the latter of which was won in 2016 by Li Haotong, who recently picked up his fourth DP World Tour title at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. The Hainan Classic is set to attract a strong international field, featuring DP World Tour winners, rising stars, and homegrown talent eager to make an impact on home soil. With two events in China back-to-back, local fans will have the opportunity to witness world-class golf as the season gathers pace on the Race to Dubai.

World Golf Awards, the premier authority in acknowledging and honoring excellence in golf tourism, has announced the top golf tourism organizations for this year during its 11th annual Gala Ceremony held in Madeira Portugal. Mission Hills Shenzhen has been awarded the title of Asia's Best Golf Real Estate Venue for 2024 at the 2024 World Golf Awards. Located within a National 5A-level Tourist Attraction and encircled by 12 premier championship golf courses crafted by renowned golfers and legends, Mission Hills Resort Shenzhen presents an enticing blend of five-star luxury accommodations alongside some of the world's most exceptional sporting, spa, and leisure amenities. The outcomes are the culmination of a year-long investigation into the most favored golf tourism and hospitality brands globally. Votes were submitted by professionals within the golf industry, members of the media, and the general public, with the nominee receiving the highest number of votes in each category being declared the winner. About World Golf Awards World Golf Awards serves to celebrate and reward excellence in golf tourism, world-class courses and golf destinations. Launched in 2014, World Golf Awards aims to drive up standards within the golf tourism industry by rewarding the organisations that are leaders in their field. Votes are cast by professionals working within the golf industry and by the public (golf tourism consumers). World Golf Awards is the sister organisation of World Travel Awards, currently celebrating its 31st anniversary. For more information about World Golf Awards visit worldgolfawards.com. About Mission Hills Shenzhen The Mission Hills Group serves as both the owner and operator of premier resorts located in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Hainan Free Trade Port, establishing itself as a leader in China's hospitality, sports, and leisure sectors. The comprehensive Mission Hills resorts cover over 40 square kilometers and feature 22 championship golf courses, making it the largest golf facility globally. Additionally, the resorts include five-star hotels, award-winning spas, volcanic mineral springs, international convention centers, cutting-edge golf academies, a 28-pitch football training facility, Asia's largest basketball school, and the continent's most extensive tennis complex. Noteworthy developments at Mission Hills also encompass shopping and entertainment options at Mission Hills Centreville, the Bromsgrove School Mission Hills in partnership with the historic British boarding school, collaborations with prestigious hotel brands such as Hard Rock, Renaissance, and Ritz-Carlton, Mission Hills Movie Town, and innovative alliances with the NBA and PGA of America.

Mission Hills Group and Ram Sports held a press conference and signing ceremony at Mission Hills Haikou. According to World Pickleball Federation Chairman Seymour Rifkind, the International Pickleball Training Professional Association and the World Pickleball Federation plan to hold the 2025 Pickleball Games in Haikou in December of next year in an attempt to highlight the advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Port and pickleball's rise in popularity. For one week, there will be a variety of forums, city tours, and competitions as part of the first-ever Pickleball World Championships. Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong using a paddle and plastic ball with holes. It is a game that is appropriate for players of all ages and skill levels. Rules for pickleball are simple, making it a great introductory sport. To advance the global promotion and standardization of pickleball, Mission Hills Group has entered into an agreement with Ram Sports to introduce this internationally renowned sport in China. Introducing Haikou will open up new chances for Hainan's sports industry expansion. Based on the agreement, Ram Sports will collaborate with Mission Hills Group to construct the world's biggest indoor pickleball court at the Mission Hills Resort in Haikou, operate a pickleball training center and academy, and annually host the World Pickleball Forum Summit. Introducing a professional pickleball training system and resources will revitalize the popularity and development of pickleball in China, and offer residents and tourists additional sports and leisure choices. Shixin Wei, Deputy Director of Haikou Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports Bureau, Tenniel Chu, Vice Chairman of Mission Hills Group, Seymour Rifkind, Chairman of World Pickleball Federation, Alex Yuan, President of Ram Sports, and Mission Hills Group Sports Business Development Director Tiger Cai attended the event. It is a great honor to stand in front of you today at this momentous occasion, as Mission Hills Group and Ram Sports collaborate to support the development of pickleball, one of the most dynamic and quickly growing sports in the world," stated Tenniel Chu, Vice Chairman of Mission Hills Group. Over the next five years, 100 million pickleball players are expected to be developed in China, where the sport is expected to grow rapidly with plans to construct 10,000 new courts. With this ambitious effort, China is demonstrating its dedication to pickleball promotion and integration into the country's sports culture. Hainan is ideally situated to serve as a major center for the growth of the sport in China due to its advantageous geographic location and policies. Hainan Island benefits from special policy advantages as the largest free trade area in China. The president of Ram Sports, Alex Yuan, stressed in his speech the value of both a skilled teaching staff and professional venues with extensive amenities for pickleball's development. The opening of China's first professional pickleball base in Mission Hills Haikou by Ram Sports is a major turning point in the development of pickleball in China. Here, we'll build the biggest indoor pickleball court in the world, replete with a medical rehabilitation facility, a physical training facility, and a Mission Hills Football Training Base Athletes Hotel. Our goal is to improve Asian pickleball by using China and Hainan as a starting point and offering the WPF and IPTPA's professional training programs and resources.