Why finding China's first global golf star is simply good business sense

Fans frustrated by the sinking status of the Hong Kong Open and keen to see major professional events return to the sprawling Mission Hills complex just over the border in Shenzhen will be disappointed after the Chu family admitted they are happy to let others in the mainland march over the trail they blazed.

Mission Hills, founded by China's "Mr Golf" David Chu Shu-ho, has been instrumental in establishing the sport on the mainland. But the late Chu's sons, group chairman and chief executive Ken and group vice-chairman Tenniel, told the Sunday Morning Post at their Haikou complex last week that further celeb-driven events such as Monday's exhibition between Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, or last year's celebrity pro-am, are more likelier than sanctioned tour events as they seek to develop a more family-oriented brand - and position Hainan as a global tourism destination.

But this doesn't mean a family synonymous with golf in China has given up on the game. The brothers insist they are determined to help produce China's first global star, admitting that an upsurge in the game can only be good for business.

"Whatever we have done we have been the first or the biggest," says Tenniel. "I don't think any club has hosted the World Cup five times. It really redefined the positioning of China golf. It stimulated a whole bunch of companies like BMW, HSBC, to get involved and do more professional events in this part of the world.

"We were the pioneers and now to move forward, we've done it, got the T-shirt, what's next? That's why we're moving on to the [more celeb-driven events] to get a much bigger perspective to grow the game of golf in China.

"It's our social responsibility to help grow the game … from the country's perspective it's not just about Mission Hills growing, it's how can we prosper the whole industry, how can we complement each other."