DAVID CHU, Chairman of Mission Hills Group, made his debut on Golf Inc. magazine’s annual list of the “Most Powerful People in Golf” appearing in the publication’s October issue.

The magazine’s editors recognized Chu, the first Chinese national to make the list of golf power brokers, not only as the developer of Mission Hills but also as the individual most-responsible for the game’s growth in China.

A life-long golfer, he has been indispensable in popularizing the game, bringing more than 50 international tournaments to the country and engineering Tiger Woods’ first visit in 2001.

Mission Hills’ staying power is evidenced by the fact that the 28-nation Omega Mission Hills World Cup will be contested at the club from 2007 through 2018.

The event will be held from Nov. 22 to 25 this year.

Other key figures in the game on Golf Inc.’s list include Jack Nicklaus (No. 1), Tiger Woods (No. 5), PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem (No. 7), USGA Executive Director David Fay (No. 26), and Nike Golf CEO Bob Wood (No. 32).

Chu is No. 16 on the list.

(SD-Agencies)