Mission Hills: Profits for the Family, for the People, for the Nation
[Sponsored Article] The first article on Dr Ken Chu demonstrated how much his father and family relationships meant to him. The diligence and order Ken puts into Mission Hills reflects well on his upbringing. Not only did he pledge to help his father at age six, that’s also when he began working for his pocket money: polishing shoes, washing the dishes, doing household work. Ken tells us, “That’s when I learned the value of money, discipline, the meaning of ‘No pain, no gain’.”
[Sponsored Article]
The first article on Dr Ken Chu demonstrated how much his father and family relationships meant to him. The diligence and order Ken puts into Mission Hills reflects well on his upbringing. Not only did he pledge to help his father at age six, that’s also when he began working for his pocket money: polishing shoes, washing the dishes, doing household work. Ken tells us, “That’s when I learned the value of money, discipline, the meaning of ‘No pain, no gain’.”
Still a young [40-year old], Ken is already implementing every component from his Three Ps – profits, people, and planet – into his business and personal life. There’s another ‘P’ that fits: philanthropy. Along with monetary donations, Ken Chu frequently gives motivational speeches to students; as the Mission Hills Chairman and CEO told us, charity isn’t just about donating money; “Inspiring the young to do their best, offering advice on how they can run a business – these are equally vital.” Ken points to his family background as a critical ingredient to his own success: his father, David Chu, was a famed disciplinarian who never went easy on his son. The Chus had their first car when Ken was six, and that’s when he realised the magnitude of the sacrifices his father made for the family’s sake. Ken’s response then? “I told my father I’d help him with his business – he was very pleased when he heard that.” Ken’s business training started with the weekends spent at David’s office; though the younger Chu didn’t understand what his father was doing, it allowed Ken to witness David’s work ethic, and that left an indelible mark on him.
His mastery of time and efficiency is on full display during three days of the year: his birthday, New Year’s Eve and Lunar New Year. Ken had his birthday recently, and this is how he celebrated – by 9.30am, he’d run 10km, eaten breakfast and travelled to three cities. Most mortals would struggle to do all that in a week, let alone a morning.
He’s known as China’s “Mr. Golf,” but you’ll be surprised to hear he didn’t appreciate the sport as a youngster. “As a student, I played a lot of vicious sports; I thought golf was a retirement game,” Ken remembers. Upon returning from Canada to help his father, he discovered what the green fairways represented: “It’s a business language, it’s a social networking tool, it’s an extension of the office.”
Thrust into the limelight at age [32], Ken took the reins of the world’s biggest golfing facility when the elder Chu passed away from nasal cancer. Helped by a smooth transition, Ken and younger brother Tenniel have planted their own vision in the company; today, Mission Hills caters to the entire family, from grandparents to small children.
Ken states, “Golf in Asia is still male dominated, but I’m not a believer of the ‘golf widow,’” referring to golfers who leave their wives behind. Mission Hills’ array of sporting and recreational facilities guarantees their customers’ families experience Dr. Chu’s ‘3 Hs’: Happiness, Health and Harmony.
