Asiad Country Club is Officially Unveiled as LPGA International Busan

The golf course will host the LPGA Tour’s inaugural

BMW Ladies Championship from Oct. 24-27

  The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) celebrated the official unveiling of its first golf facility outside the United States, and its second in all, on Monday when Asiad Country Club was reborn as LPGA International Busan in Busan Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea.

LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan, Busan Metropolitan City's Mayor Keo-don Oh, LPGA International Busan CEO Kyu-tae Hwang and Dr. Wolfgang Hacker, Head of Brand Management of BMW Korea, took part in the unveiling ceremony after making a brief tour of the 27-hole facility.

"I'm very happy to be able to open LPGA International Busan with the LPGA, which is leading the global standard for golf culture, and I expect this place to become a landmark for culture and tourism beyond just golf," said Mayor Oh. "Busan and the LPGA will work together to help Busan grow into a city that is central in leading Asian golf culture, starting with the first LPGA-certified golf course to open in the world outside the United States."

LPGA International Busan, which is located in Korea's second largest city on the southeastern coast of the peninsula, will host the LPGA Tour's inaugural BMW Ladies Championship from Oct. 24-27.

"I'm very impressed that LPGA International Busan is a completely different course from when I visited the venue in March last year," LPGA Commissioner Whan said. "It's a high-quality championship layout and with the best female players on the planet competing in the BMW Ladies Championship next month, the whole world will be able to experience the beauty of Busan. We look forward to collaborating with Busan to make LPGA International Busan one of the best golf destinations in Korea."

Asiad Country Club was a championship golf course created for the 2002 Asian Games in Busan before it underwent a complete renovation by world-renowned course designer Rees Jones, the "Open Doctor" who is known for his many designs and redesigns of more than 225 courses worldwide. Rees Jones Inc. design firm has an extensive portfolio, including seven U.S. Open venues, eight PGA Championship courses, five Ryder Cup sites and one President’s Cup site. His courses have hosted over 100 championship events.

Jones has strong ties to LPGA headquarters in Daytona Beach, Fla., where one of the two premier courses at the inaugural LPGA International was designed by his firm. LPGA International Busan is Rees Jones’ first golf course project in Korea.

About Rees Jones Inc.

The golf course design firm of Rees Jones, Inc. was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Montclair, New Jersey, USA. We customize the design and supervise the construction of new layouts for private clubs, resorts, real estate communities and public facilities in the U.S. and worldwide. We also renovate and update existing courses. Our redesigned venues have hosted numerous major championships, earning for company founder Rees Jones the nickname, "The Open Doctor." As a well-established golf course architecture company, we provide innovative solutions and tailor our timeless, traditional designs to each client's needs. We build strategic options into our courses to ensure flexibility and continuing interest for golfers at all skill levels. As stewards of the environment, we create sustainable golf courses that co-exist in harmony with nature. Rees Jones, Inc. offers a classical approach to golf course design, decades of experience and a family heritage of excellence.

About Busan Metropolitan City

Busan is the second largest city in Korea. Its deep harbor and gentle tides have allowed it to grow into the largest container handling port in the country and the fifth largest in the world. The city's natural endowments and rich history have resulted in Busan's increasing reputation as a world-class city for tourism and culture, and it is also becoming renowned as a hot spot destination for international conventions.

About the LPGA

The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950 and headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla., the association celebrates a diverse and storied membership with more than 2,300 members representing more than 30 countries. With a vision to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the very best of women’s golf, LPGA Tour Professionals compete across the globe, while the Symetra Tour, the official qualifying tour of the LPGA, consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. Additionally, LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals directly impact the game through teaching, coaching and management.

The LPGA demonstrates its dedication to the development of the game through The LPGA Foundation. Since 1991, this charitable organization has been committed to empowering and supporting girls and women through developmental, humanitarian and golf community initiatives, including LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, the LPGA Women’s Network and the LPGA Amateur Golf Association.

Follow the LPGA on its television home, Golf Channel, and on the web via www.LPGA.com. Join the social conversation at www.facebook.com/lpga, www.twitter.com/lpga and www.youtube.com/lpgavideo, and on Instagram at @lpga_tour.