Four Vietnamese golf courses make top 18 list in Golf Digest
Vietnam dominated the list of the 18 best golf resorts in Asia, which was recently published by Golf Digest, a leading golf magazine headquartered in the United States. The list was based on the contributions of many golf experts from around the world and included four Vietnamese golf courses.
One of the representatives of Vietnam, Mr Adam Calver, Director of Golf of Laguna Golf Lang Co, said that the course of Laguna Golf Lang Co has been hailed as Nick Faldo’s greatest design. He is one of the world’s top golf players and was ranked number one on the Official World Golf Ranking for a total of 97 weeks. He takes a personal interest in the ongoing enhancements of the golf course. The tropical beach’s coastline is amplified by the majestic beauty of the mountain backdrop that encases the entire Laguna Lăng Cô Resort. Faldo utilized every possible natural feature as he sculptured the course through ancient rice paddies and jungle mountains onto a peaceful beach that borders the signature Par 4, 9th hole. It provides a unique golfing experience like no other in Vietnam.
The staggering Truong Son mountain range surrounds the entire resort. Golfers are surrounded by pure nature. Walking in the course is like walking through a national park. There’s a 400-foot waterfall that cascades down the mountain behind the 2nd green and the 3rd and 4th holes are carved into a traditional Vietnamese rice field, which is home to a family of water buffalo that likes to wade in the flooded paddy fields. The 5th and 6th holes turn into the jungle with giant boulders lining the fairway. The dense tropical jungle covering the mountainside is very spectacular. As you walk off the seventh green you get your first view of the East Sea and can see the waves crashing onto the beach behind the Par 3, 8th green. The 8th, 9th and 10th holes are all down on the sandy coastline where you can easily view the East Sea from each hole.
The Bluffs Ho Tram strip has a course that was designed by Greg Norman, another legendary golfer. It was also listed as one of Golf Digest’s 100 best golf courses in the world earlier this year. The golf course sits perched on a coastal sand dune with elevation changes ranging from +5 meters to +50 meters. The ground surface has a sand base with limited vegetation. The Bluffs’ coastal location provides beautiful panoramic views of Ho Tram Beach and a unique atmosphere sure to offer a variety of challenges to even the most seasoned golfers. The Bluff’s clubhouse offers guests a variety of services including a pro shop with the latest equipment and accessories plus access to spacious locker room facilities and VIP salons.
The Bluffs opened to great fanfare in October 2014 when former US Open champion Michael Campbell played an exhibition match against two-time European Tour winner Robert Rock. A year later, the spectacular seaside links won “World’s Best New Golf Course” at the World Golf Awards and served as the site of the Ho Tram Open, a $1.5 million Asian Tour event that attracted some of the biggest names in the game, including eventual champion Sergio Garcia.
The 36-hole golf course at FLC Quy Nhon Beach & Golf Resort is a harmonious combination of unique design and the picturesque scenery of Nhon Ly Beach. The highlight of the course is Eo Gio, the most spectacular place to watch the sunrise in Vietnam. It was built on large sand dunes beside an evergreen pine hill and really poses a challenge for golfers. They can gaze out into the gigantic ocean and natural sand dunes, and enjoy the glorious sun and wind.
The collaboration of two leading golf companies from the USA, Nicklaus Design and Flagstick, created one of the most gorgeous golf links in Asia, and it’s recognized by international experts. FLC Quy Nhon Beach & Golf Resort won the Best New Golf Course in Asia-Pacific award and was voted amongst the Top Ten Best Courses in Vietnam at the Asian Golf Awards 2016. The Asian Golf Awards is the golf industry’s equivalent of “The Oscars” and is owned by Asia Pacific Golf Group (APGG), the oldest specialist golf media house in the region.
The fourth golf course on the list, Vinpearl Golf Phu Quoc, is located amidst the unspoiled woodlands of the northern part of Phu Quoc. It immerses you in nature on a magical island known for its tropical paradise and stunning beaches. Its breathtaking scenery and unique golfing experience promise to impress travelling golfers. Having opened in 2015, Vinpearl Golf Phu Quoc is the first and only 27-hole international standard course on the island that caters to all levels of golfers. Finely constructed on 100 hectares, this unique island course was beautifully designed by IMG Worldwide and features three clusters (9 holes) situated across three stunning locations. Each one distinguishes itself with signature terrain, challenging obstacles and varied levels of difficulty.
Other golf courses in the list includes Bali National Golf Club & Resort (Indonesia); Datai Resort’s ELS Club Teluk Datai (Malaysia); Banyan The Resort, Black Mountain Golkf Resort Hua Hin and Santiburi Beach Resort & Spa (Thailand); Fuchun Resort, Mission Hills Haikou and the Westin Blue Bay Resort & Spa (China); Grand XIV Naturo Golf & Spa Resort, Kawana Hotel & Golf Course, Onahama Ocean, and Hotel & Golf Course (Japan); and Sono Felice, Yong Pyong Resort, and South Cape Owners Club (South Korea).
