Vietnam, the New Golf travel Destination
I visited the city of Da Nanag in Vietnam recently as part of a site inspection trip of the Southern & Eastern Vietnam golfing regions. And what an impressive destination it is!
Da Nang is a vibrant port city with beautiful beaches, spectacular mountains and large rivers and bays that make for a visual treat for tourists and locals alike. There are three international standard golf courses within easy reach of the city, and a new mountain resort course, Ba Na Hills, designed by Englishman Luke Donald to be opened in April 2016.
Danang Golf Club is the premier course of the region. Designed by Australian Greg Norman, this course was awarded best Golf Course in Vietnam – 2013!
The Dunes course is situated on the coast amid 150 hectares of dunescape similar to what the world’s first golf courses were carved from. Its chief feature is a 7,160-yard, 18-hole, links-style layout that was designed in the true spirit of the game — blown-out bunkers, firm and fast fairways that bleed gently into wild seaside vegetation, rugged waste areas, swales and hollows. It lies in close proximity to two of Vietnam’s most historic destinations — UNESCO World Heritage sites Hoi An and Hue — and offers breathtaking views of the Marble Mountains, East Sea and Cham Islands.
Virtually next door to the Dunes course, is the impressive Montgomerie Links. Montgomerie Links is located midway between Hoi An and Danang, and is just 15 minutes’ drive from Danang International Airport. Eight-time European Order of Merit winner and 2010 Ryder Cup-winning captain, Colin Montgomerie, designed the beautifully presented links-style course. The 2012 Forbes Travel Guide rated Montgomerie Links as one of Asia’s ten most elite courses. Although the course doesn’t officially have a signature hole, the stunning par-5 12th is truly memorable. Playing slightly uphill to a bunker-riddled fairway, the hole is framed by the clubhouse in the background and has been described as the best par-5 in Vietnam.
Another golfing treat is Laguna Lan Co Golf Club. A pleasant 45 minute drive north of Da Nanag is the Laguna Golf Club, integrated into the Banyan Tree and Angsara resorts. An 18-hole, par-71 championship course designed by Sir Nick Faldo, the course delivers a golfing experience that can be enjoyed by the most experienced players and beginners alike. Voted “Best new course Asia Pacific” by Asian Golf Monthly in 2013, this is a very strategic golf course that rewards good ball-striking, but can punish the wayward strokes.
A calming sea breeze wafts across the course, which offers ocean views and an amphitheatre-like mountainous backdrop. The course weaves between trees, natural streams, over rice paddies and through impressive rock features to create a memorable, perse and unique golfing experience.
Da Nanag is the premier golfing destination in Vietnam. With four international standard courses open for play in 2016, no golf trip to Vietnam would be complete without a visit to this region.
For more information about a great golfing experience in Vietnam, contact the team at International Golf Specialists for a tailored and memorable golf holiday.
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