Tour mourns loss of Patron
Asian Tour member Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe savoured a breakthrough victory on the Japan Golf Tour after completing a wire-to-wire triumph at the Sansan KBC Augusta ‒ winning by one shot over local favourite Ryo Ishikawa on Sunday.
Vincent, who finished as the leading Asian Tour player at the Tokyo Olympics earlier this month, had his wife, Kelsey, on the bag for him again at the Keya Golf Club ‒ where they won the Landic Challenge 7 tournament together on the Abema TV Tour in 2019.
The 29-year-old Zimbabwean closed with a bogey-free four-under-par 68 and a winning total of 17-under-par 271 to become the second player from his country to win on the Japan Golf Tour following Nick Price at the Suntory Open in 1999.
“I am surrounded by friends, and I have my loving wife besides me. I am surprised that we could win together again at Keya Golf Club,” said Vincent. “We added another great memory on my favourite course.”
Kelsey, a former star on Iceland’s professional soccer team, has been caddying for Vincent since they got married four years ago. “She watches my mental ups and downs when I play. She has never played golf, but she is perfect on yardages and reading the winds.
“During the tournament, you tend to think negative and all, but she tells me to calm down and be diligent. She is always by my side taking care of me. She is the world’s No.1 wife and a caddy,” Vincent added.
Vincent’s breakthrough also came a week after American Johannes Veerman, his good friend on the Asian Tour, won his first title on the European Tour at the D+D Real Czech Masters.
The COVID-19 pandemic may have forced the golf industry to abruptly hit the pause button, but many are braced and ready for the better days that are, hopefully, not too far away. We spoke to Tom Hutton, CEO & Founder of Tee Time Saver ‒ the official booking partner for Asian Tour Destinations ‒ who is a young entrepreneur with no doubts about where his company is heading.
Asian Tour Destinations is home to a growing number of the region’s elite and premier golfing venues, but it also boasts some key partners who are playing an important role in its emerging ecosystem.
This is certainly the case when it comes to Tee Time Saver, who are not only the exclusive network’s official booking partner, but also have the ‘Tech Sector’ well and truly covered for the group.
“We want to use technology to advance golf in Asia across all areas,” says Tom Hutton ‒ CEO & Founder of Tee Timer Saver.
“One of the key reasons we launched Tee Time Saver, was to help bridge the technological gap that exists in this part of the world. Having worked in the golf industry in Southeast Asia for many years, it was obvious that most of the major innovation was happening in the US and Europe, and taking a long time to find its way here, if at all. There has been, and still is, a huge opportunity to help innovate the golf industry in our region, across a plethora of areas.”
Searching For Innovation
Hutton worked for the Acushnet Company and their Titleist brand before launching Tee Time Saver in Singapore in 2018. They are now based in Bangkok, Thailand.
The company’s user-friendly online portal ‒ which allows visitors to search hundreds of golf clubs across the region in order to book tee times and packages ‒ is his sole focus at present and it’s a piece of tech that he is developing into a comprehensive search engine like no other in this part of the world.
Tee Time Saver’s website is becoming a popular goto portal for golfers, while their App is nearing completion.
“The model is little bit akin to Trivago, essentially,” says the Englishman.
“Basically, what we do is bring in tee time pricing from multiple booking partners and golf courses, via either API (Application Programming Interface) connection or through our Partner Portal, and allow golfers to search and book the best options in one place.”
He feels the booking process is a big part of golf which has been done the same way in Asia for many years ‒ in terms of making a phone call or sending text or WhatsApp message.
And while their website has been doing very well, they also have an app in development stage, which is due to be launched very soon.
He adds: “We started with the tee time booking process, but we believe there are many opportunities to branch into other areas.”
Different types of golf can be booked online through the site: a tee time, a stay and play package, a day trip package that involves transportation, golf tours for multiple days, and golf villa packages.
Trouble Off The Tee
Hutton is quick to admit that the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has been the biggest challenge his business has faced so far.
Tom Hutton, CEO & Founder of Tee Time Saver, is beginning to make his mark in the tech space of golf in Asia.
“We had a relatively good year when we started in 2018, and in 2019 we were cruising along, we had a lot of golf tours set up for 2020, but then boom COVID hits, and everything is cancelled, everything stops,” he says.
Other hurdles to overcome include the fact that booking tee times online is in its infancy in Asia and will take time for people to get used to. Also, golfers in Asia tend to be older and therefore less likely to book online or use an app.
“But the demographic of golfers in Asia is changing. It is much less an old person’s sport and more of a younger person’s game. All of these things have posed challenges, but we are very confident of overcoming all of them.”
Streamlining Through Tech
Motivation comes in the form of the feedback he gets from customers, golf clubs and agents, especially when they have sold a Tour and clients have had a great experience with their technology.
“We feel we are in a unique position as this space grows. We will make improvements to Tee Time Saver which will include an events section, and an Improve section which will be for golf lessons, golf simulator bookings and driving range bookings.”
He also has impressive B2B plans which will see them use their portal to try and add a lot more features to support and help the relationship between golf clubs and booking agents.
Kota Permai Golf & Country Club in Malaysia (above) and Thailand’s Black Mountain Golf Club (main picture) are among the hundreds of golf clubs in the region where golfers can book a tee time through Tee Time Saver. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
“The key belief to everything we are doing is to use tech to advance golf in Asia. So, whether it is on the consumer or partner side, and the B2B relationships they have, there are a lot of opportunities in this part of the world to streamline through tech. Our goal is to continue to innovate through technology, and help make life easier for both golfers and golf businesses in Asia.”
Please visit Tee Time Saver here: https://teetimesaver.com/
Singapore’s Abdul Hadi recorded the first back-to-back victory on the Singapore Pro Series Invitational Presented by FTAG today when he claimed the seventh and penultimate leg of the season in convincing fashion at Sentosa Golf Club.
The former national squad member won by three shots on the Serapong Course in the 36-hole mixed tournament, having triumphed by five strokes on the same course two weeks ago.
He carded his second successive three-under-par 68 for a six under total, finishing ahead of second-placed Mardan Mamat from Singapore ‒ who also came in with a 68.
“I played well today; I was very consistent,” said Hadi, who is affiliated to Sentosa Golf Club.
“With my back-to-back wins, I feel more confident, and I will take this vibe with me to Q School.”
The 26 year old has entered the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School next month and flies out tomorrow. And, having shot four sub-70 rounds on the famously difficult Serapong Course in the last two Pro Series events he could not have prepared better.
The victory also saw him move to the top of the Order of Merit for the first time, ahead of second-placed countryman Gregory Foo, while Mamat is third.
Mamat, a five-time winner on the Asian Tour, was looking for his first Pro Series win but had to settle for second for the third time on the new circuit.
He said: “I am actually happy for Abdul’s back-to-back wins today, and I wish him all the best for him at Q School and I hope he makes Singapore proud.”
Hadi’s start was not great as he dropped a shot on the par-five fourth but be courageously recovered by birdieing five out of the next seven holes before he could afford a bogey on 18.
The Singaporean was part of the 2015 SEA Games silver medal-winning team and in early 2019 finished first at the Qualifying School for PGA Tour Series-China.
Singapore’s Joshua Shou was outright third today after shooting 69 to finish on two over.
Foo and Singaporean amateur Justin Kuk were joint fourth after carding 73s to end three over.
The week’s event is the second from last leg of the circuit with the season-ending tournament being held from January 5 to 6, also at Sentosa ‒ home to the SMBC Singapore Open.
Each of the Pro Series legs counts towards the ‘Race to FTAG Cup’, where the winner of the Order of Merit will also receive a bonus of S$10,000.
American Johannes Veerman and Kazuki Higa from Japan flew the Asian Tour flag with distinction at the weekend winning on the European Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation respectively.
Veerman, an impressive performer on the Asian Tour since 2016, recorded his first victory in Europe when he won the D+D Real Czech Masters ‒ played at the Albatross Golf Resort.
And fellow Asian Tour member Kazuki Higa registered his second success in Japan by claiming the Shigeo Nagashima Invitational Sega Sammy Cup.
Veerman prevailed after a thrilling final round battle with playing partners Tapio Pulkkanen from Finland and Swede Henrik Stenson.
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – AUGUST 22: Johannes Veerman of United States poses with the trophy after winning the D+D Real Czech Masters alongside volunteers during Day Four of The D+D Real Czech Masters at Albatross Golf Resort on August 22, 2021 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Oisin Keniry/Getty Images)
The American shot a stunning four-under-par 68 to finish on 15 under par and claim a two-shot victory.
Pulkkanen and former Asian Tour member Sean Crocker from the United States finished in a tie for second on 13 under, with Stenson and American Paul Peterson – another Asian Tour member who won here in 2016 – another stroke back.
Veerman and Pulkkanen were tied playing the final hole, but the latter found the rough and then water to finish with a double bogey, and hand victory to Veerman, who closed with a par.
“It feels amazing. I was asked if I could put it into words and I can’t,” said 29-year-old Veerman, who last week announced his wife is pregnant.
“When I walked off the green I felt relief more than anything. Being neck-and-neck with Henrik, Tapio and Sean Crocker and a whole bunch of guys – to come out on top, breathe a sigh of relief. I’m elated. I feel amazing.
“To finally break out and win on the European Tour, it’s a dream come true being a European Tour winner. It’s something you practise for when you’re 12/13 years old, imagining making that putt. My putt was only a foot, so I wasn’t so nervous over it. I’ve got to soak it in. I feel amazing.”
Higa was equally as buoyant when he won by two at The North Country Golf Club ‒ an Asian Tour Destinations venue.
Kazuki Higa of Japan (Photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images)
A final day four-under-par 68 saw him beat countryman Kunihoro Kamii by two shots.
Kazuki started Sunday two shots behind the leader Kamii, but following a seesaw match Kazuki pulled away after making three straight birdies from the 13th.
“Overall, my goal for today was to tie the tournament record 20 under, and I am glad that I was able to accomplish it,” he said.
Kazuki’s first victory in Japan came at the Sansan KBC Augusta in 2019, which was cancelled last year because of the pandemic but will be played this week.
On this day in 2010 a certain Indian golfer became the first from his nation to win on the PGA Tour. Here is the story of how Arjun Atwal bravely prevailed at the Wyndham Championship.
Arjun Atwal has achieved many things during his history-making career.
He is the first from the sub-continent to: win a European Tour event ‒ achieved at the 2002 Caltex Singapore Masters; earn over US$1 million in career earnings on the Asian Tour, in 2003; and taste victory on the Korn Ferry Tour, when he lifted the 2008 Chattanooga Classic trophy.
The list of honours goes on and on: he was the 2003 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, claimed eight titles on the Asian Tour, and recorded three European Tour success.
But if that is the iceberg beneath the surface then the tip is his memorable victory in the Wyndham Championship, at Sedgefield Country Club, on the PGA Tour on August 22 in 2010 ‒ on this day 11 years ago.
It was a success full of emotion and significance.
BENEFITS AND RECORDS
It meant he became the first Indian golfer to clinch a PGA Tour title, but it also allowed him to regain his playing card on the most lucrative tour in the game within weeks of losing it.
And it saw him become the first Monday-qualifier to win on the PGA Tour in 24 years (Fred Wadsworth was the last to achieve such a feat at the 1986 Southern Open).
He was 37 years old at the time, entering the twilight of his career, and having been struggling with his game, partly through injuries, his greatest triumph ‒ which importantly earned him his status on the PGA Tour for the remainder of that year and the next two years ‒ came completely out of the blue.
GREENSBORO, NC – AUGUST 22: Arjun Atwal holds the championship trophy after winning the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club on August 22, 2010 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
Atwal, who had a three-shot lead going into the final round, carded a three-under-par 67 to secure the title by a shot, from American David Toms, with a total of 20-under-par 260.
“I don’t know if it has sunk in yet, seriously. Obviously, it was a long-time dream but until it happens you just keep doubting yourself. I had my doubts despite a three-shot lead,” said Atwal, at the time. He also picked up a cheque for US$918,000 for his effort.
“I am so glad, I was very nervous, the most nervous I have been in all my life. My swing wasn’t feeling great but I just grinded it out and got it done somehow.”
CALM IN THE STORM
In a composed final day performance, Atwal picked up strokes on the third and fourth holes to be two-under at the turn.
On his way back, he added another two birdies on the 14th and 16th but a bogey on the 12th prevented him from going 21 under, something that his friend and practice partner American Tiger Woods had asked him to aim for the night before the final round in a text message.
“My goal was to get it to 21 under today. I came up one short. Actually, that’s the number my friend Tiger Woods also told me to get to last night,” he said.
“It’s all text, we never talk. He’s busy I guess,” he added.
Atwal mentioned he was glad the Wyndham tournament was televised live in India where his parents were watching, even though it was the middle of the night there.
GREENSBORO, NC – AUGUST 22: Arjun Atwal hits his second shot on the 18th hole during the final round of the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club on August 22, 2010 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
“There’s definitely pride in what I’ve done in my career,” the Indian star said more recently.
“Playing on the Asian Tour taught me a lot and it’s a matter of pride to be first Indian to win on the PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, European Tour … that’s not bad. I’ve always dreamt about playing here [in the US] and this is the dream. Hopefully I can become the first Indian to win on Champions Tour as well. There may be generations doing much more after me, but they can’t take away being the first. It’s pretty cool coming from a country of 1.3 billion people.”
Bangladesh’s golfing talisman Siddikur Rahman has temporarily upped sticks and based himself in the United States so that he can play and practice more ‒ plus, he is also considering entering next month’s Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School.
The two-time Asian Tour winner and his wife, Samaun Anjum Auroni ‒ also a professional golfer ‒ are living in Dallas, Texas, where they have some Bangladeshi friends.
“I came for a few weeks, but I don’t know how long ‒ just until things improve back home,” said the 36 year old.
“I am here because in Bangladesh there have been long, long lockdowns, almost 80 percent of the time was lockdown, which only just ended,” said Siddikur.
He said his family were “really scared about COVID” and followed all the rules, didn’t go out and stayed at home. They are all vaccinated.
(Photo by Khalid Redza/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
The Bangladesh star has been able to make use of a five-year US visa and after a long and testing period, since lockdown started in March 2020, he is now able to play and practice regularly at a number of different venues.
He added: “Even the golf courses were closed [in Bangladesh], sometimes they were open, sometimes they were closed. I just could not practice that much as it was almost like full lockdown. So, I couldn’t do anything, and I got really fed up. That’s why I just said, ‘okay let’s go out!’.”
Much to his frustration he has only played in one tournament in 16 months: a local event played over three rounds on a nine-hole course which, of course, he won.
“I finished five under. The sponsor kindly gave us some money, and we just split the money and played.”
Siddikur first won on the Asian Tour in 2010 at the Brunei Open and triumphed in the Hero Indian Open in 2013 ‒ he has gone on to earn US$2 million in prize money on the Tour.
“My game is rusty and without tournaments, and as professional, we cannot judge our performance,’ said the Bangladeshi.
“To be honest I am not happy with my game for the last one and a half years because I could not play and practice, there were no tournaments. So, I will practice as much as possible and take the decision about the Korn Ferry Qualifying School in a few weeks. I am not yet decided if I will enter my name. I think I have until the end of the month to decide. I have a very good hope.”
(Photo by Arep Kulal/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
He has only played golf in the US twice before: a practice round at TPC Sawgrass many years ago, and in 2016 he played in a US Open qualifier in Los Angeles.
He said leaving Bangladesh was really hard, but absolutely necessary in order for him to further his career.
Pandemic collateral damage also meant he missed out on playing in the Olympics in Tokyo this summer; if it had been played in 2020 he would have qualified.
He competed in Rio in 2016 where, memorably, he was his nation’s flag bearer.
“I have no regrets, I already played in it. It was a big achievement for me,” he adds.
“I am really hungry to win again. I am just waiting for everything to go back to normal. I want to play again and see everybody. I am missing the Asian Tour a lot, the tournaments, the officials, all my friends.”
The award-winning Angkor Golf Resort ‒ which sits at the doorstep of the famous Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia ‒ is the latest high-profile golfing venue to become part of Asian Tour Destinations.
The popular resort, which boasts a Sir Nick Faldo-designed 18-hole layout, becomes the ninth golf club to join Asian Tour Destinations ‒ which was launched in 2020 to set up an affiliate network of premier golfing properties in the region that have direct ties with the Asian Tour.
“We are truly proud to be part of the Asian Tour Destinations program,” said David Baron, General Manager, Angkor Golf Resort.
“We are fully aware that the platform is going from strength to strength, and it allows us to align ourselves with some of the region’s leading venues. We look forward to utilizing the platform, enhancing our brand, and welcoming new golfers to our fairways.”
Opened in 2008, Angkor Golf Resort, has a proven track record for hosting tournaments including the 2012 Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic ‒ the Asian Tour event won by American David Lipsky.
The Resort is also the host venue for the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School in Asia, as well as the Faldo Series Asia Cambodian Qualifier, the Angkor Amateur Open and the Angkor Fourball championship.
“We welcome Angkor Golf Resort on board, and we are especially pleased to see them join as our first Cambodian venue,” said Ken Kudo, Associate Director, Partnerships, Asian Tour.
“We look forward to working with them and further developing our relationship. They represent one of the top-tier of golfing properties in Asia and are a perfect fit for Asian Tour Destinations.”
Among the many awards the Resort have won are the: 2016/17 Best Course in Cambodia, World Golf Awards; 2015 IAGTO Excellence Award; 2012 Best Golf Course in Cambodia, Golf Digest US; and 2011-16 The Rolex World Top 1000 Golf Courses.
David Lipsky of the United States holds the trophy of the Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic at Angkor Golf Resort on March 17, 2012 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. (Photo by Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore were the first to join Asian Tour Destination and were later joined by Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand; Classic Golf & Country Club in New Delhi, India; Kota Permai Golf & Country Club and Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club, both in Malaysia; Laguna Golf Lăng Cô, Vietnam; and Japan’s Sapporo Country Club and The North Country Golf Club.
Asian Tour Destinations will be adding other prominent venues from the Asia-Pacific region to its portfolio in the near future.
Singapore’s Abdul Hadi made it a memorable first win on the Singapore Pro Series Invitational Presented by FTAG today when he stormed to a commanding five-shot victory in the circuit’s sixth leg.
The 26 year old completed an eye-catching performance by adding a second and final round four-under-par 67 to his opening day 69 for a tournament total of six, on the demanding Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club.
His compatriot Koh Dengshan took sole possession of second place after coming in with a 69, while Singapore’s Jesse Yap shot 71 to finish third ‒ a shot further back.
Singapore’s all-time great Mardan Mamat ended fourth, following a 72, with one of the country’s top females Koh Sock Hwee, who returned a 73.
Hadi, a former national team member who turned professional in 2018, caught fire on the front nine making six birdies and a bogey to make the turn in five-under 31.
It meant he had a huge lead on the inward stretch and could afford to come back on one over, with two bogies and one dropped shot.
“Feels great to have my first Pro Series win!” said Hadi, who is based at the Sentosa Golf Club.
The win is especially good timing as Hadi along with Koh, Yap and Gregory Foo will leave for the United States soon and attempt to make it through the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School.
He added: “I had some inconsistent shots, but I managed to hold it together on the back nine. I feel extremely relieved now, and this definitely builds my confidence as I proceed to Q School next month.”
He was part of the 2015 SEA Games silver medal-winning team and in early 2019 finished first at the Qualifying School for PGA Tour Series-China.
Singapore’s Aloysa Atienza finished as the low amateur after signing for a 73 to tie ninth.
She said: “I’m happy to be playing the Pro Series for the third time and winning the low amateur. I have a few mental notes that keep me going to commit to every single shot which I’m glad worked well for me throughout the day.”
Singapore’s Gregory Foo maintained his lead on the Order of Merit after his second 73; while Hadi moved up into fourth. Yap is second, with Koh in third.
Singapore’s Amanda Tan, who became the first female to win on the Singapore Pro Series Invitational Presented by FTAG last week, carded a 76 to finish 16th in the 24-player mixed field event.
The week after next will see the seventh leg played from August 25 to 26, while the final season-ending tournament will be held from January 5 to 6. All the remaining events will be played at Sentosa ‒ home of the SMBC Singapore Open.
Each of the Pro Series legs counts towards the ‘Race to FTAG Cup’, where the winner of the Order of Merit will also receive a bonus of S$10,000.
Situated on Vietnam’s ‘golf coast’ in Hue, just north of Da Nang, the magnificent Laguna Golf Lăng Cô is patiently waiting for the coronavirus pandemic to clear so it can resume normal business. In June we spoke to Adam Calver, Director of Golf, Laguna Golf Lăng Cô, to get the latest news from the Asian Tour Destinations venue.
In general, how are things at the moment at Laguna Golf Lăng Cô? What level are you operating at?
For the month of May we were closed as a precaution to what was a fourth wave in Vietnam. Our region [Hue] right now has no confirmed cases but we are trying to minimise gatherings as a precaution. But before that we were achieving good numbers in terms of rounds of golf just from the domestic market. So, we were seeing some pretty strong growth domestically until the recent slowdown with provincial travel.
Actually, it was the same last year when we were doing well in number of rounds, but they brought in some social distancing measures which slowed it down. We feel by next month we will be back up seeing some strong numbers again. Last year we were only closed for about three weeks the whole year. This year some of the hot spots in the country are a little closer to us so we have been closed for about a month to minimise travellers.
The pandemic has proved that if you don’t have a strong domestic market, you won’t survive in times of crisis. Most of the city courses in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh have had a stong year with high domestic golf demand.
There have been some positives with the pandemic, allowing people to reset and refresh and rebuild. What have been the positives for you?
We took a negative situation and turned it into a positive opportunity to improve the conditioning of the course and review our service standards, and we have done some fairly aggressive renovations. We are finishing our event lawn between the 18th green and the clubhouse to allow for lager event gala dinners. We opened up our 19th Hole which we built last year, and we have a couple new tee boxes we enlarged ‒ made them a little more event friendly as well and we added a new tee to the driving range and three new target greens for our training camps.
Summarise the negatives, but no need to dwell on them.
For us and indeed all the courses on the Vietnam ‘golf coast’ in the Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An area we were seeing phenomenal growth coming into the pandemic; there was a new course opening almost every year in a two-hour radius of Danang International airport, so there was a lot of international hype. There was a lot of interest in the region but as the pandemic closed in we lost about 80% of our golf market. What is fortunate is that we did see a big rebound domestically. The good thing for us was that two of the newest courses opened up in the pandemic, so we think there will be a very strong rebound from the international market with a high demand to come and see the two new courses. The two courses are Hoiana Shores Golf Club and BRG Group opened up their second 18-hole layout which was designed by the Nicklaus group. So, we now have seven courses within a two-hour radius of Da Nang Airport and five of the courses are ranked in Vietnam’s top seven courses, which gives us the country’s most outstanding cluster of golf courses.
Were you the first course built there?
No, we were the third. The first was the Montgomerie Links, then the Greg Norman course at BRG, then Laguna Golf Lăng Cô with Sir Nick Faldo, and then the Luke Donald layout at Ba Na Hills. We opened late 2012 with a grand opening early 2013. I have been with the club four and half years and we upgraded the course in 2017 – 2019 and we were elevated to a Sir Nick Faldo Signature Design status in 2019 as a result. Sir Nick has been hands on with all our enhancements and he hosts his Faldo Series Asia Grand Final each year at our Resort.
Bring us up-to-date on all the facilities that Laguna Golf Lăng Cô has, and indeed anything new being planned.
Here at Laguna Golf Lăng Cô the 18-hole Sir Nick Faldo signature course is the centre piece of the larger integrated destination resort Laguna Lăng Cô. So, Laguna Lăng Cô is part of the Banyan Tree Group’s brand structure that includes multiple hotels, private residences, restaurants, sporting facilities, spas and golf – all stretched out along a 3km beach surrounded by tropical coast mountains.
So at our property we have Banyan Tree residence property which are two and three bedroom private villas with infinity pools along the hill tops overlooking the ocean on the far north side of the property. And then below that is the Banyan Tree hotel with private beach villas and lagoon villas as well as the Banyan Tree Spa, and right beside that is the Angsana Hotel which is a larger hotel structure with its own Angsana Spa and Ballroom and a wider variety of rooms categories – what’s really unique to the Angsana property is that the ocean facing hotel rooms have their own private plunge pools with the Sky Pool rooms having roof top ocean view private pools.
And along the golf course we have the Laguna Park golf residences which are two and three bedroom town homes along the 18th hole, and they are also about 200 metres from the beach and a mix of private pools and gardens.
So, we have a unique property here which is why we have spent a lot of time in the last four years upgrading areas and growing our capacity as our events keep getting bigger and bigger. Since all rooms, villas outlets and the ballroom are within walking distance to the club house it has been a great venue to host numerous tournaments and events.
Despite the current volatility are you able sell property?
Our current offerings for phase one of the Laguna Park units (they are all three-story town homes) are all sold out. And just before the pandemic we launched phase two of the Banyan Tree residences ‒ which is our elite ultra-luxury offerings ‒ and we have sold a dozen of them. We put things on hold for a little while just to see how things played out last year and then we started to reactivate that programme in Q1 this year as we are seeing a high demand for city dwellers seeking private luxury villas and our product is the perfect sanctuary especially if you’re an avid golfer.
Where are your buyers from?
It is a little bit of a mix. Just before COVID they were from throughout Southeast Asia, then for the last 12 to 18 months it has predominantly been domestic investors. We have seen that if you are going to be locked down our resort is a phenomenal place to spend a couple of weeks or months, so we have seen some long-stay guests and now with more people working remotely I am sure we will see more multi-month stays. Even at the beginning of COVID some of our Korean golfers stayed for two to three months
How many golfing properties does Banyan Tree have?
Banyan Tree group is a global hospitality brand. They have expanded into various real estate developments associated with their different brands. They have three golf courses under their direct ownership and management which would be the three Laguna properties: the Laguna Golf Lăng Cô here in Vietnam; their first property Laguna Phuket in Thailand; and Laguna Bintan in Indonesia.
And they do have a number of hotel properties like the Banyan Tree property in Mayakoba in Mexico, which has a Greg Norman designed course as part of the larger resort. Even in Seoul their city hotel has a golf academy attached to it.
You are known for hosting the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final. It has been a great success. What was the rationale behind staging it?
With Sir Nick Faldo being our designer, over the years he has come back to Laguna Golf Lăng Cô quite often; I think he has been here almost every year since the course was built ‒ that’s quite exceptional for a golf course designer.
He had been hosting the series in China for about 11 years, and it was brought up that he loved the Laguna Golf Lăng Cô course, and as the course was maturing we moved the tournament here the first year I was here in 2017 as a trial year.
Then we discussed putting more resources behind the event, and some marketing focused on the players, and the last four years it has been phenomenal seeing the growth of the series. We have managed to have Nick here for a week every year hosting the Asia Final. Because of COVID we will have to push the two Faldo Series Asia Grand Finals, 2020 and 2021, to later this year ‒ we will host them back-to-back and then we will be back on track for 2022.
The tournament is really an investment in the future of the game. We see a great value in helping provide an avenue for up-and-coming golfers especially across Asia and having Sir Nick come and host it himself is truly phenomenal and a testament to his commitment to grow golf globally. He hosts a clinic every night throughout the event where he gives short and long game lessons and all the players show up, as well as our members, and hotel guests, and he just puts on these private clinics. We had to put some lights in there some evenings because he went on so long with an enthusiastic audience answering questions and giving some one-on-one lessons to players.
In December last year, you became part of Asian Tour Destinations. What are you hoping to achieve through this relationship?
We have had a good relationship with the Asian Tour overs the years with the support through the Faldo Series and helping to grow the game at amateur and junior level. So, now as we start to step up and look to the future we want to help create opportunities and provide venues for Asian Tour professional events which we think also benefits tourism and exposure for the region. So we are pretty excited about the partnership and we are looking forward to things opening up to start discussions on bigger and better events.
We have had a few proposals going through various levels of tourism to host an Asian Tour event and different sponsorship enquiries but everything has been a start stop process because of COVID. But we feel we are getting to the end of the tunnel so we can move forward with more events for Vietnam as we seek to showcase the quality of the courses in our region. We want to leverage the power of golf to make Vietnam famous. There are an estimated 70,000 golfers in Vietnam and with a population of 95 million it is not unfathomable to think of a million golfers coming out of Vietnam in the next decade and we hope to see a number of them becoming tour players.
Adam Calver, Director of Golf, Laguna Golf Lăng Cô
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