Inaugural Players Championship to make pioneering trip to Angkor Golf Resort
Da Nang an 80-kilometre stretch of coastline on Vietnam’s eastern shores is home to seven wonderful golf courses – with two of them, Laguna Golf Lăng Cô and Legend Da Nang Golf Resort, Asian Tour Destination venues. Jonathan Ponniah reports on the dunes, paddy fields and beaches of this prime strip of golfing neverland.
1: Vast Variety
Variety, they say, is the spice of life. The same is true for a golf getaway – and Da Nang, in central Vietnam, serves up a delectable mix of golf that whets the appetite and satisfies all cravings.
There are currently no less than seven golf courses in greater Da Nang, along an 80-kilometre coastal stretch from Lăng Cô in the north to Hoi An in the south, with more set to open over the next few years.
From rugged links style courses to parkland layouts and even a highland course, there’s something to suit all preferences in the area known collectively as the Vietnam Golf Coast.
Lady golfer teeing off at the Legend Da Nang Golf Resort’s Norman Course
2: World-Class Designers
Headlining the Da Nang golf portfolio are two Asian Tour Destinations venues, offering layouts designed by three of the biggest names in golf – Laguna Golf Lăng Cô’s Sir Nick Faldo Signature Course, and the Greg Norman and Jack Nicklaus 18s of the Legend Da Nang Golf Resort.
The beachside par-four 9th hole of Laguna Golf Lăng Cô
Laguna Golf Lăng Cô’s par-71 layout challenges golfers with sprawling waste areas, massive boulder outcrops and huge, undulating greens, while paddy fields and a beach-fronting stretch midway through add stunning visual aesthetics.
The Legend Da Nang’s links-style Norman Course is reminiscent of traditional Scottish links golf and the sand-belt courses of Norman’s native Australia, featuring wide, rolling fairways, sculptured bunkers, heavily contoured greens and sandy dunes.
The water-laden 18th hole of the Nicklaus Course at Legend Da Nang Golf Resort
The fully floodlit Nicklaus Course plays to a total par of 73, with five par-fives on the scorecard, and has a distinctly Floridian look with lush, tree-lined fairways and scenic water hazards bordered by wooden bulkheads.
Close to The Legend Da Nang is Montgomerie Links Golf Club and its linksy 18 holes designed by Scottish legend Colin Montgomerie, while about half an hour’s drive inland is Luke Donald’s Ba Na Hills Golf Club set in scenic highlands. Da Nang’s current golf inventory is rounded off by two relatively new courses to the south of Hoi An Ancient City – Robert Trent Jones Jr II’s Hoiana Shores and Vinpearl Golf Nam Hoi An.
3: Amazing Hospitality
The central Vietnamese are naturally friendly folk, and they take whatever they do for a living very seriously.
Whichever course you play, the golf experience is enhanced by this trademark efficiency and hospitality. From the reception staff to the well-trained caddies, there is a genuine warmth and an infectious enthusiasm for even the most mundane of services.
Service with a smile at Laguna Golf Lăng Cô
Laguna Golf Lăng Cô’s Director of Golf, Stephen Banks, noted: “What makes Laguna Golf Lăng Cô really special is the people, the gentle nature and hospitality of the associates who work here. You go into the locker room, you go to the bag drop area, it’s just very warm, welcoming and accommodating,” noted Banks.
4: Fabulous Facilities
Complementing the world-class golf are excellent facilities, with each club offering the full range of services and amenities. For those who wish to hit a few balls and hone the short game before teeing off, the practice areas and driving ranges are also of the highest standards.
The Legend Da Nang’s 4,000 square metre clubhouse is one of the best in the region, with a well-thought flow and full sports, leisure and conferencing facilities.
Legend Da Nang Golf Resort’s massive pro-shop
Laguna Golf Lăng Cô has a compact and charming clubhouse, enhanced by full resort facilities and bespoke accommodation as it forms part of Laguna Lăng Cô Resort.
If you’re in Da Nang without your golf set, fret not as branded rental clubs are readily available. The well-stocked pro-shops offer the latest equipment and accessories, along with club logo merchandise items which make great souvenirs or gifts.
5: Culinary Delights
Nothing works up an appetite quite like a round of golf and, to satisfy the palettes and fill the tummies of hungry golfers, the cuisine served at every clubhouse in Da Nang is absolutely lip-smacking.
Enjoy a hearty bowl of Phở Bò (beef soup noodles) after a round!
From traditional Vietnamese favourites such as Phở Bò (beef soup noodles) and Cơm Gà (chicken rice) to Western staples, you can expect and enjoy a sumptuous and ample meal to fuel up for the next round.
For coffeeholics, each meal can be perfectly rounded off with the robust local drip brew. Those who prefer something a little more intoxicating can down a few of the local lagers such as Larue and 333!
6: Off Course
If you’re thinking of bringing non-golfing family or friends to Da Nang, rest assured that there’s much more to see and experience than golf. Straddling the mouth of the Han River as it empties into the sea, the vibrant city offers something for everyone with its sumptuous cuisine, bustling markets and street coffee culture.
Rustic Hoi An makes for a great day outing
Excursions are also easily arranged to popular tourist spots such as the Son Tra Peninsula, Ba Na Hill Station and Hoi An. If you only have time for one, opt for Hoi An Ancient City which is less than half an hour away. Beautifully conceived and crafted, the former port city has a colourful history reflected in its rustic mix of old Chinese shophouses, stately French colonial building, colourfully lit canals and ornate bridges.
For golfers though, golf is and always will be the main course!
Main picture: Postcard par-three – Laguna Golf Lăng Cô’s 8th hole
Few golf clubs can come close to matching Kota Permai Golf & Country Club’s trophy cabinet, which is virtually spilling over with awards for its sublime golf course and superb facilities.
It’s not just the hardware that makes Kota Permai – an Asian Tour Destinations partner – one of the great success stories of Malaysian golf. Driving the venue’s rise to the pinnacle of the industry in this region is a talented and highly committed management team, helmed by the visionary leadership of Gamuda Land Executive Director Tang Meng Loon, writes Jonathan Ponniah.
“The human element plays a crucial role in keeping Kota Permai at the forefront of the golf industry. While the course design, maintenance, facilities and other infrastructure are obviously important, it is the people who bring life and character to the club and contribute to its success,” said Tang, who has been with Kota Permai since 2007.
“We have a competent and visionary management team who help set the club’s strategic direction, while making critical decisions and ensuring efficient operations. We empower them and give them a free hand to showcase their abilities. Once you set the goals and empower the department heads, they feel engaged, motivated and committed towards achieving those goals. They don’t just come to work … they come here filled with passion and with a sense of ownership. That’s the key to success,” he elaborated.
Kota Permai’s stunning Ross Watson-designed layout is always in pristine and tournament-ready condition
Tang was quick to point out that teamwork was another key element. “Collaboration and coordination among all the departments and individuals is crucial. Everyone plays a unique role in creating a welcoming, enjoyable and top-notch golfing experience for members and guests. Everyone’s important. Everyone plays a part, and we appreciate and acknowledge that,” he noted.
“We always push our team beyond boundaries and encourage them to strive for even higher standards. No doubt we are up there now, but it’s not easy to stay at the top … so we have to keep on pushing forward.”
And the awards continue to pile up. Recently, Kota Permai was voted Golf Club of the Year for Malaysia at the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) Awards in Abu Dhabi.
Indeed, It’s hard to believe that Kota Permai only celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. In the space of slightly over a quarter century, the club is already an icon of the Asian golf industry and is invariably the first choice when it comes to international tournaments in Malaysia. Among the marquee professional events that have been played on its pristine fairways and super-slick greens are the Malaysian Open (2008, 2020), Selangor Masters (2011, 2012), Volvo Masters of Asia (2002-2004) and Volvo Masters of Malaysia (1997-2001).
Kota Permai will once again be in the limelight this November when the 2024 season-ender of the local professional circuit, the Toyota Tour Championship, tees off as a co-sanctioned event with the Asian Development Tour.
“We always push our team beyond boundaries and encourage them to strive for even higher standards” – Tang Meng Loon
Tang stressed that the hosting of big events enhances the club’s reputation and serves as an effective branding platform.
“Hosting these events enhances the reputation of Kota Permai and establishes the club as a premier golfing destination. They also provide the opportunity for us to showcase our golf course, facilities and hospitality to a wider audience,” he said.
“The events also bring significant media attention and exposure to the club, generating positive publicity and coverage locally and internationally. This definitely helps attract new members and corporate partnerships, as well as additional revenue streams.”
The big events also serve as additional fodder for the fire of continuous improvement. “When we host a major tournament, our maintenance team will strive to keep the course in top-notch condition. We undergo inspections by agronomists from the tours and they will give feedback on any areas that need improvement, and we also work closely with the tournament directors and referees on golf course set-up and markings,” Tang shared.
Having said that, Kota Permai’s Ross Watson-crafted course is always in tournament-ready condition. Long-time course superintendent Lee Chee Keen, aka ‘Bunker Lee’, is one of the best in the business – and it helps that Tang himself has an agronomy background, having started out in the industry as a greenskeeper.
“I always stress to the team that they must look at the details, especially the greens. We have to keep the greens healthy and the speed must be a minimum of 10.5 for normal play, pushed up to 11 to 11.5 for tournaments. That is the benchmark that we set,” Tang stressed.
“When I play golf, I will also look at the details. If I observe certain things that are not right, I will immediately tell the team.”
Kota Permai’s swanky new cigar lounge
Golf aside, Kota Permai is very much a social hub, offering the full range of sports and recreational facilities. These are also continuously improved on and enhanced, with recent developments including a swanky new cigar lounge.
“Our on-going projects are a new two-storey gym and the upgrading of the badminton courts, and we also going to create two new F&B outlets – a seafood restaurant and a poolside café,” Tang revealed.
There’s thus always something new or improved each time one pops by Kota Permai. And a new award or two in that already over-crowded trophy cabinet!
Famed for hosting some of the most prestigious golf events in Asia, The Serapong at Sentosa Golf Club has borne witness to countless remarkable moments in its storied history.
Following further success in 2023, it has secured its place alongside the most esteemed golfing destinations in the world after being named the ‘World’s Best Golf Course’ at yesterday’s World Golf Awards in Abu Dhabi, joining illustrious venues such as the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie, Augusta National, and Shinnecock Hills in recent years to have claimed this honour.
With an unrivalled reputation for excellence, The Serapong often receives praise from top players who have graced its fairways. Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng, who emerged victorious at the SMBC Singapore Open in 2017, shared his admiration for the course’s outstanding layout and conditioning, saying: “The Serapong is one of the best conditioned courses I have ever played. Players enjoy playing fair courses and this is something I found at Sentosa Golf Club. It was difficult and challenging, but also fair and I loved this during my victory there.”
Sadom Kaewkanjana claimed the SMBC Singapore Open in 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/SPORTFIVE.
This is a sentiment echoed by fellow Asian Tour star and 2022 SMBC Singapore Open champion Sadom Kaewkanjana from Thailand: “It is not only one of the most favoured course amongst Asian Tour players but undoubtedly one of the most challenging as well for many golfers. With a perfect design and great conditioning, it has so many great holes, including the first three that work through the hillside before dropping down towards the lagoon and the coastline.”
Earlier this year, The Serapong, having staged the Singapore Open from 2005-22, welcomed the LIV Golf League for the first time as Talor Gooch landed the first back-to-back triumph on the circuit. The American came through a play-off with Spaniard Sergio Garcia, a former winner of the Singapore Open five years ago, with Brooks Koepka a shot back.
American Koepka, who would go on to lift the PGA Championship only a few weeks’ later, emphasized The Serapong’s allure as a ball striker’s paradise: “It’s a ball striker’s golf course. You’ve got to leave yourself some good opportunities from the fairway. These greens are just so pure that you can roll it in pretty easy if you just start it on line.”
Phil Mickelson has been a regular visitor to Sentosa Golf Club for the past 20 years.
For two days, Phil Mickelson was also in contention at Sentosa Golf Club and the six-time Major winner gave an interesting insight into his preparations to tackle The Serapong.
“You’re going to have a lot of shots from 160 to 210, a lot of full six, seven, eight iron shots, and you need to hit those really well and you need to drive the ball well. If I want to play well here, those are the areas that I really need to focus on,” said the American.
The Serapong has always been a jewel in the Singapore golfing crown but the renovations in 2020 have now elevated it to a new level, after the fairways were replaced with fresh grass and new drainage infrastructures, tee boxes re-lasered to reinstate a tabletop flat finish, and bunkers given new liners with new white sand to improve consistency, texture, and playability for decades to come.
When Garcia played there in April, he made special mention of the ‘pure greens’. He said: “It’s a course that I enjoy. I feel like if my game is a little bit on, and I hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens, give myself a lot of birdie opportunities, and then the greens are so pure that if you’re rolling it with a little bit of confidence, you can make some putts.”
Sergio Garcia won on The Serapong in 2018 and lost in a play-off there this year.
Alongside being named the best course on the planet at the awards, there was additional cause for celebration as The Serapong also collected the award for Singapore and Asia’s Best Course.
These endorsements from the world’s best players, combined with its recent accolades, have firmly establish The Serapong as an icon of world golf and Singapore, inviting golfers from around the world to explore its magnificence.
Having bounced back from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sapporo Country Club and The North Country Golf Club are now looking to make the most from their tie-up with Asian Tour Destinations (ATD).
As well as targeting growth in the number of overseas visitors, the two Japanese venues are gearing up to host significant professional tournaments in the coming months.
From June 29 to July 2, The North Country Golf Club will stage the Shigeo Nagashima Invitational Saga Sammy Cup on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation.
Meanwhile, the Makomani Country Club, part of the Sapporo Country Club, will welcome the Japan LPGA Tour for the MinebeaMitsumi Ladies Hokkaido Shimbun Cup from July 6-9.
The North Country Golf Club.
Both clubs believe their association with the ATD will help in increasing their profile around the region and, in turn, attract more international visitors.
“We are pleased to be part of the Asian Tour Destinations network,” said a spokesperson for The North Country Golf Club, whose course was designed by Japan golfing legend Isao Aoki more than three decades ago.
“As well as having more than 700 members we’d like to see more golfers from overseas coming to play our course,” added the spokesperson.
Another element to the appeal of The North Country Golf Club is that during the course closure in the winter months from the end of December to the beginning of March, skiing activities are available.
“Each year we have more than 20,000 visitors during that period with between 60% and 70% from Asia.”
Also in Hokkaido Prefecture is Sapporo Country Club, which boasts a total of 81 holes split between three different locations.
Min-young Lee of Korea celebrates winning the Hokkaido Meiji Cup at Sapporo Country Club, Shimamatsu Course, last year. Picture by Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images.
On the outskirts of Sapporo, about 19 kilometres from the city centre, the 36-hole Makomanai Country Club is adjacent to Shikotsu-Toya National Park, while the 27-hole Takino Country Club is a little further away.
Just 10 kilometres from downtown Sapporo, the 18-hole Hitsujigaoka Country Club is the most easily accessible of the three locations.
According to Mr Yamazaki, Sapporo Country Club’s General Manager, joining ATD has been beneficial on a number of fronts.
“Since joining ATD, the degree of interest in our club has gone up among travel agencies, which has resulted in a positive effect on the number of reservations. It’s also made our staff proud and motivated,” he said.
“The Asian Tour Destinations network is made up of wonderful golf courses in various countries. We’re delighted to be a part of that and through our partnership with ATD we look forward to further promoting our club around the region,” he added.
Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore has announced that it has become the world’s first carbon neutral golf club, delivering on a commitment made during golf’s HSBC Women’s World Championship in 2021.
As part of its sustainability commitment, and to complement ongoing carbon abatement efforts identified during its carbon profiling, the Club has offset 5,000 tonnes of CO2, the annual equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions from 12.4m miles driven by an average petrol-powered car and CO2 emissions from 630 homes’ energy usage.
Since April 2021, the Club has with the support of its members set aside $1 from every round of golf to procure high quality carbon credits from the Katingan Mentaya Project (Indonesia) and Cordillera Azul National Park (Peru).
The Cordillera Azul National Park project helps restore degraded forestry, preventing 25.2 million tonnes of carbon being released into the atmosphere to date, as well as supporting 665 jobs in the local community, 40% of which are held by women; whilst the Katingan Mentaya Project protects more than 150,000 hectares of peat swamp forest, generating 7.5 million carbon credits; its impact is equivalent to removing two million cars off the road each year.
Following on from its initial pledge, Sentosa Golf Club’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality formed part of its commitment to the UN Sports for Climate Action Race to Zero initiative, as well as the Sentosa Carbon Neutral Network, with a number of steps taken to compensate its carbon footprint, all under the umbrella of its sustainability campaign, GAME ON.
The Club was also the first in Asia to introduce carbon products in the form of Biochar into their agronomy programme to help remove more carbon from the atmosphere.
Other initiatives, pioneered over a decade of work, were identified to help with the reduction of scope 1-3 carbon , including a state-of-the-art irrigation system and agronomy equipment that creates efficiencies and minimises product wastage seen by over fertilisation and watering.
The introduction of an all-electric golf cart fleet powered with lithium batteries, car charging stations and waste digesters, also helps to grind down food and horticultural waste to reuse as fertiliser on the golf course.
Further initiatives were also introduced to increase energy efficiency, resulting in the Clubhouse being awarded the Green Mark Certification.
These complement other on-course efforts that saved over 300 different species of trees during the redevelopment of the Club’s Tanjong course, and the introduction of stingless bee colonies on-site that thrive in an ecosystem alongside otters, peacocks, long-tail macaques and other migratory and native birds.
Endangered mangrove species situated in The Serapong Lagoon and heritage sites such as Fort Berhala Reping have also been preserved within the natural landscape of the golf courses.
On achieving the carbon neutrality goal, General Manager and Director of Agronomy, Andrew Johnston highlighted the importance of this historic milestone for the golf industry, saying: “We are proud to see that Sentosa Golf Club has achieved/become the world’s first carbon neutral golf club and are extremely proud of this achievement. Ever since we began to share the importance of our sustainability journey back in 2018, we have always been focused on becoming an industry leader and inspiring others to follow suit by implementing eco-friendly initiatives to help reduce our overall carbon footprint. Hopefully this is just the beginning and more clubs around the world will commit to becoming carbon neutral in the near future.”
Sentosa Golf Club joins others in the sporting world, such as English Football League side, Forest Green Rovers, who became the world’s first carbon neutral football club, with the likes of Formula 1 and World Athletics both making carbon neutral pledges in recent years.
Asian Tour Destinations have named The Toro Company as official partner for golf course equipment and irrigation. Toro and distributors throughout the region will support the network of world-class venues with products, technologies and service to help them create optimal course conditions for players and members.
The strategic alliance is part of Toro’s overall commitment to supporting the development of golf in Asia. Beyond supplying equipment, Toro will help advise golf courses on irrigation techniques and practices for achieving the best quality of cut and after-cut appearance. Toro distributors will also provide equipment health checks and training on equipment operation and maintenance.
“We’re honored to have this opportunity to work with Asian Tour Destinations,” said Richard Walne, Managing Director, APAC, at The Toro Company. “There’s an excellent synergy between Toro and the venues, and we’re looking forward to collaborating with them to create high-quality playing experiences that advance the game of golf in this market.”
In addition, venues in the Asian Tour Destinations network will have access to Toro’s full line of hybrid and electric equipment and water-saving irrigation solutions.
“Toro has a long history of dedication to sustainability with innovations that support our mission to enhance the beauty of the land,” Walne said. “These venues are the latest to join golf courses like Sentosa Golf Club in using Toro solutions to support their sustainability goals.”
Singapore’s Sentosa Golf Club has a 10-year partnership with Toro for golf course maintenance equipment and irrigation systems that align with its pledge to become the world’s first carbon-neutral golf club.
Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong Course.
“The venues in the Asian Tour Destinations network are key to elevating the game of golf in Asia, and Toro is proud to provide the products and expertise they need,” Walne added. “We can’t wait to see what the future brings as we grow together.”
Asian Tour Destinations is an exclusive network of world-class golfing venues with direct ties to the Asian Tour. Presently, 12 golf clubs ‒ representing the top-tier of golfing properties in Asia ‒ are part of this affiliate network programme.
David Rollo [main picture, left], Chief Operating Officer of the Asian Tour, said: “As a global brand reaching over 125 countries, The Toro Company holds the leadership position in nearly every product category in which it competes. High-quality products, exemplary service and support, and legacy of trusted relationships industry-wide have made Toro the global leader of innovative turf maintenance equipment and irrigation technologies for the golf market.
“We are delighted to welcome Toro as a Partner to Asian Tour Destinations. With their expertise and technology, Toro not only has the ability to support Asian Tour Destinations network venues, but also tournaments on the Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour.”
When it comes to listings of the world’s most exotic and desired golfing getaways, Phuket invariably features prominently. Feature by Spencer Robinson, Contributing Editor – Asian Tour.
With its spectacular array of courses, immaculately manicured fairways and greens, and world-renowned caddies, this southern province of Thailand provides a stunning backdrop for a golfing holiday.
Add in pristine white beaches, cooling blue lagoons, tropical mountains and arguably Thailand’s most beautiful sunsets and it’s easy to understand the pulling power of the largest island in the country, located off the west coast of the mainland in the Andaman Sea.
Proudly rated among the Phuket region’s most cherished golfing gems are Laguna Golf Phuket [main picture] and Aquella Golf & Country Club.
In terms of distance, they may be some 60 kilometres apart, but the two venues are inextricably linked as part of the elite Asian Tour Destinations network, signifying their presence among the top tier of golfing properties in Asia.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO of the Asian Tour, said: “Being part of Asian Tour Destinations means that each venue is certified Tour-calibre and operates a comprehensive range of facilities and services to their members and guests under tournament-ready conditions, all-year round.
Phacahra Khongwatmai of Thailand won the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship at Laguna Golf Phuket, in December 2021. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“We’re delighted that Laguna Golf Phuket and Aquella Golf & Country Club have joined the network. In the process, they’re underscoring the reputation and appeal of Phuket as a genuinely world-class golfing getaway.”
Set within Laguna Phuket Resort – Asia’s first fully integrated destination resort with a variety of hotel options, including Banyan Tree Phuket – the Laguna Golf Phuket course is an idyllic golfing paradise.
Darren Robson, Director of Golf at Laguna Golf Phuket, said: “We’re proud to partner with the Asian Tour as an official Asian Tour Destinations venue.
“Whether you’re just setting out on your golfing journey … or you’re an Asian Tour professional, the layout offers an enjoyable challenge for golfers of all abilities.”
As well as staging a Faldo Series Thailand amateur event, the course hosted the Singha Phuket Open on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2017. Late last year it was the venue for the inaugural Laguna Phuket Championship as the Asian Tour resumed play following the Covid-19 pandemic. Two more ADT events were held there in April, 2022.
Following its renovation in 2015, Laguna Golf Phuket’s landscape provides golfers with two distinct scenic experiences – lush tropical foliage on the front nine, and coconut groves and sand bunkers on the back nine.
Aquella Golf & Country Club.
The layout also highlights sustainable environmental conservation with great emphasis placed on the natural surroundings and local wildlife. A native cultural experience has been well represented with reused wooden steps, golf course furniture and decorative traditional Thai fishing boats to provide a local essence.
One of the club’s unique selling points is that golf buggies are not compulsory, meaning you can walk the course if you so choose, in the company of a highly-trained caddie.
“A lot of golfers who come here, especially Europeans, enjoy walking the course. So, too, do many of our guests at Banyan Tree, who tee-off after 2.30 pm and play nine holes,” said Robson, who has noticed a post Covid-19 pandemic rise in traffic on the course.
That is partly due, he says, to an increase in the number of direct flights coming into Phuket from Singapore and Korea, and also a reduction in green fees.
Majority-owned by Pacific Century Premium Developments and managed by Absolute Golf Services (AGS), Aquella Golf & Country Club is separated geographically from Phuket by the Sarasin Bridge.
Located on the pristine Andaman Sea coastline at Thai Muang Beach, 40 minutes north of Phuket International Airport, the property sprawls over 177 hectares and includes an 18-hole miniature putting course as well as a covered driving range with automatic ball dispensers. The elegant clubhouse features a pro-shop, restaurant, first-class spa and an extensive gym.
The centrepiece, however, is the 18-hole golf course sculpted by Phil Ryan and Paul Reeves of Pacific Coast Design that is primed to host its first Asian Development Tour event in the near future.
James Shippey, Managing Director at AGS, said: “Aquella has been redesigned and developed into a beachfront golf course with a fun and challenging layout set amongst a luxurious residential complex. It’s our intention for the facility to set new standards of excellence – not only in Phuket and Phang Nga, but in the region.
“In conjunction with the Asian Tour and the Asian Development Tour, we very much look forward to staging top-level tournaments at Aquella in the months and years ahead. We are confident that the facility and course lends itself very well for hosting events of the calibre of the Asian Tour.”
If you’re looking for assistance in organising and facilitating your trip to Laguna Golf Phuket and Aquella Golf & Country Club, then Golfasian fits the bill perfectly.
The foremost golf tour operator in Southeast Asia, Golfasian has been bringing golfers to Asian golfing hotspots for more than a decade with Phuket high on the list of preferred destinations for golfers from all over the world.
In recognition of the role it plays in delivering a personalised golfing journey combined with exploring the culture of the countries visited, Golfasian is also part of the Asian Tour Destinations network.
Mark Siegel, Managing Director, Golfasian, said: “Phuket has long been a favourite with golfers from Europe as well as around Asia.
“At Golfasian, we have always prided ourselves on working with the best golfing venues in Asia. In terms of the overall golfing experience, there’s no doubt that Laguna Golf Phuket and Aquella Golf & Country Club fit comfortably into that category.”
In August Angkor Golf Resort was welcomed as the most recent member of Asian Tour Destinations ‒ becoming the first venue from Cambodia to become part of the exclusive network.
The award-winning golf club ‒ which sits at the doorstep of the famous Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap ‒ boasts a Sir Nick Faldo-designed 18-hole layout and hosted the 2012 Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic ‒ an Asian Tour event won by American David Lipsky. We discovered more about the popular club after speaking to David Baron, their General Manager.
How are things at the club presently after a difficult period caused by the pandemic?
Things remain positive, the course is looking great, and the team are champions! Cambodia is now open and ready for all international travellers without restriction. We have lots of exciting events to announce in the coming weeks and we look forward to welcoming travellers, both new and old in the months ahead.
What is the club hoping to achieve by partnering with Asian Tour Destinations?
Our partnership with Asian Tour Destinations and its wonderful network of clubs enables us to showcase our course and destination to a wider audience. It also gives our members more opportunities to travel and experience some incredible courses in the region.
David Baron, General Manager, Angkor Golf Resort
Would the club like to stage more Asian Tour events and what is the value in this for you?
Yes. We have fond memories of hosting Asian Tour events in Cambodia. A Tour event brings long term international exposure to the venue and destination whilst providing a boost to the local economy during event week. I think it’s just a case of selecting the right timing, event partners and having a clear understanding of the objectives all parties are trying to achieve. We look forward to welcoming the Asian Tour back to Angkor Golf.
What have been some of the challenges operating in Cambodia?
Whilst growing significantly over the past decade, Cambodia is still a relatively young golf destination. Here in Siem Reap the economy relies heavily on tourism therefore it’s been a particularly tough period for the country. Having said that, the domestic golf scene has flourished.
Presume the potential for the game to grow in Cambodia is huge?
Absolutely. Participation is going from strength to strength. The locals love the game, and the domestic golf scene continues to evolve rapidly. New venues are appearing, and old venues are improving. The infrastructure is in place for grass roots golf to keep improving here in the Kingdom.
American David Lipsky is congratulated by Sir Nick Faldo after winning the 2012 Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic.
What are the long-term plans for the club?
We have exciting plans to develop our facilities in the coming years. We will provide an integrated resort to serve the local community and international travellers alike.
What are the best things about operating in Cambodia?
The people and the environment. The Khmer people are kind-hearted, welcoming and naturally hospitable. The country is diverse with a cultural richness. There is something for everyone.
Robin Bose from thegolfinghub.com, in India, reports that the Classic Golf & Country Club – venue for the Classic Golf & Country Club International Championship and an Asian Tour Destinations member ‒ has weathered the COVID storm well.
It isn’t for nothing that the Classic Golf & Country Club was declared the safest golf course in the National Capital Region during the pandemic.
Ensconced at the foothills of the Aravalli Mountain ranges in Haryana’s Mewat district, not far from the capital New Delhi, this 27-hole Jack Nicklaus signature course was a first in South Asia when it came up, and with time has maintained the exclusive tag. It’s not just the layout that makes the 300-acre facility unique; the work ethic of the workforce is top-notch as well. This came to the fore again with the way operations were handled after the golf course reopened following the first and second phases of lockdown in the space of a year.
There were a couple of mantras that drove the campaign to prove “golf is the safest sport in these times”, and along the way stringent steps ensured that not a single staff or club member tested positive for the virus.
Keshav Kumar, DGM (Marketing and Sales) was at the forefront of this drive. “My chief concern was if I could keep my staff safe, the members would be healthy too. It was better to take extra precautions than to regret later,” he said.
The measures pressed into action did evoke resentment from some quarters initially given the uncertain times, but there was no budging by the authorities. A lot of research went into formulating the policies as well as inputs from the parent company ITC’s COVID command centre.
Rory Hie won the 2019 Classic Golf & Country Club International Championship to become the first Indonesian winner on the Asian Tour.
Atop the to-do list was to ensure the golf course was in prime condition when members returned after the first reopening last year. A small workforce was stationed at the facility for maintenance and a quarantine centre set up nearby to test personnel on return as the situation started to ease.
Soon, it was time to throw open the gates to members. Those coming in after booking their tee-time on the club’s app were subjected to temperature checks and had to produce proof (via the Indian government’s health app Aarogya Setu) that they were safe to proceed after sanitization of their cars.
All through, the endeavour was to ensure social distancing/minimum contact. Golfers were expected to park and hop on to a cart from a designated spot and head to the clubhouse. Once at the pro shop, payments were accepted by scanning the bar code. It was one golfer to a cart and tee times were advanced to ensure there was a 15-minute gap between groups. Members could carry food, but items they got from home. Water was available on course, placed on racks at vantage points for pickup. After the round, golfers had to leave the cart at a designated spot for a four-stage sanitation process. This involved four personnel in PPE suits first spraying sanitizer, followed by water and air being applied at high pressure. The final stage was about fogging the vehicle and aligning it in the parking lot. The carts took a hit, especially the electricals, a result of the cleansing, but nothing could be left to chance.
Among the list of don’ts was using the spa and locker rooms, raking of bunkers and access to caddies, who were engaged as spotters during this phase. To keep a check on exposure, golf course personnel were divided into two teams and worked on alternate days.
Given the skepticism, footfall fell but the inflow was consistent, and numbers rose with time as word spread about the measures in place to ensure a safe round of golf at a course that showed the way to cope with a crisis of unprecedented proportions.
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