DESTINATION GOLF ASIA 2023
SE Asia As An Emerging Golf Destination ...
Greg Norman ’ s Take
As “ Destination Golf SE Asia 2023 ” will be the first comprehensive guide aimed at introducing this region to leading travel agents and the traveling golfer , what makes golf in this region so special ? The diversity of golf available to tourists in SE Asia is one of the major contributors towards making it a world destination . Golfers have the choice of traveling to established markets like Thailand , which has over 200 courses , to emerging golf markets like Vietnam and Cambodia .
Vietnam is currently the fastestgrowing golf market in the region and the government closely monitors the development of courses in the country to ensure they are built for success - from planning to completion . The landscape in Vietnam combined with the food and the culture make it one of the most unique destinations of the world and the country is consistently producing some of the best golf courses in the world with every level of lodging and amenities imaginable .
Many countries have used golf as a platform to boost tourism , but Vietnam has embraced that concept like no other . A golfing tourist travelling to Vietnam has the ability to play an ever-increasing number of world-class courses , all within a short distance , and bring his or her family to also enjoy all there is to offer . I ’ m a big believer that Vietnam will be recognized among the premiere golfing destinations of the world within a very short period of time and I ’ m doing everything I can to support that effort .
It is well documented that you have designed several courses in this region . How does it differ from creating a new course in Thailand or Vietnam compared to Australia , the USA , or the UAE ? With each region comes a unique set of challenges and opportunities , but we try to make sure each course we design has as many indigenous features as possible . Not only does this make it aesthetically unique , but it also gives the course the best chance to succeed from budgeting and construction to maintenance and operations .
For example , Vietnam and the UAE are two very different environments – tropical versus desert – so we utilize landscaping material and grasses that are well suited for each region ’ s climate and soil types . On the more technical side , courses in the UAE require a much more comprehensive irrigation design , but Vietnam requires considerably more drainage and water management due to the rainy season . Though the natural topography , landscape and climate of each area may vary , the one common thread between all of our courses is that they are a true reflection of their surrounding environment . Once we establish that part of our design criteria , our focus is on the playability of each course . At the end of the day , it ’ s all about building a course that is profitable for the owner , challenging and fun to play for every golfer and also showcases the natural beauty of a particular region .
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