DESTINATION GOLF ASIA 2023
Sir Nick Faldo ’ s love of SE Asia
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What started your interest in this region ? As an international player what really attracted me to the region was the huge interest in and tremendous growth of the game in SE Asia .
I first started coming to SE Asia as a player in the late 1980 ’ s and then returned to the region many times to support my golf course design business and to build the Faldo Series Asia . I really enjoyed the different cultures , the weather and of course the great food throughout the region , so I started to stay longer for holidays too . While designing Angkor Golf Resort in Siem Reap I was able to explore the many temples around Angkor Wat and while in Bangkok I experienced the many sights and sounds and smells of one of the world ’ s great cities . In the past few weeks , I have been visiting some my new designs in Vietnam which has allowed me to explore Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh both having unique cultures .
Did you play in any tournaments over here ? Yes , as a player I competed in many events in the region including the Johnnie Walker Classic which at the time was one of the best events in the world . I was fortunate enough to win that event in 1990 in Hong Kong and 1993 in Singapore .
It is well documented that you have designed several courses in this region . Where are your courses in SE Asia ? Vietnam is a very important country for my design business . My first Vietnam design was Ocean Dunes in Phan Thiet , Vietnam which opened in 1997 so I have been coming to Vietnam for over 25 years now . Laguna Lang Co in Hue , Vietnam is my first Sir Nick Signature course in operation , and it is the most memorable because of the unique variation in the natural environment , this sets the entire golfing experience above the rest in the region . Laguna Lang Co is also home to my Faldo Series Asia Final for the past 5 years and will be until 2026 .
My newest course in Vietnam , Thanh Lanh Valley GC , opened in late 2021 near Hanoi and I have other design projects under the design or construction process in Vietnam including Silk Path GC in Quang Ninh , Royal Long An Golf near Ho Chi Minh City and also in Ha Tinh in central Vietnam .
I have also designed three courses in Cambodia including Angkor Golf Resort in Siem Reap and 36 holes at Vattanac Golf Resort near Phnom Penh . My other design projects in SE Asia are located in the Philippines ( Eagle Ridge and Hann Reserve ), Thailand ( Great Lake ) and Indonesia ( Jababeka Golf )
How does it differ from creating a new course in say Vietnam or Thailand compared to other parts of the world ? The overall environment is a massive factor in Southeast Asia and this climate demands further consideration in designing , constructing , and maintaining a sustainable world-class golf course .