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Golf is probably not the first thing people think of when
planning a vacation in Vietnam. Yet Vietnam is full of surprises,
including fantastic courses which may be among the best kept
secrets in the golf world.
Recently I ventured to Vietnam to escape the cold North American
winter and to search for rest, recreation and all the excitement
that Vietnam has to offer. My traveling companion and I enjoyed
the food, the sightseeing, the culture and the people immensely.
But the highlights of the trip were the rounds of golf I enjoyed
on two beautiful and challenging courses in Phan Thiet, and
Dalat.
The first stop, Ocean Dunes, is a lovely course located along
the beach in the town of Phan Thiet, about 200 km north of Ho
Chi Minh City. Opened in September of 1996, the course was
designed by Nick Faldo and is managed by England's IMG group.
The signature hole is the par 3, 148 yard, 5th, which is carved
through the sand dunes and lies approximately 30 yards from the
crashing surf, it is truly magnificent. The course is
well-groomed and pleasing to the eye with countless palm trees
and unique pagoda tee markers.
Ocean Dunes offers something for all skill levels, with four
different tee boxes. From the championship tees, the par 72
course, measures 6,746 yards and will pose a challenge for even
the scratch golfer. The course measures 6,219 yards from the
blue tees, 5,768 yards from the white tees and
4,790 yards from the red tees. There are many lakes, and water
comes into play on about seven of the eighteen holes, which
might make the high handicapper consider an extra sleeve of
balls. Since I played on a weekday, I was able to play 36 holes
in about 4 and a half hours, the way golf should be played.
Ocean Dunes tends to get it crowds on the weekends, but still is
a hidden treasure because the course is still very new and the
resort is still under construction.
Besides the wonderful golf that I enjoyed in Phan Thiet, we met
some great people who made our stay even
more memorable,
particularly the General Manager and Director of Golf, Cliff
Friedman. I would highly recommend a trip to Ocean Dunes. It
compares with the great beach courses of Hawaii, except for the
budget price. Eighteen holes will cost between $50 to $70 US--a
great value for the experience.
The second course I played was the Dalat
Palace Golf Club. Dalat is in the central highlands of southern
Vietnam. In contrast to beachside Phan Thiet, Dalat sits at an
elevation of 1475 meters. You can expect a more temperate
climate with an average daily temperate around 25 degrees C.
I
must say that I was in awe of the Dalat Palace Golf Club.
Besides challenging, the course is both picturesque and serenity.
I had a hard time believing that I was in tropical Vietnam, but
that just goes to show you how amazing a place Vietnam is. Dalat
is a mature course with pine trees and a more traditional layout,
also designed by Nick Faldo and managed by the IMG Group.
Although the course has been around for a number of years, it
has been renovated recently and brought up to world-class
standards.
The par 72 course is extremely challenging and a true test of
one's golfing skills. From the championship tees, the course
measures 7,009 yards and with the multiple second shot carries
over water, long iron play is key. It is 6,557 yards from the
blue tees, 6,114 yards from the white tees, and 5,555 yards from
the Red tees. This course is very hilly and has water on most of
the holes. There are many lakes and countless numbers of
conveniently placed bunkers which demand that proper course
management be employed at all times. I would recommend that the
novice golfer carry a least 10 golf balls. I played 34 holes on
a weekday in about 4 hours, and the only reason I didn't finish
my second round is because I lost my last golf ball in the lake
on 16 when my 6 iron came up a little bit short. I would hate
for that to happen to anyone else, so be prepared. The course is
meticulously groomed and the greens are fast and true. The
bunkers are deep, but the sand is forgiving. Course knowledge is
key and knowing where to miss will save you stokes, and anxiety.
The Dalat Palace Golf Course is truly one of the most beautiful,
peaceful and serene courses that I have ever played. It is very
hard to compare this course to any in the United States, because
of its unique environmental influences. After all, any
experience in Vietnam is unique to its own, and golf is no
exception. The fees are very reasonable with 18 holes running
from approximately $50 to $70. There is the additional charge of
a caddie, which is not optional, that cost is about $10 to$15
with tip.
Much like the warm welcome I received at
Ocean Dunes, the people at the Dalat Palace Golf Club showed
tremendous hospitality. I met Jeff Puchalski, the General
Manager and Director of Golf who was very nice and informative
about where and what to do in Dalat.
Following my two golfing experiences in Vietnam, at Ocean Dunes
in Phan Thiet and Dalat Palace Golf Club in Dalat, I have only
great things to say about golf in the southern part of Vietnam.
The IMG Group, Nick Faldo and the management and pros at both
clubs have done a fine job of bring world class golf to Vietnam.
I hope that people who enjoy great golf will search out these
two fabulous courses while staying in Vietnam.
Enjoy your trip and hit it long and straight! |
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