How are faldo's designs in general? Who are his influences?
I've not played the Angkor course, but I've played Ocean Dunes in Phan Thiet, Vietnam. Phan Thiet is where a lot of fish sauce is made, an aroma my sweet wife greatly enjoys. Phan Thiet is also close to Mui Ne, which is a pleasant and quiet ocean area. Ocean Dunes Phan Thiet is resort, oceanside golf that doesn't take any advantage whatsoever of a normally placid ocean view. Phan Thiet is golf for a player that might have a business meeting and that might be forced into a game to close a deal. The golf is OK for the idle and very infrequent golfer, but even though I play infrequently, I wouldn't play it again.
The Angkor golf course reminds me of Ocotillo, a Ted Robinson design. Come to think of it, Phan Thiet reminds me of a Ted Robinson design too.
Does that make it great? Regardless of what Dave Schmidt thinks, no.
Too much water that isn't in play, the shaping and surrounds are a bit dull, the greens are generally uncontoured, very slightly tilted back to front and overly flat, other hazards are placed out of the way of play, the bunkers are not really in play, etc...
It is designed to suit the type of golfer that will likely play there though. Someone that doesn't bring clubs or likely even shoes but rents whatever happens to be available at the shop, and so forth.
Angkor:
http://www.angkor-golf.com/course.htmlPhan Thiet:
http://www.vietnamgolfresorts.com/phanthiet/images/oceandunes_layout.jpgPhan Thiet aerialOcotillo:
http://www.ocotillogolf.com/courses.phpOcotillo aerial