Development in Vietnam

[Rob Miller]

I'll be spending a few weeks in Vietnam later this month and will try to play some of the more noteworthy courses that have been developed in the past several years.  Seems like there are somewhere around 140 courses in the pipeline in what is probably the fastest growing country for golf outside of China.   

Not bad considering only 4 years ago there were 9 courses in the country.  Since Vietnam has outstanding potential for great sites, it should be interesting to see what gets done in terms of design in the next few years.

At this point planning on visiting Montgomerie Links, Do Son Seaside, and one or two courses around HCMC and Hanoi.  For those with experience there, am I missing anything? 

I'll be happy to post photos post-trip. 

[Ben Cowan-Dewar]

Rob,
The course that seems to garner the most positive reviews is Dalat, which if you have time might be a worthy addition.

BCD

[Aidan Bradley]

Page 8 will give you "the full scoop" on Vietnam.

http://asp17.digitalflip.com/asiangolf/asiangolfmonthly/AGB-MARCH2010/AGB-MARCH2010.html

[Micah Woods]

I have heard good things about the Norman course at Danang, I think called the Dunes Course, which could be opening this year? Ron Fream's Sea Links is another one that would be interesting to see. Dalat Palace is a beautiful place.

[Ally Mcintosh]

I like the look of the one photograph I've seen of the Dunes course by Norman... Any update on this?... It was due to open this month... Any feedback?

[Rob Miller]

Ally- I went by a week before it opened, so could not play it.  From what I saw the course looked good, three holes on the water the remainder across the 'highway'.  From my limited perspective, it course blends well with the dunes and is very distinct from Monty Links down the road. That being said, the project seems very development-oriented and my expectations aren't particularly high.  I loved Dalat and would probably go back there instead of Danang for golf.