Golf is booming in Vietnam and its little wonder with creations like this from Greg Norman

By Kent Gray
We’re shameless fans of Greg Norman’s design work. You’ll likely be familiar with the delights of Fire and Earth at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai and a recent review of Jordan’s first all-grass 18-holer, Ayla G.C., left us equally impressed. Al Mouj Golf in Muscat likewise sparkled during its full European Tour debut last month, hardly surprising given it came in third in our 2018 Top 10 Courses of the Middle East ranking. It’s little wonder, then, that we’re eagerly anticipating the soft-opening of the Great White Shark’s latest Vietnam creation, KN Golf Links – Cam Ranh, next month. There’s a Middle East connection too with Simon Mees, formerly of Al Hamra G.C., appointed General Manager of the new 7,152 yard layout near Nha Trang City, a 45 minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City.

Sea views are not uncommon in Asian golf but KN Golf Links is being marketed as the region’s first true links layout. It’s the centrepiece of an 800ha mega development to eventually include multiple upscale integrated hotels, marina, theme and water parks, beach club, botanical gardens, luxury villas, mall, schools and more. Rest assured, there’s already ample internationally branded accommodation in Nha Trang, not to mention the water sports, nightlife, cultural experiences and that world-famous cuisine, to start planning a trip.

The course benefits from 5km of ocean frontage on Cam Ranh Bay but Mees reports that the natural beauty of the rolling dune land camouflages a stiff test given the breezes which roll in off the sea. “Greg Norman and his team have carefully crafted Asia’s first true links layout using many traditional links course characteristics. It’s going to require players to adapt their shot choices with bump and runs, low punches and the like. I’m sure it will both test and entertain our guests.” Having sampled another of Norman’s now three Vietnam courses, Danang G.C., we cannot wait.