Central Vietnam’s pedigree as a stage for major golf occasions will once again be showcased next month as it plays host to two top-level events.
First up in April is the 2024 World Lefthanded Golf Championship, which unfolds over three of the region’s signature golf clubs between 7 and 13 April.
Focus will then turn to Asia’s bright young talent later in the month when Laguna Golf Lang Co, designed by Sir Nick Faldo, stages the 15th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final.
“Central Vietnam is proving that it has all the ingredients to be considered as a top destination for tournaments in Asia,” said Gary Dixon, general manager at Ba Na Hills Golf Club, one of the driving forces in the Vietnam Golf Coast, a destination marketing effort linking the region’s signature clubs.
“Many destinations around the world were in the running to host the 2024 World Lefthanded Golf Championship. But Central Vietnam won out due to its selection of top-class golf clubs as well as its diverse culture, luxury lodging and great range of off-course activities for golfers and their families.”
In recent years Central Vietnam has emerged as a hub for golf in Southeast Asia thanks to layouts designed by luminaries including European legends Faldo, Luke Donald (Ba Na Hills Golf Club), and Colin Montgomerie (Montgomerie Links), as well as other huge names like Greg Norman and Robert Trent Jones Jr.
And the destination will be firmly in the spotlight during April as it proves its credentials as a big-time player when it comes to hosting top-level events.
The World Lefthanded Golf Championship has made some familiar pitstops since its debut outing in 1979, when it was played in Sydney, Australia. Over the years it has been staged at prestigious clubs including PGA National in Florida and Scotscraig and Monifieth in Scotland, both British Open qualifying courses.
And Central Vietnam will be the latest illustrious stage for the tournament in April when 250 participants from nations around the globe will battle it out over three of the region’s signature clubs—one being Ba Na Hills Golf Club—as they bid for the crown.
The event will be swiftly followed by the equally eagerly anticipated Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, which takes place at the end of April.
The final, the culmination of the Asia leg of the world’s most celebrated junior circuits, promises to be a spectacular celebration of emerging regional golf talent. It will see the best young golfers from around the region battle it out over the award-winning Sir Nick Faldo Signature Design at Laguna Golf Lang Co for the crown of Faldo Series Asia champion.
“I could not be more excited to be returning to Central Vietnam for another Faldo Series Asia Grand Final”, said Faldo, who attends Faldo Series Grand Final events and will jet into Vietnam in April. “I expect nothing short of a thrilling showdown. The course always produces a spectacular showcase, and I’m excited to welcome back all the players for what I expect to be a truly memorable occasion.”
The forthcoming big events once again highlight Central Vietnam’s incredible potential as a golf destination: a fact reflected not just by its championship clubs, but also by its enviable infrastructure.
“It’s a significant boost for the region to be able to attract events of this calibre,” stated Le Vo Hoang Van, the club manager at Montgomerie Links, where Colin Montgomerie has integrated traditional design features into an enticing course layout. “Nowhere else in Asia offers golfers such a remarkable cluster of world-class championship courses conveniently situated near an international airport.”
-Project description and images provided by Balcony Media Group
