The seaside city of Phan Thiet, capital of Binh Thuan province in southern Vietnam, has an exciting new addition to its golfing inventory – PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet, which offers two stunning courses crafted by Australian legend Greg Norman. Known as the ‘Great White Shark’, two-time Major winner Norman is also Vietnam’s tourism ambassador.
The PGA Ocean Course is an undulating, 7,400-yard layout which mixes links and parkland-style designs. With rugged bunkers that transition into natural waste areas, it furnishes a world-class test of golfing skills along with stunning views of the East Sea. Golfers will be mesmerized by the unique combination of natural pinkish yellow sands, wispy native golden grasses and sculpted deep green Zoysia fairways and greens. Add in the ocean views on eight holes and you can still enjoy a great walk, even if you’re not on your game!
The back nine in particular is where Norman’s masterpiece comes alive. Here, the ‘Ocean Loop’ as Holes 13 to 15 are known, take centre stage. The 13th and 15th are parallel par-five holes, with the 13th playing downhill towards a three-tier green showcasing splendid ocean views on the left. Hole 14 is a dogleg right par-four that offers golfers an opportunity to drive the green, surrounded by an inland beach-styled lake.
Don’t forget the special 19th hole, a 100-yard par three with an island green, sitting between the 14th and 15th holes, created to provide added excitement to a round.
Rocky stream at the PGA Garden Course
Due to open for play soon, the PGA Garden Course serves up an equally enticing golfing experience reminiscent of his beloved ‘Sandbelt’ region of Melbourne. This 7,200-yard gem challenges olfers with numerous lakes and no less than 80 bunkers. Accuracy off the tee and accurate approach play will both be equally important, as a far larger amount of water will be in play here compared to the PGA Ocean Course.
Showcasing colourful and lush landscaping, the PGA Garden Course’s standout feature is a 2km rocky stream that flows through the middle of the layout, crossing many of the first seven holes and around multiple green fronts to create risk and reward situations for golfers.
Before and after their games, golfers will be able to enjoy a contemporary clubhouse with bespoke dining and luxurious comforts. An integrated development by the NovaGroup, PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet includes upscale residential parcels offering beachfront villas and townhouses, as well as the golf course-fronting PGA Golf Villas.
PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet has also partnered with the PGA of America to develop Vietnam’s first ever PGA Academy with world-class facilities and top-tier coaches at the state-of-the-art floodlit driving range. Practice facilities include an 18-hole putting green, six-hole short course and private academy area.
The contemporary clubhouse offers golfers excellent facilities and bespoke dining
As golf in Vietnam continues to grow at unprecedented rates, PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet hopes to become one of the country’s leading golf destinations, attracting a new local audience away from the big cities – where courses can often be very crowded and difficult to access for non-members.
However, golf is not the only option for those looking to visit the region. PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet is located within NovaWorld Phan Thiet, a 1,000-hectare oceanside supercity project, offering scores of additional activities for families to explore. These include a Bikini Beach Club, theme park and a sports complex, as well as countless places to stay and F&B outlets to enjoy.
The luxurious interior of the clubhouse
A new highway from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet is set to open in 2022, cutting travel time to NovaWorld Phan Thiet from three-and-a-half hours to around 1 hour and 40 minutes. With the Phan Thiet airport scheduled for completion in 2023, Binh Thuan province hopes to welcome 17.5 million visitors, including 2.5 million international tourists, by 2030.
As Vietnam continues to reopen from the ongoing pandemic, expect more exciting plans to emerge from PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet in the near future.
