TRAVEL | SPECIAL
VIETNAM’S NEW STAR NAMED BEST NEW COURSE IN ASIA PACIFIC AT LAST NOVEMBER’S ASIA PACIFIC GOLF SUMMIT, LAGUNA LANG CO GOLF CLUB, SITUATED ON PRISTINE COASTLINE BETWEEN DANANG AND HUE, IS ATTRACTING RAVE REVIEWS FROM INTERNATIONAL GOLFERS WHO HAVE BEGUN TO DISCOVER THE SIR NICK FALDO-DESIGNED LAYOUT.
The course occupies an enviable seaside stretch of land, perfect for golf
The picturesque par-4 ninth at Laguna Lang Co
M
any visitors say the par-71 course is not just the best new course in Asia, but one of the best overall. Its attraction is a unique setting, wedged between mountains and the sea with several different playing environments. As part of the Banyan Tree Lang Co resort, which features Banyan Tree villas and an Angsana hotel, Laguna Lang Co is a true golf and holiday paradise. The Banyan Tree Group describes the development as the “first and largest fully-integrated world-class hospitality development in Vietnam”. The golf course’s appeal is its variation. Starting in an open rice paddy environment, the routing moves through jungle, creek and oceanside settings before coming to sandy blowout areas along the final two holes. Such variation is unusual in one location, as most golf courses feature similar playing environments throughout the round. Laguna Lang Co’s variation not only stands it apart, but according to Sir Nick Faldo is one reason why it is so good. “This is a stunning and very diverse piece of land with gently rolling terrain, splashes of sand throughout and an impressive array of natural design features,” Sir Nick said when he first visited the site more than three years ago. “For this part of Vietnam it’s a real hidden gem. Players will plot their way through some very picturesque surroundings and it will have a real sense of place,” he predicted.
66
HK GOLFER・MAR 2014
Living up to Faldo’s playing reputation as a masterful tactician, Laguna Lang Co, which is framed by a beach, tropical jungle and rugged mountains, is a course that demands guile rather than power. Faldo and his lead designer, Paul Jansen, delivered on this promise in spades. “I enjoyed incorporating the unique environments of the region in the design and strategy,” he said after Laguna Lang Co was named last November as the best new course in Asia Pacific. Living up to Faldo’s playing reputation as a masterful tactician, Laguna Lang Co is a course HKGOLFER.COM
that demands guile rather than power. Tee shots demand a choice between seeking to hit over mid-fairway sand traps or lay up for a longer second shot. Waste areas and forested areas on some holes also make it important to hit the mostly expansive landing areas. The par-3 fifth hole has become a talking point. Incorporating large “chocolate-drop” mounds around the green that mirror a mountain peak in the background, it is the only hole with any obvious man-made influence. There are many other standouts, including the beautiful dogleg par-5 finishing hole, playing a whopping 621 yards from the back tees. This is truly a hole to savour. Winding between waste areas and huge bunkers to a large, well-protected green in front of the large impressive clubhouse, it has a typical Faldo flourish. Laguna Lang Co Golf Club is a key part of the luxurious integrated resort on a 280-hectare beachfront site. Golf-playing guests benefit from full integration of the course with other resort facilities: discounted green fees, internal billing, free golf bag storage and a four-minute shuttle from the resort to the golf clubhouse. Nestled in a crescent bay framed by a threekilometre beach in Thua Thien Hue Province, the area is renowned for its pristine coastline, tropical jungle and rugged mountains. Banyan Tree Lang Co features 32 one-bedroom lagoon villas and 17 one-bedroom beach villas on the shores of Canh Duong beach. Angsana Lang Co has 229 suites of 52 to 190 square metres, 100 of which have a private swimming pool and either mountain, lagoon, or sea views. For more information, visit lagunalangco.com HKGOLFER.COM
Course designer Sir Nick Faldo at the 11th, a bunker-less par-3
A warm welcome is always guaranteed
HK GOLFER・MAR 2014
67