Onward and Upward

Paul Myers examines the state of the game in Vietnam - where golf is growing, at least in terms of course construction, faster than anywhere else on the planet

Meanwhile, work has commenced on a third resort at famous Halong Bay east of Hanoi, and construction on the crown jewel project, a 10-course facility with hotels, villas and the works, will begin soon in Quang Binh province on the north central coast. Yet another project - based on a golf academy - is on the drawing boards near Hanoi.

These new golf developments will put Vietnam on a par with Thailand in terms of destination choice, but far ahead of everywhere else in Asia when it comes to traditional oceanfront links courses.

Indeed, each new FLC course has the term “golf links” attached, conveying their oceanside locations and relevance to traditions of the 500-year-old game that originated in coastal Scotland.

All this is happening at a time when golf courses are closing in many western countries; 1980s resorts with on-site villas are languishing in the United States, government restrictions on golf development and participation have crippled the industry in China and the boom in Thailand - Asia’s leading golf tourism destination with almost 300 courses - has reached a plateau.

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