Nick Faldo to Design ‘Hidden Gem’ in Vietnam

Faldo Design has been appointed by the Banyan Tree Indochina Hospitality Fund L.P. to develop an 18-hole championship standard golf course at the Laguna Hue resort located between Danang and Hue city in central Vietnam.

The Nick Faldo designed course will form the centrepiece of a luxury integrated resort complex situated on a 280-hectare beachfront site that when fully developed will have approximately 2000 hotel keys under the management of international branded hotel and resort operators, award-winning spas, resort residences, convention facilities and a town centre with retail and recreational facilities.

Six-time Major winner Faldo commented: “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.  We’re spoilt for choice, really: our layout will incorporate sand dunes, rice-paddy fields, trees and scrub, wonderful exposed rock formations as well as a section of dramatic coastline and a routing that will visit each of these features on both nines.”

“For this part of Vietnam it’s a real hidden gem.  We have the opportunity to create a very strategic golf course that offers golfers an abundance of shot and route options, and players will need to plot their way through some very picturesque surroundings.  The course will sport a ruggedly-handsome look with a real sense of place.  I’m confident that we can produce a finished product that has the potential to become a genuine talking point in the region.”

Michael Ayling, Managing Director Laguna Resorts & Hotels PLC, added: “Laguna Hue is positioned to be one of the largest premium integrated resorts and second home destinations in Vietnam and across South East Asia, spurring interest and high expectations from residential investors, resort guests and business partners.  We are very pleased to be working with Faldo Design to build a unique top-quality course and raise the bar on creating a world-class destination come 2012”.

This new course at Laguna Hue will be a prominent addition to Nick Faldo’s expanding portfolio of golf courses.  In Asia alone, Faldo Design has recently opened courses in China and Cambodia, and has also commenced work on a new project in India.