My golfing adventures in Vietnam

I have been based in Ho Chi Min City for 4 years and have picked up the game about 5 months back and have only been able to play on the courses of a total of 5 times. And out of the 5 games. I have played 3 of them over the past weekend.

A group of friends arranged a weekend golf trip up in to Phan Thiet Province and Dong Nai.

Day 1

We played at Dong Nai Golf Golf Resort located 1 hour up north from HCMC. Nice matured course with a nice mix of flat and elvated holes. and some of the holes surround the MASSIVE lake . Only problem was fairways abit wet and soft. Per round of 18 holes (Green & Caddy fess) = USD$40

http://www.dongnaigolf.com.vn/trangchinh.php

Forgot my camera so didnt take any photos. This being only my third game, I came back with a score of 116. However will have photos of day 2.

Day 2 16 January

Played at Sea Links Golf & Country Club.

http://www.sealinksvietnam.com/

This being a links course, it was a very very tough course for me to play. Also as it was on Higher gournd and along the coast line, certian holes were very very windy and difficult to play. Since I was a complete noob to the game found it very difficult to play as the fairways very undulating and all the greens were tiered. There was one particualr green that had 3 tiers and it was a back pin that day!!! on the approach to the green, the is a depression is about 2m deeo surrouding the front of the green, Imagine if your approach is short and you have to pitch in form this depression..

This being my only 4th game ever, it will be my most memorable game ever as I recorded not only 1 but 2 pars!!!! The feeling was ORGASMIC!!!!!!!!!!!!

The first par was on a hole 5 a 291y Par 4 from white. I managed to 3 on. 3rd shot landed pin high and left towards the back of the green and it landed on the up slope of the green and roled back into the middle I thought I could get a bogey which I wold have been very happy but as I was walking towards the green, I could suddenly see the ball roll towards the pin. THis was because the green was sloping left to right. The ball rolled to about 5 feet from the hole and I putted in for my very 1st Par ever.

These are the pictures of hole 6 512Y par 5. very very intresting hole. Long hitters will have to be craful as there is water directly in the middle of the fairway and it splits the fairway in 2. THe left side is wider and longer, the right side is shorter but narrower. If you decide to go left, it is a dog leg left. Decided to go left to be safe.

Some more photos. Most of the holes overlook the sea...very beautiful....

Cool ! nice pictures......... HCMC has lots of nice courses.....howbeit....almost all have to travel about 1hr to get there ? Song Be ? Thu Duc ? (Vietnam Golf & Country Club), Long Thanh,
or further out, Ocean Dunes ? or in Dalat ? (6hrs drive I think....ha ha)

N'joy yourself ! cheers

Nice pics... 6 hours drive?!?! better be worth the drive!

What are the green fees like around in Vietnam?

@ Pin High

the nearest course is about 30 mins away depending on traffic. and that would be Song BE golf Resort located in Binh Duong Province. It is very near to the Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park hence alot of foreignors play there. Another there are others located about 1 hour drive around the surrounding provinces of Saigon.

@ Joe,

The pictures I posted so far are of Sea Links Golf & Country Club. It is located in the sea side resort town of Mui Ne and Phan Thiet. it is about a 4-5 hour drive out. In that area are 2 golf courses. Ons is Sea Links and the other is Ocean Dunes. Me being very very new to the game, any chance to play is always worth it.

Green fees in Vietnam average about USD$50 and up. There are many rates depending if its public, member's guest, week day, weekend. and most times green fees also include caddy fees.

Because we had a large group of 20 golfers, saturdays rate for Sealinks was USD$80 including green, caddy and buggy.

On the third day, played at Ocean Dunes GOlf Club. Designed by Nick Faldo and located in Phan Thiet Also. BElow is their signature hole. Hole 9 Par 3.

Elevated Green. over hit and you end up in the seaside. To short and the ball rolls back to you.

I see the caddy nto bad also...

jurongtiger wrote:

I see the caddy nto bad also...

about 90% of all caddies at the places I have played so far are all females....

Wow... USD40 is cheap.. played at Vietnam Golf & Country Club) & Long Thanh before , the green fee is almost USD 60 or 70. But anything more than 2 hours dirve form HCM city is really far out for golf.. esp with the traffic jam......But the course do really look nice...

Ant wrote:

Wow... USD40 is cheap.. played at Vietnam Golf & Country Club) & Long Thanh before , the green fee is almost USD 60 or 70. But anything more than 2 hours dirve form HCM city is really far out for golf.. esp with the traffic jam......But the course do really look nice...

I played at Long Thanh once. on a wednesday. Rate was USD$45 inclusive of caddy fees. Went as member's guest so maybe thats why I payed lower rate.

Any pics of caddies only?

jurongtiger wrote:

Any pics of caddies only?

Unfortunatly nope.... But next time will definatly have....soon soon......

jurongtiger wrote:

Any pics of caddies only?

The caddies is as solid as your avatar! but they are tigress...... be careful.

Before heading back to S'pore this Saturday, decided to try and squeeze in a game this week as I can't play in S'pore because I dont have a HCP or PC to play back home.

Managed to play today at Song Be Golf Resort. Link is below.

http://songbegolf.com/main/

Was gaming 2 different drivers today. I know its against the rules but this was my only chance to try different brands. Was using a TM R9 for the front 9 and switched to a Cleveland Hibore XLS. TM R9 was R flex 9.5D and the Hibore was SR Flex 9.5 All of my drives were amazingly good today. Not once did my ball land in a waste hazard or go jungle tracking to look for my ball. First time in my golfing life. Did not also lose any balls today.

Also managed to clear all water harzards. Song golf is the only golf course I have experienced so far that all the par 3s must cross water.

Alas, that was the only good thing about my game today. 2nd shots, approach shots etc etc waa totally gone. Bad habits crept in as the game wore on. Too much lower body movement, not follwing through, looking up too fast, not striking down on the ball and the list goes on.

My putting also let me down today. Couldn't putt to save my life. Couldn't read lines etc etc...came back with 125...If I had managed to get rid of all my bad habits, would have been very sure I would have manaed to save 1 shot a hole.... haiz........trying very hard not to be discouraged.........

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all GR members a most prosperous year of the tiger, good health and HUAT AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Walau.....no caddies photo again!

Tried to leh but all dont let me take...anyways....come up to Vietnam and I personally bring you go and see some ok.....

Just had a game with Pushslice this morning at Song Be. He is and all round great guy to play golf with. I came back with my best score so far, cut 14 strokes!!!

Pushslice, if ever you plan to come up to Vietnam again, let me know and maybe can arrange for a golfing trip to other parts of Vietnam.

Take care and it was pleasure playing golf with you today.

u never brng pushslice go see VMMs?

no need...the vmm all come and see him....He tall, dark and handsome, not like me, short, fat & ugly....

bro winston..thanks for your hospitality for me and my dad. Truly enjoyed golf and your company today, and not to mention, the best Pho I've had so far!

Glad I could witness your best round yet! Just sharpen your pitching and bunker shots and you'll cut another 10 the next time.

on Song Be: at first when we arrived, you'd think how come so ordinary from the looks of it. However, once I practiced putting, the ball rolled pure and soft. Much better than OCC, MBGC and NSRCC imho. As I played on, I've come to appreciate the course more. Interesting layouts. The hazards/trees are placed smartly. You can see that the designer wants us to think twice before hitting. The greens are small, pin placements tough. Fairways are in excellent cond. Again, the greens are its strongest point, fast and tricky. I had a disaster first nines with many three-putts. Finally got the speed right and putted good on the back nine.

Now my leg aches so bad. Havent walked 18 holes for forever...Bro, where got massage?

Having Montgomery Links and Sea Links on my mind already, till next Spring!