By Toby Ingleton |
Construction has started on the first 18 holes of FLC Golf Club Pleiku, part of the new FLC Pleiku Golf Club & Luxury City Resort development in central Vietnam.
Golf course architect Brian Curley has routed the course across a pine forest landscape, seeking minimal disruption to the natural environment. Holes will wind through dense stands of pines, creating an aesthetic that Curley compares to Harbour Town in its demand for precision and creativity.
“This is core golf,” said Curley. “The scale of the property and the density of the forest create a feeling of immersion in nature. You won’t feel hemmed in by out-of-bounds stakes or real estate. The emphasis is on golf, and in a design era of tree removal and wide expanses, this design is the antithesis, relying instead on management of tight corridors as the main design element, yet allowing recovery from most any predicament.”
Holes are currently being cleared, with construction being overseen by Flagstick Golf Course Construction Management.
Brian Curley (centre) and Martin Moore (right) of Flagstick survey the site for the new course (Photo: Curley Golf Design)
Curley’s team is preserving as many existing trees as possible, routing holes through natural openings in the forest and leaving recovery corridors to reward imaginative play. The design will feature relatively few fairway bunkers, relying instead on angles, green contours and tree-lined strategy to challenge golfers.
Three lakes will come into play, but the course has been designed to be enjoyable and playable for golfers of all abilities. With the exception of several par-three holes, greens will be open in front to encourage run-up approaches and recovery shots from the pine straw-covered forest floor. They will vary significantly in size, contour and character.
“My hope is to create one of the best inland golf courses in Vietnam,” said Curley. “A course that is demanding but fair, where players can recover, improvise and manage their way around with one golf ball.”
Lynkz zoysia has been selected for greens for its density, speed and long-term conditioning potential. Zeon zoysia will be used throughout the fairways, tees and roughs. Grasses are being supplied by Sports Turf Solutions.
A minimalist turf strategy is designed to reduce water consumption and preserve the site’s natural character. Large portions of the pine understory will remain intact rather than being heavily grassed, allowing the course to blend naturally into the surrounding environment while also allowing for recovery play.
Formal bunkering will be minimal but notable, with flashed sand faces inspired by Augusta National. The approach creates contrast against the site’s red clay base, while also helping minimise soil contamination and long-term maintenance challenges.
The club is also planning a second course.