Low-lying site has been transformed to accommodate golf and residential development
By Richard Humphreys |
Construction is nearing completion on a Faldo Design golf course for the new Thatluang Lake Golf Resort in Vientiane, Laos.
The resort is part of the Thatluang Lake Park, a new urban area in Vientiane that is designed as an economic development zone. The development covers about 50 hectares, with a larger northern portion and smaller southern ‘island’ separated by an existing urban canal, over which golf will be played.
“Given its location so close to the city centre, our vision was to create a course with an urban botanical park character that helps to soften its surrounding environment,” said Gareth Williams, lead golf course architect at Faldo Design. “This includes a balance of formal and more natural areas, multiple water features, striking modern bunkers and changes in elevation that provide interesting green and tee locations.
“The site is located on the edge of a natural basin to the east of Vientiane and much of it sits at the natural water table. The golf course has been raised above high flood levels to ensure it is protected from damage during heavy rain and flooding. Doing so presented an opportunity to create some significant changes in elevation and undulation for the playing areas while also taking advantage of the low-lying nature of the site by creating attractive and dramatic water features throughout the course.”
Faldo Design’s routing for the new Thatluang course in Laos (Photo: Faldo Design)
Flagstick Golf Course Construction Management is handling the build of the course. “The site has been raised on average by two to four meters from existing elevation,” said Martin Moore, principal at Flagstick. “The key challenge of the project was to balance that material importation with managing water movement across the site, and that has been achieved via a gravity-balanced lake network.”
The par 70, 18-hole layout will provide challenging, yet varied holes allowing for different approaches depending on play style. “Given the compact nature of the site, the course is extremely economically routed and, at 6,007 yards, not particularly long,” said Williams. “However, with treelined, contoured fairways and strategically positioned bunkering, a focus on accuracy over distance will be essential. Greens are well protected by the contouring and drop-offs, bunkers and water features, so finding the optimum angle for approach shots will be at a premium.”
Two notable contrasting holes are the short par-four third and long par-five fourteenth.
The third is a short, dogleg par four that plays along a lake and presents options for conservative or more direct shots. “A pair of small bunkers on the centreline from the tee helps define the risk-reward strategy, and a glimpse of the green on the direct line tempts the longer hitters,” said Williams. “The safer tee shot out to the right leaves an approach across a deep swale and bunker to the raised green angled towards the tee and split by a deep ridge. The conservative play will be to pull back on the tee to leave a longer approach but with a more attractive angle into the green.”
The short, dogleg par-four third is growing in (Photo: Faldo Design)
At the southernmost point of the site, the fourteenth hole presents an entirely different test.
“Reaching the amphitheatre green requires a demand carry over a canal to a raised target and so the hole’s risk-reward foundation relies on a well-positioned drive,” said Williams. “The primary fairway follows the canal all along the left side and is protected by offset bunkers left and right. Longer hitters might fancy carrying those but anything offline will see the chance of reaching the green in two all but gone.”
Moore added: “Although the land is flat, Faldo Design has created a unique design with a great variety of holes that will require strategic shotmaking. Suited for all skill levels of golfers, the dramatic golfing landscape will offer a thoroughly entertaining round. I am sure Thatluang Lake Golf Resort will attract the rising local Vientiane golfer population, as well as golfers travelling from China, Korea and other nearby Southeast Asia locations.”
Flagstick is also building a tiered driving range that can be lit for evening play.
All grass has been imported from a certified licensed turf nursery in Thailand. The course will feature Zeon Zoysia tees, fairways and rough, while the greens will be grassed with Tifeagle dwarf bermudagrass. All grass and grow-in supervision is being provided by Sports Turf Solutions (STS)
“Construction is full speed ahead in an attempt to beat the upcoming rainy season,” said Moore. “Earthworks, shaping, drainage and irrigation are now substantially complete. Sandcapping and finish shaping are ongoing and 12 holes have already been grassed. Construction is scheduled for completion in mid-2026, with the grand opening expected in the last quarter of 2026.”