14 Văn Lang Empire club debuts in early 2026 TEE BOX Văn Lang Empire T&T Golf Club, in northern Vietnam’s Phú Thọ province, will officially open in early 2026. The new club has been developed by T&T Group and features an 18-hole layout designed by Greg Norman Golf Course Design (GNGCD) that has been built by Flagstick Golf Course Construction Management. Sports Turf Solutions has provided Zeon Zoysia turf and TifEagle for greens. The course has been built on undulating terrain and features dramatic elevation changes. It will be the centrepiece of a multi-phase masterplanned development that includes 36 holes of golf, a clubhouse with an integrated hotel, an event venue, housing and more. “The course layout was the result of an intensive on-site routing study to maximise compatibility of each hole with the existing terrain and landscape,” said Norman. “The location and sizing of lakes played a particularly important role in balancing the cut-fill, water management, course strategy and aesthetics.” “Players have several options to approach each hole and placement off the tee is critical,” said Chris Campbell, president at GNGCD. “Hole five is a good example: a downhill par four with a well-guarded green tucked behind a lake that runs the length of the fairway. Players can choose how much of the hazard they want to bite off for a risk-reward trade off on the approach shot.” Holes six and seven both dogleg and have several fairway bunkers. A par-three eighth has a diamondshaped green defended by two large bunkers, then the short par-four ninth has sprawling bunkers up much of the right side of its fairway. The back nine continues through the forested landscape, with lakes coming into play on holes fourteen, sixteen, seventeen and eighteen. “The club’s target audience includes both domestic and international guests. There is convenient access from Hanoi International Airport – the global gateway to Vietnam – and the course design prioritises enjoyability for golfers of all skill levels and ‘re-playability’ value for members and repeat guests,” said Campbell. “The extensive practice facilities will provide a training ground for new golfers with a particular focus on growing the game among Vietnamese youth.” ` Photo: Greg Norman Golf Course Design
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzQ1NTk=