87 and early-night play, the course comes alive after work, inviting Hanoi’s golfers to chase par under the stars.” Challenges encountered during construction included typhoons, the complex task of proper compaction of fill areas, sand and gravel shortages amid a provincial merger, narrow haul roads, sparse storage, the unpredictability of remote site logistics, and the land’s wild topography. “Transforming these untamed hills into lush, playable fairways and greens – it’s a feat that demands more,” says Ortner. “It’s a testament to the team’s strong spirit. The local team of workers on site were mostly totally new to golf, apart from the shapers and the irrigation manager, and they have tackled a steep learning curve with grit. Driven by a right-first time philosophy, we invested in education, clear workflows and aligned goals – no shortcuts, but worth every effort. The pay-off? A team that’s soared, buzzing with collaboration. “In Vietnam’s typhoon crucible, where one day’s rain rivals a year’s for a central European country, stormwater management is non-negotiable. The design of the course tackles the deluge with catch drains, open channels and streams – diverting and slowing down mountain torrents. The sophisticated, sustainable drainage system includes fairway herringbone drainage (2,100 metres per hole) filtering excess water to catch basins and, ultimately, via carrier pipes into irrigation lakes. Erosion protection and silt fences are paramount in construction. The client’s early lesson after a few floods: it’s far more effective to add drainage and install proper silt fences than repair significant flood damage later.” Hydraulics have played a major role at Montaña. Irrigation consultant Adrian Mortram completed the irrigation system concept design, which was then taken forward by Rain Bird. There are two systems in place to manage the 44-metre fall from irrigation lakes and accommodate the higher and lower line pipes with pressure release valves installed in all three lakes to slow water flow and prevent pipes cracking. Rain Bird also supplied two pump stations. With CirrusPRO Central Control, the Rain Bird IC System was chosen for its reliability and simplicity, with 1,776 Rain Bird 702IC rotors and 720 of the 702IC rotors installed on tees and fairways. Atlas Turf International provided Mach 1 Ultradwarf Bermuda for Montaña’s greens, while Jebsen & Jessen Technology is responsible for grow-in and maintenance of both courses, with Thompson Golf Management overseeing agronomy. Ortner explains that the design cleverly flattens uphill elevation Photo: Olazabal Design The par-five third on the East course, which is now growing in ahead of a spring 2026 opening
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