LATEST
NEWS

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

Hilltop Valley Golf Club in Vietnam opens IMG layout

Hilltop Valley Golf Club in Hoa Binh, Vietnam, has officially opened with a new 18-hole course designed by IMG.

“The views on holes ten to eighteen are amazing,” said Paul Burley, senior vice president, IMG Golf Course Services. “There is a lot of elevation change throughout the course — particularly on the back nine, while the first nine is flatter and plays through a river valley.”

Many holes are bordered by trees, thick vegetation, steep hills and water, with a minimal amount of rough.

“The course requires accuracy off the tee in order to avoid the trouble, and to set up an approach shot from the optimal position,” said Burley.

“The par-five third hole is a challenging hole, with a winding river that runs through the valley being a real feature of this hole. The river comes into play off the tee down the left side and then it must be crossed twice before arriving at the green. A golfer’s second shot offers them the choice of a short shot to a small section of fairway that leaves a tough third to the green, or a much longer shot that must carry the winding river twice in order to leave a short pitch to the green from a better angle. The hole plays 576 yards from the back tee and 523 from the regular tee.”

The lead designer was Brit Stenson, the project is managed by Chavalit Osathanonda, with Calvin Sylva of Overseas Golf Construction the onsite shaper. Grow-in superintendent is Tan Thanh Son.

Work on a third nine started earlier this year, with an expected opening in early 2020. “The third nine has some severe elevation change, which offers magnificent views of the surrounding landscape on holes such as 26 and 27,” said Burley.

Previous Article Handsworth opens three new holes following flood management project
Next Article ‘Dramatic improvements’ in progress at Diablo CC
Print
3640 Rate this article:
No rating
Slideshow HTML
  • Hilltop Valley

    Hilltop Valley in Vietnam has opened a new course designed by IMG

  • Hilltop Valley

    Many holes are bordered by trees, thick vegetation, steep hills and water

  • Hilltop Valley

    The par-five third hole features a winding river that runs through a valley

Richard Humphreys

Richard HumphreysRichard Humphreys

Other posts by Richard Humphreys
Contact author

Contact author

x
The April 2025 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!
Magazine, News | Wed 16 Apr, 2025

The April 2025 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!

Includes reports from Maggie Hathaway and Apogee, interviews with Martin Ebert and Dave Axland and a feature on golf art

Spring 2025 issue of ASGCA’s By Design magazine is out now
Magazine, News | Fri 14 Mar, 2025

Spring 2025 issue of ASGCA’s By Design magazine is out now

New issue asks whether the golf boom has led to an increase in municipal golf investment

FEATURE
ARTICLES

Bringing golf to Benin
Afrikafun Production Stephane Brabant
Report | Richard Humphreys

Bringing golf to Benin

Jeremy Pern and Gregori International are creating the first 18-hole course in the West African country, on an ‘almost perfect’ site that also includes a sacred grove and voodoo shrines

The future of vegetation management on Melbourne’s Sandbelt

Lukas Michel/CDP

Opinion | Mike Clayton

The future of vegetation management on Melbourne’s Sandbelt

Mike Clayton discusses Alister MacKenzie’s transformative impact on Australian golf and how clubs can avoid repeating previous mistakes by establishing a long-term plan focused on indigenous plants

Maggie Hathaway: A force for good
Stephen Barton – Second Collective
On site | Adam Lawrence

Maggie Hathaway: A force for good

The reconstruction of the nine-hole course in Los Angeles is the golf industry at its best, says Adam Lawrence

Designs for the big screen
Pizá Golf
Interview | Richard Humphreys

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

The ties that bind
Crooked Stick
Opinion | Justin Olmstead

The ties that bind

Justin Olmstead of Profile Products talks about the relationships behind the renovation of Crooked Stick in Indiana

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz
Konrad Borkowski
Interview | Adam Lawrence

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Jim Wagner and Rusty Mercer discuss Kinsale design and build
Kinsale Golf Club
Interview | Richard Humphreys

Jim Wagner and Rusty Mercer discuss Kinsale design and build

Florida course is a tribute to the Golden Age designs of Raynor and Macdonald

Are bunkers getting too pretty for their own good?
Larry Lambrecht
Feature | Adam Lawrence

Are bunkers getting too pretty for their own good?

Is the beauty of bunkering being over-emphasised at the expense of its function, asks Adam Lawrence

Good Read: The Prairie Raynor
Grant Books Ltd
Good Read | John Moran and Rand Jerris

Good Read: The Prairie Raynor

John Moran and Rand Jerris share insight into their book about Seth Raynor’s design at Chicago Golf Club

Vinpearl Golf Léman: New pearls for Vietnam
Vinpearl Golf Leman
Report | Richard Humphreys

Vinpearl Golf Léman: New pearls for Vietnam

The first of two Golfplan-designed courses at club near Ho Chi Minh City has opened for play

Seven Canyons: Desert drama
Brad Klein
Report | Bradley Klein

Seven Canyons: Desert drama

Brad Klein reports on a Phil Smith Design renovation in Sedona, Arizona

Gopher Watch Competition – April 2025
Gopher Watch, News | Wed 16 Apr, 2025

Gopher Watch Competition – April 2025

Which course has Sandy the gopher visited this month?

MOST
POPULAR

FEATURED
BUSINESSES