Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

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

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

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

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

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

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

New Faldo course opens near Ho Chi Minh City

Royal Long An Golf & Villas, near Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, has opened a 18-hole golf course by Faldo Design. A nine-hole layout at the resort is also under construction.

For the 18-hole design, the Faldo team has incorporated a lake system to capture storm and rainwater for irrigation while also acting as a defence on many holes.

“Finally seeing the course maturing is always a rewarding milestone,” said Sir Nick Faldo. “It takes tremendous vison to deliver a golf course on a site like this. Seeing the forest through the trees is a unique ability when you have design challenges.

“Some sites simply have golf holes, and you just need to find them; other sites have nothing, and you have to create playable golf. I like both styles of design. They test your creativity in different ways.”

The par-72 course can be played from 5,424 to 7,233 yards. Work began just prior to the closure of international travel in 2020 with Faldo Design continuing design work and overseeing construction remotely.

Construction of the third nine is expected to start in 2024. According to the club, it is shaping up to be a tougher test than the first 18 with water more in play.

“I’ve been coming to Vietnam since the mid-1990s, building golf courses and hosting Faldo Series events in different provinces, all aimed at expanding the game I love,” said Faldo. “Taking golf to new regions has been a passion of mine for decades. Royal Long An in Long An province is just a continuation of that dream.”

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Slideshow HTML
  • Royal Long An Vietnam Faldo Design
    Royal Long An Golf & Villas

    The seventh on the new Faldo Design course at Royal Long An Golf & Villas, near Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

  • Royal Long An Golf & Villas Faldo
    Royal Long An Golf & Villas

    The 18-hole can be played from 5,424 to 7,233 yards

  • Royal Long An Golf & Villas Faldo
    Royal Long An Golf & Villas

    Water and expansive bunkers are the course’s main defence

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Royal Long An Golf & Villas
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