The city of "Hue," located on the central coast of Vietnam, is famous for being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Recently, it has rapidly emerged as a new golf destination in Vietnam with the establishment of world-class golf courses.
In particular, the Laguna Lanco Golf Course and the Golden Sands Golf Course are becoming essential courses for golf enthusiasts visiting Hue. These golf courses have excellent accessibility to Hue Citadel, which is considered a representative tourist attraction of Hue and the former royal palace of Vietnam's last dynasty. They receive great acclaim from foreign tourists as they offer both golf and cultural experiences. I visited both golf courses last month.
◇ Laguna Lanco Golf Course: where nature meets
The Laguna Lanco Golf Course is an 18-hole championship course designed by six-time major tournament winner Nick Faldo. Walking along this course, which encompasses both beach and mountainous terrains, offers truly breathtaking views. The course, passing through dense forests, terraced rice fields, and natural streams leading to the sea, feels as if it compresses Vietnam's nature into one.
Holes 8, 9, and 10 provide stunning views of the open sea that leave visitors in awe. The 5th hole, known as the signature par-3 hole, features a massive bunker in front and large mounds surrounding the green, adding visual excitement and challenges for golfers. The length of the hole varies depending on the tee boxes, with the longest tee at 206 yards and the shortest tee at 117 yards.
The main attraction is the variety in hole difficulties. With six tee boxes available, golfers of all skill levels, from beginners to professionals, can enjoy the course. However, the wide distribution of bunkers throughout the course makes it difficult for beginners to play and reduce their strokes.
◇ Golden Sands Golf Course: deep bunkers and unpredictable sea breezes
The Golden Sands Golf Course, which opened in September 2024, is located about 20 kilometers east of downtown Hue, making it easily accessible. Designed by the "Golden Bear" Jack Nicklaus and his Nicklaus Design, this modern course boasts a beautiful coastline, but has been rated as the most challenging course in Vietnam since its opening.
First of all, the course length of 7,519 yards is overwhelming. The undulations of the terrain and winds are also formidable. The fairway, featuring natural sand dunes, and the strong winds from the beach make it challenging to predict directions, necessitating strategic play. The winds frequently changed during the round.
The highlights of the course include the challenging uphill 13th hole (par-3) that plays toward the opposite direction of the sea, the 14th hole (par-4) that offers excellent sea views while hitting downhill from the hill, and the unique 15th hole (par-5) that runs parallel to the sea.
The deep bunkers surrounding the green and the expansive green (1,300 square meters), which is 150% larger than a typical course, require golfers to execute precise approaches and long putts. However, as long as they stay active, golfers need not worry about losing their balls.