Buzz
With the burgeoning development of golf, especially in the bustling Saigon area, the establishment of quality golf courses is imperative. A well-maintained and high-quality golf course is crucial in providing golfers with exceptional experiences. Let's explore the top-notch golf courses worth playing in Saigon below.
1. Thu Duc Golf Course
Located in the southern region, Thu Duc Golf Course is renowned as one of the premier professional golf courses in Vietnam. Situated on Highway 1 in Long Thanh My, Thu Duc City, approximately 12km from downtown Ho Chi Minh City, the course spans 300 hectares with a total of 36 holes. Featuring 72 standard golf clubs, it attracts around 500 golfers per session, especially on weekends and holidays. This was one of Vietnam's first golf courses and the venue for the country's first amateur golf tournament.
Thu Duc Golf Course. Image: Collection
Thu Duc Golf Course is divided into two sections: the East and West courses, each consisting of 18 holes. The West course, measuring 7,105 yards in total length, first opened its doors to visitors in December 1994 and was designed by Taiwanese architect Chen King Shih. The East course, spanning 6,945 yards in length, commenced operations in 1997, designed by Lee Trevino, a former six-time world golf champion. Both courses feature undulating fairways, water hazards, and sand traps to provide challenges for golfers. The driving range, fairways, and greens are all covered with premium grass, ensuring precise and high-quality shots for players.
The golf course presents numerous challenges for players. Image: Collection
In contrast to golf courses located on high hills or near the sea, Thu Duc Golf Course boasts relatively flat terrain. The golf holes are designed on gently undulating terrain, with elongated fairways in the east and bunkers and sand traps strategically placed in the west, offering various challenges. Even seasoned golfers need to exercise caution with each shot to avoid falling into traps.
Host of Professional Tournaments. Image: Collection
Notably, Thu Duc Golf Course has been trusted to host professional tournaments both domestically and internationally. In 2011 alone, the course hosted a staggering 46 major and minor golf tournaments. Some notable events held here include the Forbes Vietnam Golf Tournament, the 1st Ho Chi Minh City Junior Golf Open in 2016, the 2016 Ho Chi Minh City Women's Amateur Championship, and the OCB Golf Tournament. Additionally, the venue had the honor of welcoming Cambodian President Hun Sen to witness high-level golf matches between Nguyen Cao Ky and Vo Viet Thanh, the former presidents of Ho Chi Minh City.
2. Tan Son Nhat Golf Course
Tan Son Nhat Golf Course boasts an incredibly ideal location, situated less than 1 km from Tan Son Nhat Airport and near the vibrant city center of Ho Chi Minh City, with convenient transportation. Designed by Nelson & Haworth Golf Course Architects, a leading golf course design firm, the course was constructed in 2007 and opened in August 2015. The total area of the golf course is 132 hectares, with 111 hectares allocated for 36 golf holes, 14.7 hectares for water bodies, 3 hectares for Him Lam Palace Clubhouse, and 2.6 hectares for practice facilities, including 68 turf practice mats divided into two levels. Additionally, there is a chipping area and sand bunker on the green designed independently to serve golfers for practice and warm-up before heading out onto the course.
Tan Son Nhat Golf Course. Image: Collection
The golf course consists of 4 small courses, each with 9 golf holes, making a total of 36 golf holes. Course A has a total length of 3729 yards; Course B has a total length of 3620 yards; Course C has a total length of 3747 yards; Course D has a total length of 3619 yards. Standard golf club count: each Course A, B, C, D has 36 standard golf clubs. The courses use Paspalum Platinum and TifEagle grasses with electric cart paths designed throughout the golf course.
Tan Son Nhat Golf Course at night. Image: Collection
The terrain of Tan Son Nhat Golf Course is particularly appealing with winding undulating fairways designed with varying levels of difficulty. Additionally, the course boasts a well-established lighting system, allowing golfers to enjoy night games without compromising their experience.
Furthermore, the golf course boasts amenities such as:
- The driving range is designed to international standards with 2 levels comprising 68 practice lanes, catering to both day and night practice sessions for golfers to train and warm up.
- The restaurant offers a unique space, serving premium seafood and a diverse menu of high-quality European, Asian, Chinese, and Vietnamese cuisines.
- The changing area is equipped with full-service steam rooms, Jacuzzis, and spacious lockers. Currently, this area has over 600 lockers on both the men's and women's sides, along with many luxurious modern amenities.
- The shopping area features a variety of renowned premium brands such as Titleist, Taylor Made, Home, Nike, and Puma.
- The Long Bien Palace conference and wedding center can accommodate approximately 2000 guests at a time and has its own helicopter landing pad.
Modern Jacuzzi room at Tan Son Nhat Golf Course. Image: Collection
3. Rạch Chiếc Golf Course
Rạch Chiếc Golf Course is located at 150 Hanoi Highway, An Phu Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, quite close to other sports centers. Compared to other scale golf courses, this one has a modest area of only 5 hectares for the entire course, making it suitable for beginners with a 220-yard range and 100-yard pitch chip on grass.
Rạch Chiếc Golf Course. Image: Collection
Rạch Chiếc Golf Course is highly regarded for its cool, serene natural environment, combining forest and mountain landscapes. Golfers experience various terrains on each play, enhancing their playing experience and creating memorable games. Additionally, the course's allure owes much to the quality of grass across the course, meticulously maintained to provide an attractive space and smoother ball paths for players.
Golfers also experience various terrains. Image: Collection
Rạch Chiếc Golf Course is also highly praised for its excellent accompanying amenities. Here, a stylishly decorated bar provides players with relaxing moments after intense workouts; a luxurious restaurant with a diverse menu serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with a Pro Shop located on the ground floor, stocked with renowned brands to meet training needs.
4. Him Lam Golf Course
Him Lam Golf Course is located at 234 Ngô Tất Tố Street, Ward 22, Bình Thạnh District, Ho Chi Minh City, attracting not only male golfers but also a gathering place for many female golfers. With an area of over 5 hectares and an investment capital of over 50 billion VND, Him Lam is a luxury golf course with 3 floors, 100 practice mats, 2 Bunkers, and 2 Putting greens. On average, it welcomes over 300 guests per day from around the world. Most guests here are passionate golf enthusiasts, successful entrepreneurs, who come to the golf course for entertainment, networking, and building close relationships.
Him Lam Golf Course. Image: Collection
Not only does Him Lam Golf Course provide premium golf services, but its accompanying services are also one of the main reasons for attracting a large number of visitors. The golf course's coaching staff are all trained abroad, ensuring students receive comprehensive instruction and learn various excellent skills to master this sport. Additionally, there are outdoor restaurants with European and Asian cuisines, luxurious private rooms, event areas for parties, meetings, and weddings, capable of accommodating thousands of attendees simultaneously. Moreover, the course also features fitness centers, lockers, as well as fully furnished apartments and offices for rent to cater to customers' needs.
Professional coaching staff. Image: Collection
5. Phu My Hung Golf Course
Phu My Hung Golf Course, also known as South Saigon Golf Course, is located within the Phu My Hung urban area, spanning 3000 hectares. This location is quite close to the city, making it very convenient for golfers to commute. Furthermore, a significant advantage of the golf course is its construction along both sides of the Thay Tieu River, creating a relaxing feeling close to nature with a cool atmosphere. Simultaneously, this significantly increases the difficulty and challenges for golfers, stimulating their conquering spirit.
Phu My Hung Golf Course. Image: Collection
The golf course is designed as a practice course with 9 standard golf holes. The grass type used on the course is of high quality to create a vast, beautiful green space, providing golfers with excitement when participating in golfing activities.
In addition, Phu My Hung Golf Course offers numerous amenities such as restaurants with a diverse Asian-European menu, clubs, and 5-star standard hotels. This provides convenience for golfers to relax and entertain without having to travel far. The course also has sports equipment stores selling golf accessories of all brands, from affordable to famous ones. Furthermore, the well-trained and professional staff serve customers wholeheartedly. Therefore, when coming to Phu My Hung Golf Course, golfers will be very satisfied with the quality of service.
Phu My Hung Golf Club. Image: Collection
Presented above is a compilation of the 5 most renowned golf courses in Saigon, curated for both beginners and seasoned players. Each golf course boasts unique advantages, designs, and facilities tailored to various player demographics. Depending on individual needs, abilities, and economic circumstances, selecting an appropriate golfing destination is crucial.
