Danang Golf Club, Dunes Course

On China Beach, halfway between Danang and Hoi An, Central Vietnam

The Danang Golf Club opened in 2010 and immediately leapt to fame being recognized as one of the 15 best new courses in the world by USA GOLF magazine. The following year Danang Golf Club was voted the 2011 best new golf course in Asia by the readers of Asian Golf Monthly.

The Dunes Course is built on the sandy loam soil of China Beach, a place where history is revered as much as golf. The Vietnam golf club is located directly on the beach that the American’s used for their first landing and adjacent to the American’s main supply depot and airfield used during the Vietnam War of the 1960’s. Here, along Vietnam’s golf coast and amid a seaside landscape almost identical to what the world’s first courses were carved from, an experience was crafted as much by Mother Nature as it was by the legendary Great White Shark, Greg Norman. In other words, it’s links-style golf in the truest sense of the term.

The Danang golf course is a unique golf challenge that every golfer will enjoy. Fairways are generous and there is restrained use of water and no out-of-bounds. Sculpted bunkering, shaped putting greens, and large natural waste areas have been cut directly from the surrounding sand dunes. Scoring well requires that shots are carefully placed to give players a chance to go for the pins on the undulating greens.  The fairways are also lined and well defined by long needle pines, so miss into the trees and you will be forced to punch off the sand and pine needles along a safe line just to get back into play.

More so than other areas of Vietnam, the wind can play be a major factor on the Vietnam coast.  For example, the par-3 16th hole is back-dropped by the South China Sea and often plays into a strong headwind, making club selection very tricky. The wind when combined with the firm and fast greens, can toughen up the course considerably. 
This is where those accustomed to links style golf can have an advantage due to the options afforded by the soil and turf conditions that enable low running bump and runs and putting from well off the greens.  Creative shot making definitely comes in handy on this course.

Reminiscent of both Scottish links golf and Australia sand-belt courses, Australia's Great White Shark Norman has created something special in Vietnam that will make you want to play this course again and again.

The 4,000 square meter clubhouse and 300 yard driving range echoes the course with first class standards and service. Food offerings are some of the best in Danang and taking in a Vietnam sunset on the rooftop lounge makes for an excellent way to reminisce about your round and plan your next Vietnam golf outing.