PHAN THIET, Vietnam – One of Vietnam’s top golf resorts is getting firmly into the Singapore swing by forging reciprocal arrangements with some of the premier clubs in the island republic. Ocean Dunes Golf Club (www.oceandunesgolf.vn) has established itself as one of the ‘must-play’ destinations in Asia since opening in 1996. The prestige of the Nick Faldo-designed layout at the coastal enclave of Phan Thiet is reflected in the high caliber of its new partner clubs in Singapore. Ocean Dunes has already secured reciprocal benefits with Jurong Country Club, while agreements with Singapore Island Country Club, Orchid Country Club and Tanah Merah Country Club are imminent, according to Ocean Dunes General Manager Kurt Greve. In addition to its partners in Singapore, Ocean Dunes also has a tie-up with Southlinks Country Club on Batam Island, Indonesia – a mere hour away from Singapore by ferry. “These arrangements are great news for Ocean Dunes members who plan on visiting the Straits region – allowing for top-class golf at attractively discounted prices,” said Greve, whose own experience as former corporate director of operations for IMG Singapore’s golf course services division helped smooth the path for the current arrangements. “These relationships are also set to be a boon for the growing contingent of Singaporeans and Singapore residents traveling to Vietnam for both business and pleasure.” “Not only does it offer amazing value to our own members, it also gives the members of these famous clubs in Singapore an incentive to put their skills to the test up here at Ocean Dunes – in a decidedly more serene, idyllic environment.” Ocean Dunes may be celebrating its 15th birthday next year, but the challenge it presents remains as fresh and visceral as ever. Located hard by the sparkling waters of the East Sea, the course utilizes its prime chunk of real estate to stunning effect. Considering its fairly compact footprint, Ocean Dunes has remarkably varied terrain, combining elements of firm-and-fast links play and American-style target golf. Echoes of the great courses on the Monterey Peninsula in California also come into play, especially on the 9th – an uphill short hole played through a funnel of casuarinas to green nestled high in the coastal dunes. Voted Vietnam’s best par-3 last year, the hole has also been rated one of the ‘Best 500 Holes in the World’ by U.S. imprint GOLF Magazine. For the third consecutive year, Ocean Dunes served host to the Vietnamese edition of the Faldo Series Asia (FSA) for junior golfers. This year’s tournament took place Aug. 6-8, as qualifiers advanced to the Asia Grand Final in Shenzhen, China next March. Ocean Dunes is more than a tournament-tested venue. It was the first resort course built in Vietnam, the first located outside the urban centers of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Yet it remains Vietnam’s most user-friendly course: The first tee is a mere stone’s throw from the lobby of the adjacent Novotel Phan Thiet. No other Vietnamese course, resort or otherwise, offers golf in such close proximity to a first-class lodging component. Meanwhile, nearby Mui Ne is rapidly staking a claim as the number one beach destination in the country, with a host of inviting bars and restaurants spread out along its long, quiet beaches. “This is the place to get away to, a place where you can truly kick back after a day on the links,” said Greve, who is confident that visiting Singaporeans will like what they find at Ocean Dunes. “We are committed to working closely with all these clubs and won’t hesitate to make all the necessary arrangements for their members to come and visit us here. We think it’s a win-win situation for everyone and we’ll be promoting these arrangements in our monthly newsletter and also to the members of these clubs in Singapore.” For more information, contact the Ocean Dunes GC sales office, sales@vietnamgolfresorts.com. For more information on the resort, visit www.oceandunesgolf.vn