When Ian Cording first arrived in Vietnam more than a decade ago, the country’s golf landscape was still finding its voice. There was energy everywhere, a sense that something was about to happen, but very few people could clearly describe what that future would look like. For Ian, that uncertainty was the attraction.
“I was drawn by the energy and the untapped potential,” he recalls. “It felt like a frontier where you could really make an impact.” What convinced him to stay was the speed of change. Courses evolved quickly, golfers became more informed, and the industry matured in front of his eyes. “When I saw how fast everything was developing, and the passion Vietnamese golfers brought to the game, I knew this was where I wanted to build my life.”
Before joining The Bluffs Ho Tram, Ian’s career combined senior roles in high-end hospitality with deep technical experience in course management. That mix still defines how he approaches golf today. In his view, a modern golf facility is never just about the course. “Golf isn’t only a game,” he says. “It’s a high-end hospitality engine. Modern means being seamless, where great service and great golf feel effortless to the guest.”
At The Bluffs, that philosophy is matched by a course that makes no compromises. True links land, towering dunes, dramatic elevation changes, and coastal winds ensure that no two rounds are ever the same. Ian often describes a round here as a dialogue with the environment. “You can play the same hole twice in one day and have two completely different experiences,” he explains. “It demands creativity and respect for the ground game. This is golf in its most honest form.”
There is one moment that never loses its impact. Standing on the 4th tee, with raw dunes falling away below, the East Sea stretching to the horizon, and the resort rising behind you, the scale of Ho Tram becomes unmistakable. “You feel very small in the best possible way,” Ian says. “That view captures exactly what we are about, a wild natural landscape paired with world-class comfort.”
While the 4th is iconic, Ian’s personal connection runs deeper. The exposed par-3 15th tests nerve and judgment against the wind, while the walk up the 18th offers something more reflective. Approaching the clubhouse, golfers sense closure, satisfaction, and a quiet grandeur that lingers well beyond the final putt.
Running a Top 100 course brings expectations that extend far beyond conditioning. Ian and his team focus on intention and flow. Every golfer should feel that the course was prepared specifically for their arrival. From caddies anticipating decisions before a word is spoken, to the smooth transition from the final green into the calm of the clubhouse, nothing is left to chance. “We’re not just managing a tee sheet,” Ian notes. “We’re creating memories that have to live up to the landscape.”
Technology supports that goal quietly in the background, managing pace of play, monitoring green speeds, and maintaining daily consistency. The human element, however, remains central. Caddies are trained as professionals, supported with language skills and emotional intelligence, and empowered to connect with golfers from around the world. “Culture is caught, not taught,” Ian says. “Leadership has to live it every day.”
Life at Ho Tram extends well beyond the fairways. Ian encourages visitors to experience the wider rhythm of the resort, evenings at one of the many restaurants, time at the spa, a film at the cinema, or simply watching the coastline change color at dusk. Outside the resort, local seafood markets offer a glimpse into the authentic coastal community that gives Ho Tram its soul.
Looking ahead, Ian’s vision is clear. The next chapter for Vietnam golf is not about numbers, but refinement. “The boom is shifting from quantity to quality,” he explains. Over the coming decade, he sees Ho Tram becoming one of Asia’s defining golf destinations, guided by sustainability, thoughtful growth, and deep respect for the dunes and coastline that made it famous.
For golfers who make the journey, that balance is immediately felt. A place where nature still leads the conversation, and everything else is carefully designed to support it.
Contact our team of friendly golf travel experts to start planning your next golf holiday.
