For a fresh golf challenge, look no further than Hoiana Shores in Da Nang

I’VE been to Vietnam almost a dozen times before, including several trips to the coastal city of Da Nang, which is known for its sandy beaches and historical sites.

What continues to draw me back there is, of course, the chance to play golf. In the past, I would visit Laguna Lang Co, an 18-hole course in Da Nang designed by British golfing legend Nick Faldo.

Recently, I had the opportunity to return to Da Nang and one of the pull factors was to play a round at the Hoiana Shores Golf Club, which is part of the US$4 billion Hoiana Resort & Golf integrated resort that opened in 2020.

This 18-hole links course surrounded by a sandy coastland is the first foray in Vietnam by American architect Robert Trent Jones Jr, the designer of more than 50 courses around the world in places like Australia, Mexico, Malaysia and the US.

I recall meeting him a couple of times before when he visited Singapore to fashion the Tanah Merah Country Club’s Garden course, and he impressed with his experience, expertise and knowledge about golf course design, a trade he picked up from his father.

And so, I was curious to find out how different Hoiana Shores would be from the many other fabulous golf courses in Vietnam. What I saw for myself was how Jones Jr turned what used to be dusty farmland into a sprawling 7,000-yard, par-71 a la the links courses in Scotland and Ireland.

The best part is, instead of a 11,500 km, 16-hour journey to St Andrews in Scotland, I was in paradise in Da Nang after a quick two-hour flight.

As Jones’ company website aptly put it: “The golfing profile of Vietnam probably has risen faster than any country on earth. Hoiana Shores is one of the reasons why.”

At Hoiana, Jones’ team introduced “soft links” that are suitable for Vietnam’s tropical climate. His designers wove in special strands of drought-tolerant turf grass for what he describes as “firm and fast” play.

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On the green, each hole is marked by a red lantern instead of a flag – a nod to how the lantern is commonplace across Vietnam

Although a relatively new course in the region, Hoiana Shores has already won several accolades such as Best Course in Vietnam and the Asian Golf Award. On the course are the hospitable and professional women caddies who read distances and green lines intuitively.

Besides golf, there is a whole host of other activities for all types of visitors staying at the New World Hoiana Beach Resort.

I stayed at a luxurious suite on the 12th floor of the hotel. The hotel has 330 rooms and suites, many of which overlook the sea front with the charming Cham Islands – the haven for speedboating and snorkelling – as a backdrop offering an idyllic view.

Another option for accommodation is the adjacent New World Hoiana and Hoiana Residences, with all of these offering cuisines such as Asian, American, British and Mediterranean.

During my trip in April, there was a World Poker Tournament being held at the Hoiana Casino, which is open 24 hours a day and boasts over 140 gaming tables and 300 slot machines.

I also had the chance to experience a two-hour Vietnamese cooking class, a visit to a vegetable farm from which products are sent to the kitchens at all three residences, and the only liquor distillery in Da Nang run by a Frenchman.

I had a chat with Jimmy Lopez, the multi-property hotel manager of Hoiana Resort and Golf who left his motherland, France, about 27 years ago and has worked around the world. His last posting before arriving in Vietnam was Macau, where he worked in the gaming industry.

On how he ended up in Da Nang, he said: “From Macau, the family needed a quick vacation some five years ago. We decided on Hoi An, and at first sight were fascinated by the place: its beauty, charm, inviting allure and hospitable people. We felt something very special about this place. A great mix of interesting things. One day, it would be nice to work here, I said to myself.”

A year later, he received a call from the owners of Hoiana Golf and Resort to ask him to launch a property in Da Nang. In Lopez’s words, it was “perfect timing” and he soon relocated his family.

With the resort’s official opening held on Apr 26 this year, the property is now bustling and there are plans underway to bring more facilities on board, such as a kids’ club, more spas and even beach carnivals. Wherever you are on the resort, it’s nearly impossible to escape the feeling of being in a utopian holiday home.

The writer’s trip was sponsored by Hoiana Resort & Golf.