The jewel in Vietnam's golf crown

SINCE breaking ground in December 2013, the 800-hectare The Dàlat at 1200 Country Club and Private Estate (www.dalat1200.com) has developed into a superb lifestyle destination offering first-class golf, accommodation and outdoor activities. It has also had international recognition - Dà Lat was named in the Top 30 of The New York Times' "52 Places to Go in 2016" wherein The Dàlat at 1200 was recommended as one of the must-visit places.

Set in the South Central Highlands of Vietnam, The Dàlat at 1200 is named after the location's altitude at 1,200 metres above sea level. The "eternal spring" climate with a dry, mean temperature of 22 degrees Celsius in Dà Lat makes it suited to year-round golf, outdoor activities and designer hill-station living.

The 18-hole championship course was designer Kyi Hla Han's first creation and is also the first and flagship Asian Tour Destination. The Dàlat at 1200 also features an Asian Tour Performance Golf Institute, the first Asian Tour Players' Academy which was completed last month.

This will help to train new pros, in addition to allowing current Asian Tour players the opportunity to practise year-round in a climate and on greens unlike any other in Asia.

And that is because what sets this course apart from many others in Asia is the bent grass greens, which are rarely found on courses in this region. The institute will also provide the highest level of instruction to club members and developing professionals from Vietnam and overseas.

Mr Han, a former golf professional and current Asian Tour interim tour commissioner, tweaked and reshaped the front nine while the back nine, which are more elevated, are totally new. While he has stated there is no official signature hole, he has been keen to stamp a unique feature on every hole and says that every one is unique and spectacular in its own way.

Those golfers who have played the course have shared that holes number three, eight, 15 and 16 are the highlights of the course. Mr Han says: "Each hole has a different character and the front nine has been reworked to complement the back nine," adding: "I hope that recreational golfers have a remembrance of each hole - it's a very scenic course."

In addition to the course and institute, there is a 6,500 sq m clubhouse which will be completed in the fourth quarter of this year. Facilities at the clubhouse will include an indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, a fitness club and private dining choices.

Currently, The Dàlat at 1200 is offering transferable individual and corporate memberships. Property owners enjoy non-transferable golf membership rights which are attached to the ownership of the property. It is a private course open only to golfing members, property owners, their families and their guests. Golf members will also have access to the clubhouse facilities and private estate facilities as well as the state-of-the-art players' academy, driving range and practice facilities. There are a limited amount of special founder memberships which are still available.

Regarding villas and residences, the first phase, comprising a total of different-sized 49 villas and 65 resort residences, are currently under construction and will be completed progressively from December 2016. Prices for the villas start from US$650,000 while resort residences are priced from US$150,000.