Montgomerie Links Golf Club
The 2012 Forbes Travel Guide rated Montgomerie Links as one of Asia’s ten most elite courses. It has been designed to capitalize on its close proximity to the warm, tranquil East Sea and famed Marble Mountains, which are clearly visible from various points on the 18-hole course.
The over-arching design philosophy behind all of Colin Montgomerie’s designs is to work closely with natural characteristics of each site. Montgomerie Links Vietnam has many truly outstanding natural features. The sandy soil, wind-blown dunes, and indigenous vegetation combine to create the framework for a very strong links-style golf course that caters to players of all abilities and is a sheer delight to play.
Although the course doesn’t officially have a signature hole, the stunning par-5 12th is truly memorable. Playing slightly uphill to a bunker-riddled fairway, the hole is framed by the clubhouse in the background and has been described as the best par-5 in Vietnam.
With the layout sitting about a seven-iron from t’he famed “Central Coast”, a 30 kilometer stretch of pristine beach along the East Sea, sand is everywhere on this course, best described as a contemporary modern links. It’s evident that “Monty”, the eight-time European Tour Order of Merit champion, has drawn upon memories of the famous Scottish links that he grew up playing on to create this layout, as it features abundant sand, prevalent bunkering and an ever-present wind.
2010 European Ryder Cup Captain and Eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie—better known as Monty to his worldwide fan base—has massaged massive greens and rippled fairways into the stunning backdrop, setting up an experience he believes will rank among the world’s finest. 18 holes and a well equipped 30 bay undercover driving range are now open for play with the stunning contemporary designed clubhouse providing the perfect setting with views over the famed marble mountains and distant highlands.
“This is an exciting area, Vietnam, especially this particular region, Central Coast, the historical nature of it and what we can do here,” Montgomerie said at a recent press conference. “It’s a beautiful beach, a beautiful golf course site. To find a course site like this, these days, is very rare.”
Among the highlights are the par-four sixth where a French gun placement pillbox sits to the right of the tee, and the 527-yard, par-five 12th that requires navigating 18 bunkers before reaching the elevated sloping green. The 15th is a risk-reward hole as the dogleg left hugs the water and will require a confident 290 yard blast from the back tee to reach the fairway. The 18th, the longest par-five, is another, tempting big hitters to go for the slightly uphill green in two, provided they can avoid the fairway bunkers.
