SCORE BY THE SHORE

Hoiana Shores, one of Vietnam's newer courses, is rapidly gaining recognition in Asia and beyond.

- TIM PINNEGAR

In 2000, Vietnam had just six golf courses.

By 2010, that number had risen to 17. Today, there are over 70 courses, and according to the Vietnam Golf Association, as many as 100 more may be built over the next decade.

Even if these ambitious plans do not fully materialize, Vietnam already offers a remarkable selection for international golfers. One course that stands out as a must-play is Hoiana Shores.

Located on Vietnam's “golf coast”, Hoiana Shores lies just 8 kilometres south of Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and 50 minutes from Danang International Airport, which offers abundant flight connections from across Asia.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., renowned for his environmentally conscious and strategic golf course layouts, Hoiana Shores opened in mid-2019, only to see operations suspended a few months later due to the pandemic. Today, it is fully operational, featuring a modern, well-appointed clubhouse, excellent food and beverage options, and a first-class golf operations team.

With much of the natural landscape preserved— including sand dunes and native vegetation—the course evokes the feel of a British links, but set within a lush, tropical environment. The sand-based fairways, planted with Zeon Zoysia grass, provide a superb playing surface that performs well even after rain. The expansive TifEagle Bermuda greens, running at around 9.4 on the Stimpmeter when we played, offer a true and consistent roll, with enough subtle undulations to challenge your putting—especially if you find yourself on the wrong side of the hole. For the less accomplished golfer, the wide fairways help minimise the punishment of straying into the many waste bunkers.