Mark Chambers – CEO The Golf Hub: “I love culture and lifestyle in Vietnam” 07:00, 16/01/2022

For what reasons did you come to Vietnam and were first impressions of this S-shaped country? 

I arrived August 2013. Initially I had planned to go to the Philippines, but got convinced to come to Vietnam. Vietnam has a lot to offer. I guess for me the attraction is the culture and free flow of life. Vietnamese are easy going and live an outdoor lifestyle similar to Australia. 

What attracted you to golf and to become a pro coach? 

Greg Norman was my inspiration, but it was a school friend that invited me to play. This was my first experience with no lessons or practice just straight to the course for 18 holes. I knew that day I would love the game. After 37 years the passion is still the same. I was encouraged by my mentor to turn professional and I completed 3 years of the PGA traineeship before playing full time on various professional tours for around 5 years. After struggling to get into the top group of players I turned to coaching where I renewed my passion for the game and instructing new and existing golfers. 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing business in Vietnam? 

Business in Vietnam is very different but more interesting. While the industry grows in Vietnam it presents many exciting opportunities. The disadvantages are far outweighed by the advantages. One issue is not being able to find experienced staff and then requiring translation in a percentage of lessons. Educating Vietnamese on the game takes time and now that they are paying attention to the game worldwide, they are more knowledgeable and understand the difficulties and beauty of our game. In Vietnam I have had the opportunity to create an academy from the ground up and with TGH now we have world class education, coaching and training courses leading to career opportunities. 

What do you think about the potential of indoor golf and golf academy in Vietnam? 

Indoor golf is here to stay and for simple reasons like lack of space for driving ranges, convenience, controlled climate for practice etc. Golf academies indoors are not as easy and require both highly qualified PGA coaches and the latest technologies to provide a learning experience suited to indoors. The indoor golf industry will expand however I see a saturated market coming soon and this will make doing business more challenging as we all bid for a share of the market. 

How has the pandemic affected your life and business? 

Covid-19 has been a shock for everybody and for me personally a time when I have been unable to travel home until now. More than 2 years I have been out of my country and now will enjoy Christmas and the New Year with my children and close family. In business it has not been easy as many would agree we were unable to do business in the normal for a large part of 2021. On the positive side it was an opportunity to work on the business and prepare it to face all and any challenges in the future. 

What do you think about the future of golf if the pandemic continues? 

Golf will survive and we will need to adapt. I don’t think any country wants to close again and I think we will need to adapt to social distancing rules and regulations. If golf centers are safe places then we should have no problems.  Teaching may need to exist more online in the future and provide more resources to aid people in their development. Playing the game is safe so I hope that government sees this and supports the physical and mental benefits of playing. 

What do you think of the Tet holiday in Vietnam? 

TET is like our western Christmas period and is very important to bring family together. In Vietnam I am an adopted family member and my wife and I will enjoy some time with these wonderful people enjoying traditional foods and rice wine. My fondest memories are with friends and their families eating and drinking too much. Very western really. 

What are your plans for the future and your wishes for the New Year vacation? 

The future for The Golf Hub is bright and in 2022 we will rollout a number of benefits and opportunities for all golfers. For me personally I will guide TGH to become Asia’s leading Golf Academy over the coming years. TGH has a great structure and is set to provide an experience 2nd to none for all golfers learning the game.