Introducing Asia’s latest premier golf destination PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet 11:00, 18/03/2022

What was Greg Norman’s inspiration for the design of PGA Ocean and Garden golf courses? Are both championship golf courses suitable for tournaments and is one for the layman golfer?

When Greg first saw the property it reminded him a lot of his native Australia, with a rugged canvas, fantastic ocean views and great topography to design a golf course on. A lot of the design phase took place ‘in the field’, with Greg’s team deciding where to place tees and green complexes, in addition to placing much of the routing whilst walking around the virgin site. The design of both courses was created to maximise the views of the ocean for anyone that tees it up. 

One of the major factors that Greg and his team considered during the design phase was the coastal winds that are likely to play a part in many rounds. Both layouts offer a challenge for anyone teeing it up, however, Greg was conscious to also make sure that they remain playable for everyone by adding in variety to them. 

There are so many ways to play these courses, with different sets of tees that created different angles into holes, making it a fun and memorable experience for everyone. But if you are looking to challenge the world’s top players, PGA Ocean golf course at 7400 yards will definitely test the best, especially on a windy afternoon. 

Tell us in a nutshell what makes the PGA Ocean golf course such a great golfing experience. What are the standout holes and why?

PGA Ocean golf course possesses a unique combination of the natural pinkish yellow sands, wispy native golden grasses in the rough that wave in the winds and the sculpted deep green Zoysia fairways and greens and is a spectacular course visually. With the ocean views that feature on eight holes and even if you’re not on your game, it’s still a great walk. 

The whole back nine is special, but I guess the standout stretch of holes must be 13 through 15. We call these the “Ocean Loop”. After playing into the 12th green, which is an infinity green with an ocean backdrop, there is a nice little drink station that sits at the top of a bluff overlooking the upcoming stretch of holes. 

How different will PGA Garden golf course be in terms of the overall experience?

Other than sharing the same eco-friendly Zoysia grasses, the two courses couldn’t be more different. PGA Garden golf course is a shorter course, measuring only 7,200 yards, compared to PGA Ocean golf course that stretches to 7,400 yards. 

PGA Ocean golf course fairways are undulating while PGA Garden golf course is generally quite flat with only a few up and downhill holes. The bunkering style is also completely different. PGA Ocean golf course features just 36 very small rugged styled bunkers that transition into vast native waste areas, while PGA Garden golf course has over 86 large distinctive bunkers that are styled after the Melbourne Sandbelt area, which is Greg Norman’s favourite collection of courses in the world. 

PGA Garden golf course’s landscape is also more colourful and lusher and features much more water. This comes into play on 10 of the 18 holes, including a 2km rocky stream that flows through the middle of the course and around a few green fronts, creating some real risk and reward situations for all golfers.

How will the NovaWorld Phan Thiet development impact the regions golf industry?

Vietnam is already one of the most popular destinations for golf in Asia and on its current trajectory will become the leading destination in Asia by around 2030. The new highway being built from Ho Chi Minh City to the seaside town of Phan Thiet in 2022 will cut travel time from 3hr 30min to around 1 hour 40 minutes. Coupled with plans for an airport by 2023, NovaWorld Phan Thiet with two Greg Norman signature courses, 12 months of good golfing weather, an international sports complex, MICE & wellness tourism facilities, and endless entertainment & luxury travel amenities Phan Thiet has the capacity to become a global destination. 

NovaGroup has also partnered with IMG to welcome a world class field of professional golfers back to Vietnam to compete in a sanctioned professional golf event when the time is right after travel restrictions have eased & more international sporting events will come in time. 

What will be the main activities to be held at NovaWorld Phan Thiet? 

Firstly, our PGA Golf Villas are designed to service our extensive membership and have been selling very well. The purchase of each villa comes with a Golf Course Membership at the PGA Garden golf course. 

From 2022, the club will offer any active members a series of events and activities that include regular tournaments & weekly free family coaching clinics at the PGA Golf Academy. The PGA Academy will be Vietnam’s first ever PGA Academy, offering an array of PGA developed programmes and events with a strong emphasis on junior development. Our members will also have the opportunity to partake in night golf on the PGA Ocean golf course as we are currently installing a state-of-the-art lighting system. 

We also have several new 4- & 5-star hotels opening from early 2022 at NovaWorld Phan Thiet and these will allow guests to experience our very own “Stay and Play” packages that include a luxury transportation service. 

Both golf courses have also been planned and designed to serve both professional and amateur golf tournaments. We are delighted to say that an announcement regarding professional events at PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet will be made very shortly. 

As well as professional events, we are also planning on hosting three special events owned by the PGA in 2022 that will include the PGA Junior Challenge & PGA Club Champions event. We will also be hosting a series of regular events for our members that will allow them to come and develop their skills on a consistent basis. 

There will also be an array of facilities for families and friends alike to sample and enjoy at NovaWorld Phan Thiet. Phan Thiet is famously renowned for its blue sea, white sand, and golden sunshine, a place with many un-spoilt beaches, that can be enjoyed all year round. 

Running along a 7km stretch of coastline, NovaWorld Phan Thiet will contain a number of exciting developments including wellness facilities, a theme park, Broadway, and a sports complex for people of all ages to enjoy. 

Do you have any plans to develop your local customers and junior golf?

Since our soft opening, we have been offering a special local golfers’ promotion to entice local players to come and enjoy the golf course and the great outdoors at PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet. Over the coming years, we plan on working in close cooperation with the Binh Thuan Golf Association and support/sponsor a full calendar of local amateur golf events. 

Junior golf development is also a very important subject to us. Our PGA coaches will deliver the best junior development programmes possible using the state-of-the-art facilities that are available, including the multi-level driving range complex. We are committed to providing junior golfers in Vietnam opportunities to access and enjoy the world class facilities seven days a week.

NovaGroup also has an education department that are developing a PGA certified education platform that can be offered at all levels from younger children all the way up to university for those considering a career in golf. 

What are the benefits of the partnership with PGA of America can bring to the project? 

The PGA of America is one of the oldest and largest sporting organization in the world with over 29,000 members. Both the PGA & NovaGroup share the same vision - “To grow the game of golf”. 

The partnership with the PGA aims to bring a new standard of golf academies and golf course operational standards to Vietnam and in doing so will help assist NovaWorld to create an image as a destination for the foreign and domestic high-grade golf client segment. 

Our agreement with the PGA includes exclusively branded golf courses & academies along with an education aspect which has two parts.  Firstly, all the PGA Academy systems & programmes offered at the club will be taught by certified PGA members, in addition to the professional development education programmes that are currently being developed. 

The PGA owns & operates some of the biggest sporting events in the world such the upcoming 2022 Ryder Cup & US PGA Championship, but the PGA also has some fantastic lessor known events that we will bring to Vietnam including the PGA Junior Championship, PGA Junior Events Series & the PGA Club Champions Tournament Series. All these events are currently in development, and we hope to see them in 2022. 

What has the developer done to ensure this is a sustainable golf development? 

When designing and constructing the golf resort sustainability has been at the forefront of our thinking. Both Greg Norman design courses have been laid with environmentally friendly Zeon Zoyisa grass for the fairways and Primo Zoysia grass greens, the first courses in Asia to do so. 

This will be beneficial in the long term as both grass types require dramatically less water and fertilizer than other alternative turfs. To improve the sustainability of the complex further a modern intelligent irrigation system has been implemented again reducing water usage and solar panels have been fitted in the clubhouse. Six to seven wetlands with local fauna have been incorporated into the design and its buzzing with life. 

PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet will also help to increase the standard of golf in Vietnam with future tournaments allowing players the opportunity to develop the necessary skills needed to compete at the highest level, both on an amateur and professional scale. 

Increasing golf tourism in Phan Thiet is also a big priority, as the more projects developed within the province will lead to more job opportunities being available for locals to be employed in. These projects will also lead to more international tourists visiting the region each year, transforming Phan Thiet into one of Asia’s leading tourism destinations for both golf and leisure.