QUANG NAM, Vietnam -- Thirteen years after Vietnam opened its first golf course of the modern era, a British golf legend is en route to the storied sands of China Beach where he’ll put his stamp on a links course that is shaping up to be one of Asia’s finest.
Colin Montgomerie, who has set records on the European Tour with 31 tournament victories and eight money titles, traveled to the historic Central Coast area the weekend of Nov. 17-18, between playing stops in Shanghai for the HSBC Champions tournament and Shenzhen for the World Cup.
While in Vietnam, Montgomerie worked on The Montgomerie Links Vietnam -- a collection of 18 breathtaking holes routed through casuarina pines and seaside vegetation just minutes from Danang’s international airport -- and met with some of the country’s highest ranking government officials. He also hosted a press conference with select media outlets.
“I’m excited to see how the site has evolved,” said Montgomerie, who has also played on eight Ryder Cup teams. “It’s a spectacular piece of land in one of the most beautiful parts of the world.”
In the short space of five months, a distinctly Old World design has sprouted near the former R&R spot for American GIs, with massive green complexes and rolling fairways spreading out on a virtually treeless site. A comprehensive practice facility opens in December. The first nine holes are expected to be playable by Spring 2008.
"It’s important to note that when the first course of this era was built [in Phan Thiet, south of Danang], Vietnam was only just opening itself up to golf and the West,” said Peter Ryder, CEO of Indochina Capital, developer of the $45 million project, one of more than a dozen ongoing projects in the company’s $1 billion real estate portfolio. “Ocean Dunes was followed by a trickle of activity in the course development realm. What did get built was done by no-name designers.
“It’s different today. More than 20 projects are in some stage of development. The Montgomerie Links shows that this market isn’t merely ready for a first-class resort course, it’s prepared to respond to an international golfing brand.”
Indochina Capital made its initial splash in Vietnam’s fastest growing resort region with The Nam Hai, the country’s first super-luxury resort and site of Montgomerie’s scheduled press conference. Opened 1 December 2006, this spectacular collection of 100 freestanding villas was quick to garner media attention, finding its way on to the best hotel lists of Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler this summer. It was also recently named the best new beach resort in Asia by TTG Travel.
With a pedigree bearing the words “The Montgomerie” -- verbiage reserved for course designs where the site and development partners were personally chosen by the golfer himself – the layout is expected to be equally lauded. Only four other layouts in the world can boast such qualities, and those open have been recognized by influential publications.
“I am very particular about associating my own personal brand,” said Montgomerie. “The project must have all the right attributes, from the partnership on down to the site qualities. The Montgomerie Links Vietnam was just a perfect match from the very beginning.”
In addition to the course and driving range, the development will include a 60-unit residential component on 38,000 square meters called The Montgomerie Links Estates and a stylish clubhouse designed by Hong Kong-based architectural firm Gravity Partnership Ltd., creators of almost 50 housing and mixed-use projects in China.
IMG is providing the course design team, and managing course construction. IMG, also Montgomerie's agent, is best known in Vietnam for its designs at Ocean Dunes, Dalat Palace and Tam Dao, just north of Hanoi.
Montgomerie currently has seven layouts open for play around the globe, including ones in Ireland, Dubai and China. He also has more than 10 courses in some stage of construction or design.
ABOUT INDOCHINA CAPITAL AND INDOCHINA LAND
Founded in 1999, Indochina Capital is one of Vietnam’s leading financial services firms with diversified fund management and financial advisory businesses. Indochina Capital manages US$1 billion in three funds and numerous special accounts, including two real estate funds and Indochina Capital Vietnam Holdings, which in March 2007 became the first Vietnam-related company to list on a major global stock market, the London Stock Exchange main board. Indochina Capital also owns a controlling interest in and manages Mekong Securities, a leading Vietnamese broker/dealer and investment bank.
Indochina Land is the real estate division of Indochina Capital. The division manages two real estate funds with over US$300 million under management facilitating investment in over US$1 billion in property projects. To date, Indochina Land’s portfolio includes 12 properties in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and the Central Coast. Prior to the establishment of the two real estate funds, over the past 15 years, Indochina Land and its principals have developed, financed and invested in well-over US$1 billion in real estate projects covering the full range of property types, including residential, retail, office, resort, hotel, and other leisure and industrial developments. Ocean Dunes, Dalat Palace and The Montgomerie Links Vietnam are among the golf clubs in that portfolio.
