Designed by former world No. 1 Luke Donald, this spectacular mountain course near Da Nang combines challenging golf, beautiful scenery and a memorable reward at the 19th hole.
By the time I arrived at Ba Na Hills Golf Club, I had already played two rounds of golf in central Vietnam. Both had been enjoyable experiences, although my scorecards suggested there was still plenty of room for improvement.
Perhaps the third time would be the charm.
Set in a lush valley surrounded by mountains west of Da Nang, Ba Na Hills Golf Club immediately makes an impression. Beautiful fairways wind through rolling hills, with dense greenery and mountain scenery providing a spectacular backdrop.
It was another beautiful course in a region that had already spoiled me with some extraordinary golf settings. And as it turned out, this was where I would play my best round of the trip.
A Championship Pedigree
Ba Na Hills Golf Club was designed by Luke Donald, the former world No. 1 golfer and European Ryder Cup captain. Opened in 2016 and managed by IMG, the par-72 championship course stretches an imposing 7,857 yards from the professional tees, while the more forgiving white tees measure 6,022 yards.
It was Donald’s first golf course design, and the result makes excellent use of the surrounding landscape.
The course is hilly, with plenty of elevation changes, interesting fairways and fast greens. It’s challenging in a good way, with enough variety to keep things interesting throughout the round.
I was also putting my relatively new TaylorMade Qi Max irons to the test. Fitted with 65-gram regular-flex graphite shafts, I’d chosen them for their added forgiveness, something I can certainly use while continuing to improve my game.
My current goal is to consistently break 100, with no mulligans or practice shots. Just an honest scorecard.
And Ba Na Hills seemed like a good place to work toward that.
Third Time Lucky
One of the things I enjoyed most was the combination of the mountain setting and the variety of holes.
The hills made the round interesting, while the fast greens kept me on my toes. I was also getting more comfortable with my Odyssey putter, although there were still a few occasions when the ball rolled farther than intended.
Nothing unusual there.
Golf is one of those sports where a few good shots can make you forget all the bad ones. Fortunately, at Ba Na Hills, there were more good ones to remember.
Having played twice already during the trip, I was beginning to find some consistency. My drives were improving, my iron shots felt better, and I was making fewer mistakes.
Golf is one of those sports where a few good shots can make you forget all the bad ones. Fortunately, at Ba Na Hills, there were more good ones to remember.
The club has also collected numerous international awards since opening, establishing itself among Vietnam’s leading golf destinations.
The Signature 16th
Among the highlights is the par-3 16th hole, identified by the club as one of its signature holes.
Played over water toward a challenging green, it’s a beautiful hole that can make you think twice about your club selection.
Water hazards and I have a bit of history. At a friendly tournament with friends recently, I managed to send three balls into the water on the very first hole. It was 36 degrees under the midday sun, and I have a theory that my brain was telling me to jump into the water to cool off. Somehow, my golf balls got the message instead.
Fortunately, things went a lot better at Ba Na Hills.
Beyond the Fairways
For visitors to Da Nang, the golf club is also associated with the larger Ba Na Hills destination, home to Sun World Ba Na Hills, the spectacular mountaintop resort and entertainment complex nearly 1,500 meters above sea level in the Truong Son Mountains.
The complex is famous for its cable cars, French-inspired architecture and Golden Bridge, supported by two enormous stone hands.
From the golf course area, the cable cars can be spotted in the distance. My caddy told me that some of the best views of Da Nang are from up there, which gave me another reason to return and explore the mountaintop complex properly.
It’s an appealing combination for visitors traveling with family or friends who may have different interests. A round of golf can easily become part of a wider visit to one of central Vietnam’s most recognizable attractions.
The Best Round, Followed by the Best Pho?
By the time I finished, I had played my best round of the Vietnam trip.
After two earlier outings, it was satisfying to see my game coming together. I was certainly leaving Ba Na Hills feeling better about my golf than when I had started the journey.
And then came lunch.
The clubhouse dining experience was excellent, but one dish stood out: a bowl of Vietnamese beef pho.
I’d enjoyed pho several times during my travels in Vietnam, but this might have been my favorite. The reason was surprisingly simple.
It arrived in a bowl that kept the broth piping hot throughout the entire meal.
The fragrant broth, tender beef, noodles and fresh herbs were delicious, and the soup remained steaming hot until the very last spoonful.
Golfers often talk about the 19th hole as an essential part of the experience. At Ba Na Hills, mine happened to involve an exceptionally good bowl of pho.
Three rounds of golf in central Vietnam, my best performance saved for last, and possibly the best pho of the trip.
Not a bad way to finish.
