Some golf courses are worth travelling a little farther for. Laguna Golf Lăng Cô, located between the Trường Sơn Mountains and Vietnam’s central coastline, is one of them.

This was my second golf course during my recent visit to Vietnam, and getting there meant a 77-kilometre drive north from my hotel on the outskirts of Hội An, just beyond Da Nang. The journey took approximately an hour and a half and offered a pretty good introduction to the many sides of central Vietnam.

Along the way, I passed Da Nang’s beachfront hotels, busy streets filled with motorbikes, industrial parks, fishing communities and agricultural land. It was an interesting cross-section of Vietnam today, where tourism, manufacturing, city life and traditional farming coexist within relatively short distances.

The scenery began to change over the final 10 kilometres, almost like a curtain rising on what was to come. Buildings gave way to greenery, forested hills and farmland. A few brown cows had even decided to occupy the road, requiring a couple of honks before they reluctantly moved aside.

It was a fitting introduction to Laguna Golf Lăng Cô, where nature plays as much a part in the experience as the golf itself.

A Gong, Some Coffee and a Golf Course

A welcoming gong greeted me at the clubhouse entrance. Perhaps it was meant to put visiting golfers into a more relaxed, meditative state of mind. I knew I needed it.

The clubhouse made a good first impression, with comfortable, spotless locker rooms and attentive staff.

Still a little sleepy and thirsty from the drive, I was thinking a coffee would be nice, but I’d already started my round. Then, lo and behold, the beverage cart lady appeared. Perfect timing. I got my caffeine fix and stocked up on drinks for what would turn out to be a very hot afternoon.

Stepping onto the first tee was exhilarating.

The fairways were beautifully maintained, the greens immaculate, and the bunkers filled with striking brown sand that contrasted nicely with the surrounding grass. There were plenty of them, too. Great to look at, although I was hoping I wouldn’t have to pull out my Cleveland 56-degree wedge too often.

Beyond the fairways rose the Trường Sơn, or Annamite, Mountains. Rice paddies, bamboo, pine trees, native shrubs, streams and reddish boulders added to the scenery. There was plenty to take in between shots, and the changing terrain made me curious about what the next hole would look like.

The Faldo Touch

Laguna Golf Lăng Cô was designed by Sir Nick Faldo, one of golf’s most accomplished players, with six major championships and 43 professional tournament victories to his name.

The par-71 course stretches 6,961 yards from the championship tees, with shorter options down to 5,178 yards, making it accessible to golfers of different abilities.

Faldo clearly had plenty to work with here.

The layout incorporates coastal terrain, wooded areas, rice paddies and rocky sections, with a traditional out-and-back routing that gives parts of the course a links-like character.

The coastal holes were particularly enjoyable. Around the ninth, a par 4 running alongside Lăng Cô Beach, the views open towards the East Sea. With the sandy terrain, coastal vegetation and sea breeze, there were moments that reminded me of the links courses in Scotland.

Other sections felt completely different, with fairways winding between trees, streams and rock formations. The course seemed to change character every few holes, which kept things interesting.

Throughout the round, I was impressed by the quality of the fairways and greens. The grass was in excellent condition, and the putting surfaces were consistently smooth and well maintained.

Buffaloes and Birdies

Don’t let the subtitle fool you. There were no birdies for me that afternoon, but there were plenty of buffaloes.

One of Laguna Golf Lăng Cô’s more unusual features is its resident family of water buffaloes, which inspired the club’s mascot and logo.

They serve as natural “bio-mowers” around approximately four hectares of rice paddies integrated into the course. The buffaloes can often be spotted around holes 3 and 4, as well as sections of the back nine near holes 13, 14 and 15.

They even have names. There’s Tu Phat, Chi Chi and their calves, Bao and Baby Luna.

My caddie was another highlight of the round. She had been working at Laguna Golf Lăng Cô for 15 years and knew the greens exceptionally well. Her advice helped me sink a few impressive putts and kept my score from getting completely out of hand.

Between her local knowledge, the excellent course conditions and the attentive service, I had a thoroughly enjoyable round despite the intense heat.

Worth the Drive

Laguna Golf Lăng Cô is part of the larger Laguna Lăng Cô resort complex, which includes Banyan Tree Lăng Cô and other accommodation options.

For those wanting to stay longer, the resort offers Stay & Play packages, including accommodation at Laguna Parkside Lăng Cô. Having a golf course like this practically on your doorstep certainly has its advantages.

But even if you’re staying in Da Nang or Hội An, as I was, the trip north is well worth making.

The course delivers everything I enjoy about playing somewhere new: great scenery, an interesting layout, excellent playing conditions and a few surprises along the way.

Sir Nick Faldo has made good use of the natural terrain, creating a course that is challenging without taking away from the enjoyment of the round.

Mountains, rice paddies, coastal views, buffaloes and some very good putting advice from my caddie.

Not a bad way to spend an afternoon in central Vietnam.

And absolutely worth the drive.