When Luke Donald led Europe to yet another Ryder Cup victory, the cheers might have echoed loudest in New York’s Bethpage Black. Yet thousands of miles away, in Vietnam’s central highlands, a different kind of celebration stirred — at Ba Na Hills Golf Club, the only golf course personally designed by the English legend. Nestled in the lush foothills of Da Nang, this world-class golf course reflects everything that makes Donald’s approach to golf unique: precision, patience, and strategy. Much like his leadership on the Ryder Cup stage, Donald’s design blends challenge with serenity, creating a course that tests not only your swing but also your thinking. A Course Born from Strategy and Imagination “I’ve always believed golf is a game of strategy,” says Luke Donald. “At Ba Na Hills, the goal was to reward creativity and intelligent play rather than just power.” Opened in collaboration with IMG, the 18-hole championship course winds through mountains, ravines, and lush tropical forest. Each hole was designed to flow naturally with the land, offering breathtaking scenery and a variety of shot options that reward tactical thinking over brute force. Highlights include the stunning par-3 8th hole, framed by dense jungle, and the closing stretch — particularly the island-green 16th and the water-guarded 17th — which provide a dramatic finale as mist drifts over the surrounding hills. A Rising Star on the Vietnam Golf Coast Since its opening, Ba Na Hills Golf Club has become a cornerstone of the Vietnam Golf Coast, a region fast emerging as one of Asia’s most exciting golf destinations. Together with nearby courses such as Montgomerie Links and Laguna Golf Lang Co, it has helped transform Da Nang into a premier golfing hub. “Luke’s design philosophy mirrors his leadership style,” explains Simon Mees, General Manager of Ba Na Hills Golf Club. “It’s thoughtful, composed, and focused on strategy — making every round a masterclass in decision-making.” For golfers, this means every hole feels like an invitation to think — to plan, adjust, and execute. It’s the same mindset that helped Donald craft back-to-back Ryder Cup victories for Team Europe, earning him recognition as one of the greatest captains in modern golf. Why Golfers Love Ba Na Hills Beyond its challenging layout, the course’s natural setting makes it one of the most scenic in Asia. The cool mountain air contrasts sharply with the coastal heat, while views of Vietnam’s lush countryside stretch in every direction. The modern clubhouse, excellent caddie service, and night-golf facilities further enhance the experience, blending international standards with Vietnamese warmth. Luke Donald has described the project as “one of the most satisfying achievements” of his career. “When I see players from all over the world come here, testing themselves and finding joy in the challenge — that’s what golf is all about,” he says. Planning Your Visit Ba Na Hills Golf Club is located just 25 minutes west of Da Nang city, making it easily accessible for those staying in the area or visiting nearby Hoi An. Whether you’re an experienced golfer chasing new challenges or a traveler seeking world-class leisure in nature, this course deserves a place on your Vietnam itinerary. Learn more or book your round directly on the Ba Na Hills Golf Club official website.

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Team Europe’s crushing victory over the US in last month’s Ryder Cup embodied the leadership skills of captain Luke Donald. And clues to the Englishman’s flair for strategic planning have long been in evidence on the Vietnam Golf Coast (VGC) in Central Vietnam where Ba Na Hills Golf Club is Donald’s first — and so far, only—golf course design globally. “Everyone here at Ba Na Hills Golf Club is immensely proud of Luke,” said Gary Dixon, general manager of Ba Na Hills Golf Club, one of the driving forces in the VGC, a freshly rebooted destination marketing organization that links the region’s best signature golf layouts. “His captaincy demonstrated all the qualities that he has displayed as a designer at Ba Na Hills. It’s a course where patience and clever tactical planning can pay enormous dividends. We saw all those attributes on display in Rome as Team Europe outthought and then outplayed the Americans.” While Team US looked disorganized and unprepared — especially during an opening 0-4 foursomes’ session reverse that set the tone for the rest of the event — Team Europe was a harmonious unit. The home side eventually ran out comfortable winners over the US by a 16.5-11.5 margin. And key Team Europe stars like Rory McIlroy, Bob McIntyre and Shane Lowry have alluded to the thoroughness and attention to detail that marked out Donald’s captaincy as special. And a similar feeling of completeness elevates Donald’s one and only global golf course design, which unfolds over rolling foothills amidst the dramatic peaks that back the coastline in Central Vietnam. The topography of Vietnam is just unbelievable,” said Donald. “There are courses built around mountains and on sandy soil next to the ocean. The land is hard to match.” Indeed, the course at Ba Na Hills Golf Club capitalizes on the spectacular terrain with Donald’s crafty utilization of natural elevation changes, ravines, streams, and mountain backdrops. The front-nine contains several highlights, not least the par-3 8th, a gem of a downhill short hole. The closing stretch of the course is, if anything, even better. Winding its way through the twists and turns of the surrounding hillside, this section offers outstanding vistas and golf in equal measure.  The short 16th with its island green is eye-catching so too is the following hole – a dogleg par 4 with water guarding the green. Donald’s zeal for the golf options in Central Vietnam — not to mention an array of off-course attractions ranging from endless beaches, world-renowned cuisine, and luxury resorts — bodes well for the destination as golf travel returns with a vengeance. Stunning tracks such as Ba Na Hills Golf Club and Laguna Golf Lang Co, home to a Sir Nick Faldo Signature Design, are among Asia’s best courses. Indeed, the two venues were recently named among the 11 top resorts in Asia by Golf.com, one of the world’s leading golf titles, that also encompassed top golf destinations in Korea, China, Thailand and Indonesia. Not only were the two clubs ranked among the cream of the region’s golf resorts, but their inclusion in the Asia list also guaranteed them spots in the overall Top 100 Golf Resorts in the World standings. Other highlights for play, meanwhile, include courses designed by luminaries including Greg Norman, Colin Montgomerie, Robert Trent Jones Jr., and Jack Nicklaus. “Few places on earth have such a high concentration of fantastic golf courses designed by some of the biggest names in the game,” said Stephen Banks, Director of Golf at Laguna Golf Lang Co. “Luke’s success as Team Europe Ryder Cup captain just highlights the caliber of what we can offer visiting golfers in Central Vietnam.”

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