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s one of only four inaugural recipients of a Diamond
Award from the International Association of Golf
Tour Operators (IAGTO), Danang Golf Club has con-
firmed its status among Asia’s premier golf courses.
The award, announced at the Asian Golf Tourism Conven-
tion in Haikou, China, in March, was presented to Danang
Golf Club general manager, Joe Millar. It recognises the club’s
overall excellence and customer satisfaction, determined ob-
jectively by neutral experts who assessed more than 250 golf
courses and resorts for their appeal to first-time visitors.
IAGTO’s chief executive, Peter Walton, said the awards
marked the beginning of a new IAGTO certification pro-
gramme, “through which we will identify, recognise and
highlight the best golf travel experiences that every country
worldwide has to offer.”
Millar said that since opening in 2010 it has been the
club’s goal to provide the finest international standard golf
experience possible, “not just in Vietnam but anywhere.”
“Continuous staff training is a key component to this
success. We do this across all departments, providing foreign
language instruction, hospitality and customer service courses
to front-of-house staff and mechanical expertise instruction
for the maintenance department. The pride our team takes in
creating a warm environment and a special product is what
shines through in the end.”
Reflecting this commitment to excellence, the Greg Nor-
man-designed course was judged last year by the Vietnam
Golf Association for the second time in succession as the
best course in Vietnam. At the same time the Asia Pacific Golf
Group named Danang Golf Club as one of the Top 10 courses
in Asia Pacific, joining illustrious names such as The Club at
Nine Bridges (South Korea), Kingston Heath (Australia), Fuji
(Japan), and Nirwana (Indonesia).
Millar said the IAGTO award capped off a remarkable
four years since the links layout – located midway between
Danang and historic Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed
ancient trading port – first accepted members and visitors.
It was immediately named best new course in Asia Pacific
and has grown in appeal ever since. Now, the course wel-
comes visitors from all around the world and boasts a strong
membership base.
Other winners of an inaugural IAGTO Diamond Award
were the Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort (also designed by
Greg Norman) and Mission Hills China’s twin complexes at
Shenzhen/Dongguan and Haikou.
Danang Golf Club is a founding member of Golf Coast
Vietnam, a collective of the booming central coast’s three
world-class golf courses, as well as several hotels and resorts.
In the five years since golf was first played in Danang,
the region has recorded more than 250,000 rounds, with
100,000 rounds now being played on an annual basis.
“Danang has become one of the most popular golf des-
tinations in Asia,” Millar said. “The region not only has three
great courses but culture, history, food, a wonderful climate
and friendly, welcoming people.
“There has been a huge amount of infrastructure devel-
oped in the past few years, including a new airport terminal
and numerous oceanfront resorts. Tourists from Asia Pacific
and Europe, in particular, are recognising the area’s appeal,
with golf playing a major role.”
For more information about Danang Golf Club,
visit www.dananggolfclub.com
For information about golf in the Central Coast region,
visit www.golfcoastvietnam.com
GOLF
Danang Golf Club Wins
Major Tourism Award
Joe Millar, general manager at Danang Golf Club, and
Peter Walton, IAGTO president