Ba Na Hills Voted ‘World’s Best New Golf Course’

At the annual World Golf Awards ceremony here in the Algarve last weekend, Ba Na Hills Golf Club, an IMG-managed Luke Donald design on the outskirts of the blossoming central coast city of Danang, won the coveted distinction of ‘World’s Best New Golf Course.’

“IMG is honored that a course we designed with Luke Donald, and fully manage, has won this prestigious award,” said Paul Burley, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Golf Course Services for IMG. “It brings to life the vision we duly shared with the club’s owner, Sun Group, to create one of the best golf courses and golf experiences in the world.”

As with previous years, ‘World’s Best New Golf Course’ was determined by an online survey conducted between April and October, during which time more than 1.1 million votes were cast from 216 countries/territories.

“It’s great news for golf in Vietnam that Ba Na Hills has won this award,” said Donald. “The routing of the course takes full advantage of the site’s substantial movement, and the stunning scenery will make this one of the best new golf destinations in Asia.”

Since day one, general manager Jack Hedges and his team have been dedicated to providing a world-class experience and playing conditions that match the best courses in the world.

“We have an amazing golf course,” said Hedges, “and a team committed to providing our guests with outstanding levels of service.”

Further evidence is in Ba Na Hills Golf Club’s trophy case, where plaques for ‘Best New Golf Course in Asia Pacific’ and ‘Best Golf Course in Vietnam, 1st Runner-Up’ — awards collected earlier this month at the annual Asia Pacific Golf Summit in Thailand — also rest.

Since debuting in late March, Ba Na Hills Golf Club has made a name for itself by offering a golf experience unlike any other in rapidly maturing central Vietnam.

The course sits at the foot of a towering mountain range, on a hilly piece of terrain accentuated by lakes, streams and lush vegetation.

Among the course’s standout features are its flexibility — the course can play long, short or anywhere in between, thanks to five sets of tee boxes — and its views.

To further differentiate itself, Ba Na Hills Golf Club has one of the most impressive practice facilities the country has ever seen, and state-of-the-art floodlights on the course allowing for night golf.

Ba Na Hills Golf Club is located 30 minutes’ drive from Danang, Vietnam’s fourth largest city and site of next year’s Asia Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC), which is expected to attract a record number of golf tour operators from around the world.

Sun Group is a leading Vietnamese developer of high-end leisure, tourism, resorts and real estate projects.

The group’s projects include the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, Ba Na Hills Mountain Resort, Novotel Danang Premier Han River, Premier Village Danang Resort, Premier Village Phu Quoc Resort, Premier Residences Phu Quoc Emerald Bay, JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa, Fansipan Legend, Asia Park, Fantasy Park and several cable car operations.