R&A officials visit Vietnam, promise strong support to golf

The R&A Chief Development Officer Phil Anderton (fourth, right) makes a visit to VG Corp headquarters in Hà Nội. Photos of VG Corp

Invested parties will strengthen their cooperation to organise more activities to develop golf in Việt Nam.

Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer, and two representatives of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) visited Việt Nam under an invitation from the VG Corp, a national prominent golf conglomerate, and the Việt Nam Golf Association (VGA).

They joined different activities, visiting many golf centres and golf courses in Hà Nội. They also took part in a sponsored event for the Young Golf Talent Nurturing Project which aimed to popularise golf to children and bring this sport to schools.

More specific and stronger actions for the development of Vietnamese golf were discussed by representatives from the three organisations.

The R&A said it is committed to supporting Vietnamese partners in advising and sponsoring plans to push golf growth through youth training programmes; and improving the quality of the VGA Tour system at all levels.

The R&A would bring community golf development funds, semi-professional and professional tournaments, and many other activities within their system to Việt Nam.

“I am pleased that VG Corp has received great respect and attention from The R&A. As a strong strategic partner of the VGA, VG Corp is always ready and eager to enhance cooperative relationships with international organisations including The R&A,” VG Corp CEO Võ Duy Nghĩa said.

“With a rich history, reputation and experience of the world’s oldest golf organisation, The R&A has been promoting interest in many countries in Asia including Việt Nam. This is a great encouragement and support for the community to spread golf everywhere.

“After meeting with The R&A representatives, VG Corp will coordinate more strongly with VGA to realise our specific plans, bringing the most practical values ​​to Vietnamese golf lovers.”

VG Corp CEO Võ Duy Nghĩa (rìght) shakes hand with R&A Chairman Niall Farquharson during the February 1-6 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship in Thailand.

VGA General Secretary Vũ Nguyên added: “Việt Nam has recently emerged as the country with the fastest golf growth in the world and international friends are curious and want to witness what is going on with Vietnamese golf.

“We are happy when The R&A affirmed that Việt Nam will be its member and would receive its support in the coming years, especially in the field of developing youth and professional golf and golf staff and popularising golf to more people.”

The R&A is one of the oldest golf clubs in the world based in St Andrews in Scotland. As a golf management and development agency, The R&A administers the laws of golf, rules for amateur players, and golf equipment standards in every country (except the US and Mexico, which are under the USGA).

The R&A currently cooperates with 156 golf associations in 143 countries, serving approximately 30 million golfers worldwide. VNS