Dating back to the 1920s when it was built originally as the personal course for the last Vietnamese emperor, Dalat Palace is a reminder of when the pursuit of leisure was the norm for the French colonialists in ‘Petit Paris’. Crossing through stately pine trees, the course is top rated for its excellent layout, many elevation changes, and for being the only golf course in South East Asia with bent grass tees, fairways and greens; bent grass often considered as the ultimate playing surface in golf.
Redesigned in 1994 and measuring 7,009 yards, the course is an uninterrupted string of inventive, demanding golf holes, and better players will be tested by a series of lakes, which meander through ten of eighteen holes, as well as strategically placed bunkers, which penalise the miscalculating risk-taker.
The recreational golfer will find relief with large accommodating greens normally left open for run-up approach shots, as well as wide, forgiving fairways.
With par 3s varying in length from 164 to 234 yards, Dalat Palace Golf Club’s layout tests every club in the bag, a sign of a well-designed course. This is again evidenced by the alternative need for restraint with the shorter clubs for the longer hitter off downhill tees to steer clear of water, and bigger heroic drives for maximum carry at other tee boxes.
The intriguing 387 yards 7th hole tempts with a tee shot that carries two lakes, though the more conservative may play to the water’s left for a longer uphill approach to the green. At 5,000 feet of altitude, Dalat Palace Golf Club is particularly scenic and enjoyable golf in a cool climate, with the added bonus of longer distances with every club in the bag.
Designer:
Brett Stensen
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 Holes / Par 72 / 7009 yards
Established:
1994
Distance:
33km North from Lien Khuong Airport
Facilities:
Accommodation, Golf Academy, Clubhouse, Restaurant
Halfway up the mountain to Dalat city, the SAM Tuyền Lâm Golf Club sits deep in a valley on the eastern shores of the Tuyen Lam Lake surrounded by large mountains and lush pine forests, which means it could not but have excellent scenery and year round cooling temperatures. One of the narrower courses on account of its being nestled in a valley, many of the holes play from elevated tees to tight fairways. Most would do well to keep driver in the bag since this new golf course favours accuracy over distance; this of course means an accurate driver of the ball who dares to rip it has a very distinct advantage. But beware the double hazard of pine trees lining the fairways, and the resultant pine needles on the ground beneath the trees.
The gently sloping all bent grass greens make for excellent putting surfaces, and are generous enough to receive the less than perfect shot, but they are well-guarded to punish the errant and wayward. The signature hole comes early on this course; the 4th hole is a downhill par 3 where distance control is critical to find the right to left canted green well defended by bunkers in front. Missing left of the green spells trouble and a scramble for bogey or worse is commonplace.
Designer:
Kyi Hla Han
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 Holes / Par 73 / Blue 6,557 yards
Established:
2015
Distance:
16km Northeast from Lien Khuong Airport
Facilities:
Accommodation, Restaurant
Opened to wide acclaim in Nov 2015, the Dalat at 1200 Country Club is one of the region’s finest courses designed by renowned Myanmar professional Kyi Hla Han. This delightful alpine course plays through a natural landscape of native pine trees, spring lakes and waterfalls located 1,200 metres above sea level. The course hosted a KLPGA event in 2015, proving its championship pedigree status.
Designer:
Kyi Hla Han
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 Holes / Par 73 / Blue 6,557 yards
Established:
2015
Distance:
16km Northeast from Lien Khuong Airport
Facilities:
Accommodation, Restaurant
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