Inside Luke Donald’s Only Course Design – Vietnam’s Ba Na Hills

Inside Luke Donald’s Only Course Design – Vietnam’s Ba Na Hills

Luke Donald’s recent Ryder Cup success has renewed attention on Ba Na Hills Golf Club in Vietnam, the only golf course he has designed. His achievements as a European team captain highlight his strengths: careful planning, clear tactics, and calm leadership. These qualities are reflected in his course design at Ba Na Hills, where fairways and greens blend challenge with beauty, rewarding strategic play over sheer power.

“I’ve always seen strategy as the heart of golf, whether leading a team or designing a course,” Donald says. “At Ba Na Hills, it’s about rewarding patience, creativity, and precision. You have to think your way around the course, not just hit hard.”

Located amid the lush hills west of Danang, the course leverages Vietnam’s unique landscape. Mountains, ravines, and forests shape a natural yet distinctive layout. Standout holes include the forest-framed par-3 8th and a dramatic finish with an island-green 16th and a water-protected 17th, demanding composure alongside skill.

Simon Mees, Ba Na Hills’ General Manager, comments on the design’s connection to Donald’s leadership style: “It’s about intelligent choices and the long game—calm control and tactical awareness make this course, and Luke, truly exceptional.”

Luke Donald’s approach both on the course and as a team captain emphasizes strategy, patience, and precision, making Ba Na Hills a thoughtful test of golf that rewards smart play.

Author’s summary: Luke Donald’s Ba Na Hills design in Vietnam embodies his strategic mindset, blending natural beauty with challenging holes that reward thoughtful play and calm tactics.

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BusinessToday Malaysia BusinessToday Malaysia — 2025-11-06

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