Dalat Palace Golf Club: Peaceful Destination

Today, we will follow Bill Healey to explore Dalat Palace Golf Club. A golf course have a longest history. Built in the 1920s, it served as the personal course of Emperor Bao Dai, Vietnam’s last emperor.  Though the course has been through a few changes in its 95 years, it still retains its original charm along with the feel of a leading, historical club.

——

The trees and shrubbery around the course were a testament to the maturity of the course.  Despite having the city grow around the course, Dalat Palace still maintains its status as one of the country’s preferred golfing venues.  I particularly enjoy the setting as it exudes a vibe as a golfing oasis within an urban setting.

We were fortunate to spend a good part of the day at the club, playing an 18-hole round followed by a nice lunch hosted by the club’s General Manager, Tran Quoc Hung.  The round was interrupted for about 10 minutes by a heavy rain, but we were able to resume and complete a full 18.

As with other courses built in the early 1900s, I found there to be more challenge in the need for careful club selection than by length.  A driver was not always the best option off the tee as water hazards occasionally dictated a shorter shot.

On the 513-yard 18th hole, I played it a bit cautious, teeing-off with an iron rather than a driver out of concern for the motorists on the road.  A busy thoroughfare created a tight out-of-bounds on the right hand side, and was a draw for too many wayward balls.  A few other holes dictated a club selection for better ball placement than for distance.

The course underwent a multi-million dollar re-development in 1994, re-opening amid much anticipation.  It remains the most awarded club in Vietnam, and continues to be a draw for both residents and international tourists.

Bill Healey | vietnamgolfmagazine