Nick Faldo was in Cambodia last week to visit one of the most pioneering projects being undertaken in the region by his golf course design company, Faldo Design. The Angkor Golf Resort in Siem Reap promises to be a very special layout and could emerge as not only the finest course in Cambodia, but also one of the best in the Asia-Pacific region when the course opens in Spring 2006.
The project is coming along very nicely,” said Faldo after the visit. “The 72 par, championship standard course will be well over 7,000 yards when completed and will be brimful of strategy, variety and interest. It is located near the famous Angkor Wat world heritage site; it will be the first course in the area and will definitely put Siem Reap on the world golfing map.”
Faldo Design is increasingly working on a global scale and The Angkor Golf Resort is just one of a growing, select collection of projects that the company is involved with in the Asia-Pacific region. In fact, it was in South East Asia that Faldo first pulled on his design boots over a decade ago, learning the trade and collaborating on courses in China, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Among the company’s most acclaimed Asian designs are the Faldo Stadium Course at Mission Hills in Shenzhen, China and Ocean Dunes near Phan Thiet in Vietnam. Last year saw the opening of the Honghua International Golf Club in Beijing (the course has been selected to host the 2006 Volvo China Open) and the completion of Faldo Design’s first project in Australia – the Creek Course at Thirteenth Beach in Victoria. In addition to the finalisation of the Angkor Golf Resort project, this year will see the opening of the spectacularly sited Lakeview Golf Club in Kunming.
Faldo continued, “Golfers in Asia have a real affinity for the game and their interest in the sport seems to be increasing year on year. Working on projects like The Angkor Golf Resort is a genuine pleasure and I‘m keen to expand our growing portfolio of courses throughout the Asia-Pacific region.”
Faldo Design www.nickfaldo.com
Global Edition
