Danang, Vietnam, 10 November 2015 — Back by popular demand, the second annual Accor Vietnam World Masters Golf Championship will return to Danang in Central Vietnam from 4 to 10 September 2016.
The inaugural event held in September 2015 attracted golfers from Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong and host nation Vietnam. Featuring 4 rounds of tournament golf, welcome and presentation dinners with live entertainment, nightly 19th hole happy hours and tours to world heritage sites, the event exceeded all expectations. The tournament was so successful that major sponsors Accor and Pullman Danang Beachfront Resort have signed on for the next two years.
The Vietnam World Masters Golf Championship brings together golfers and non-playing partners for the ultimate event and holiday experience. The event is open to male and female golfers aged 35 plus and competition is played in divisions based on age and golf handicap.
First time travellers to Vietnam, Ronnie and Wendy Triffitt from Australia loved Danang: “I really enjoyed the links design of Danang GC and the greens were so pure. The Montgomerie course was a little more forgiving and the conditioning of the course couldn’t be faulted. We were glad we stayed at the Pullman Danang which is located on a beautiful stretch of beach frequented by surfers. The resort staff were so nice to us. Wendy was a non-golfer and she enjoyed the organised day tours and cooking classes and meeting the other partners. Hoi An is just magic and we loved the fabulous Vietnamese cuisine.”
Pablo Soon from the Philippines has competed in tournaments all over the world and rates the Vietnam World Masters among the best. “I think Danang is perfect for golf holidays and we were spoilt with the event organisation and hospitality this week. The downtown is just beautiful and we enjoyed the restaurants and bars. We are already locked in to come back next year.”
Marketed internationally as the Golf Coast Vietnam, Danang’s rise as a must play golf destination has been meteoric. Danang was awarded Golf Destination of the Year by the International Associational of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) and the Greg Norman-designed Danang Golf Club was one of only four courses in Asia to receive the coveted Diamond Award. Not bad for a destination that didn’t have any golf courses just six years ago.
Golf Coast Vietnam Chairman Joe Millar says that golf visitors to the Central Coast are invariably impressed with the quality and diversity of the courses. “Montgomerie Links is a beautifully presented resort-style layout, Danang Golf Club has exposed sand dunes and a distinct links feel, while Laguna Lang Co is a multi-environment layout with jungle, creeks, rice paddy, beach and sandy blowouts.”
In just five years Danang has grown from no golf courses to 100,000 rounds a year. The influx of golf visitors to Danang since 2009 is part of a tourism boom that saw international visitors pass one million in 2014, 35 percent above 2013 arrivals.
As Vietnam’s fourth largest city, Danang has long been a popular destination with three UNESCO World Heritage attractions – the ancient trading port of Hoi An, the citadel in the former imperial city of Hue, and the My Son (Hindu) Sanctuary – making it a region of immense cultural and historic importance.
Beyond the fairways, Danang has an attractive climate, high quality accommodation, beaches, mountains and scenery, a safe environment, tempting local cuisine, interesting culture and history and friendly people.
The all-inclusive tournament package boasts 6 nights’ accommodation, 4 rounds with caddies and carts, nightly social events with food, beverage and entertainment, welcome and presentation dinners, a player pack with tournament shirt, personalised caddie bib and country flag, US$10,000 in prizes and much more. There is also an attractive program of events and day tour options for non-players.
Tournament director Peter McCarthy is excited by further improvements and innovations for the 2016 Vietnam World Masters. “We have discovered some wonderful talent to perform at event dinners. Hoi An and the world heritage sights were so popular that there will be more opportunities to visit these attractions. The quality and value of the pre and post touring options to Ho Chi Minh, Halong Bay and Angkor Wat in Cambodia are simply sensational.”
Tournament promoters Go Golfing and Golfasian both received top honours at the World Golf Awards in 2014 and 2015. Golfasian were awarded Asia’s Best Golf Tour Operator while Australian based Go Golfing were recognized as Oceania’s best.
More than 16,000 club golfers from 28 countries have participated in past World Masters tournaments. Fundamental to the success of past World Masters tournaments is finding world class tourism destinations with premier golf courses, well priced luxury accommodation and a variety of cultural and tourism experiences that appeal to golfers and non-playing partners.
For full information and to register for the Accor Vietnam World Masters Golf Championship visit www.vietnamworldmasters.com
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For photos and more information, contact:
Pascal Orczech
Director of Business Development / Golfasian Co., Ltd.
pr@asiagolfweek.com