Golf project scorecard leaves numbers par for the course

Eleven inefficient golf projects failed to make the cut, but the Ministry of Planning and Investment
has investors queuing up to take their place

However, the ministry proposed to add 11 other golf courses, thus keeping the total planned for the country at 90.

“We are now just waiting for the prime minister’s decision. Of course there are still things that need to be clarified but we expect the proposal to be approved soon,” said a source from the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).

According to the national golf course development plan, 90 courses have been approved so far, of which 30 are open and playable, 23 are under construction, and 26 have received government approval.

The MPI named 11 golf courses that failed to meet the government’s criteria governing financing, or conflicted with land protection for rice cultivation, including the Golden Palm Can Giuoc in the southern province of Long An province and Tang Mai Mai Chau in the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh.

Though determined to cut these courses out of the picture, the MPI said other 11 ones were queued up and ready to go, including Xuan Dam in the northern port city Haiphong and Lang Co in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.

“Several provinces that proposed projects for cancellation had new ones ready to add to the master plan,” said the source.

The source confirmed that all 11 of the new projects could meet government’s criteria and are situated in areas ill-suited for agriculture. The new projects are also located in increasingly popular tourism destinations and the MPI expected them to be a major contributor to the nation’s tourism industry, added VIR’s source.

Since the first golf course was built in Thu Duc in Ho Chi Minh City in 1993, the sport has grown swiftly in popularity and scale with many domestic and foreign investors vying for projects.

According to the Vietnam Golf Association, there are more than 10,000 golfers in Vietnam at present, a statistic garnered through membership sales at 30 operating golf courses.