There’s more to Cambodia than Angkor Wat. Suzanna Pillay explores one of its other attractions — the PGA-rated golf courses in Siem Reap
Hole Number 13, Angkor Golf Resort
The Kentaro Sato-designed golf course at Angkor Lake Resort Golf Club
Caddies at Angkor Golf Resort
Warrior bridge, Angkor Wat
THERE’S no denying the magnetic appeal of Siem Reap’s magnificent Angkor Wat, built by the Khmer Civilisation between 820 and 1220 AD.
The ruins of more than 100 stone temples, discovered by French naturalist Henri Mahout in 1861, have been attracting hordes of tourists to Cambodia.
Annually, more than half of all tourist arrivals visit the famed Angkor Wat and this, not surprisingly, has helped Siem Reap develop its appeal as a tourism destination. However, Siem Reap is more than just Angkor Wat. There’s golf too.
After a tuk-tuk ride through the dusty streets of Siem Reap with its paradoxical blend of humble shops and opulent five-star hotels, it is almost inconceivable that any greenery suitable for a golf course exists. But three international golf courses here are proof of the unexpected.
THE FALDO COURSE
Spread on what was once a padi field is Angkor Golf Resort, less than 5km from Angkor Wat. Designed by former world number one golfer and six time major championship winner Sir Nick Faldo, the US PGA-rated 18-hole golf course is described by the resort general manager Andrew Robertson as “a fair test of golf” in typical Faldo fashion.
“The owner felt opening a golf property near the Angkor Wat would draw in tourists, what with more golfers looking for new, interesting destinations to play golf,” says Robertson.
“It is not an overly long course but it is not short either and is suitable even for first time golfers. He wants the golfer to think his way around the course.”
As Faldo himself describes in the resort’s brochures, “all my favourite design elements, visibility, definition, strategy, challenge, variety, balance, playability and enjoyment are here at Angkor Resort”.
Robertson doesn’t deny that just like the Angkor Wat, the Faldo name is a major selling point. “Both encourage people to come here. A number of golfers travel to Siem Reap just to play the course.”
The resort opened four years ago and has been drawing golfers since then. Robertson says in comparison to its other Asian counterparts like Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Korea, where golf tourism is thriving, Cambodian’s golf tourism is only starting to take off.
He believes that the growth in golf courses in Phnom Penh will benefit golf tourism in Siem Reap. “This is because the country has been through a lot of transition, war and poverty. But it is becoming better.”
He says in terms of carving a name as a golf destination, all three international courses in Siem Reap are different and golfers will want to play all three.
He adds that with growing confidence in Cambodia’s political stability and an increase in foreign investment, the future for golf tourism in the country is bright.
The golf course charges a walk-in green fee of US$115 (RM350) for 18 holes and before a round of golf, players can warm up at the grass range and practice putting green.
OTHER PGA COURSES
Kwang Deug Choi, managing director of the Korean-owned Angkor Lake Resort Golf Club agrees that more golf courses in Cambodia is good news.
“It means more choices for tourists. Before the opening of our three international-standard golf courses, most tourists just visited Angkor Wat. Now tourists can do both, play golf and visit tourist sites. Enjoy two holidays in one.”
While the entire development of the Angkor Lake Resort Golf Club (ALRGC) will only be ready in 2014, it already welcomes guests to its lake view restaurant and 150ha golf course designed by renowned Japanese golf course designer Kentaro Sato.
Sato has designed over 100 golf courses in his career in Korea and Japan. The largest number of players the course received so far was 320 persons, says Kwang .
From feedback, Kwang says golfers like the long and challenging course for its nice views and playability, which is suitable even for first time golfers. They also appreciate the good caddy service.
“When it opened its doors in 2009, only Koreans and locals were playing golf. Today, although we get visitors from Japan, Malaysia and China, our clientele is still 55 per cent Korean and 30 per cent Cambodian. We are slowly getting other tourists, a sign that golf tourism in Cambodia is definitely growing.”
About 15km outside Siem Reap town is Siem Reap’s third PGA golf course at Phokeethra Country Club, which started operations in early 2007.
Part of the Sofitel group, it is renowned for its five-star service and for being the home of the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open Golf Championships.
MALAYSIAN GOLF HOLIDAY
Last year, 27 Malaysians from Kuala Lumpur had a chance to play golf at all three PGA-rated courses in a special tour package organised by Malaysian Golf Holiday tour operator Explorers House.
According to marketing director Madina Yahya, more Malaysian golfers are looking for exotic locations like Siem Reap to play the game.
“They want a total golf destination experience where not only do they get to play golf at courses created by some of the best in the industry but also get to enjoy the culture, history, sights and people.”
The Siem Reap Muslim Golfing Holiday package combines sightseeing activities with golf at all three courses, and is inclusive of accommodation at a four-star hotel, private English or Malay guide, airport transfers, transportation, entrance fees of activities mentioned in the itinerary, halal meals and golfing fees.
She says most of the clients like the package as it’s interesting and well-organised with a good balance between cultural and sightseeing activities and golf.
“They enjoy the challenge of all three PGA courses which have their individual attractions and the gracious hospitality of the Cambodians.”
However, Madina says, all of them agree that the best thing about playing golf in Cambodia is the ease of travelling to the golf courses without being delayed or stuck in traffic for hours, as experienced in some other popular Asian golf destinations.
Details at www.theexplorershouse.com or email to thexplorershouse@gmail.com.
Golf tourism in Asia
Asia is proving to be the place where golf tourism thrives. The International Association of Golf Tour Operators (Iagto) announces that the first Golf Tourism Convention designed specifically for the Asia Pacific golf destinations will be held this year at Kuala Lumpur’s Mines Resort & Golf Club from April 22-25. Co-sponsoring the event with Mines Resort is Tourism Malaysia.
Iagto president Peter Walton says: “Iagto’s focus is very much on Asia and in April, we will be taking some 150 golf tour operators from around the world, all selling Asian golf destinations, to meet with 150 golf resorts, golf clubs, hotels, tourist boards and other golf tourism suppliers from the Asian, Indian, Pacific and Australasian regions.”
It will be by far the biggest and most important golf tourism business event that has ever taken place in Asia.
It has 377 golf tour operator members in 57 countries controlling over 80 per cent of golf holidays sold worldwide with annual sales of more than US$1 billion (RM3 billion).
Two hundred of these operators, covering 43 countries, sell Asian golf destinations.
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