Vietnamese Golf: The Journey from Practice Grounds to the International Arena

At Long Bien Golf Course, Hanoi, on a May morning in 2026, a 14-year-old boy, Nguyen Anh Minh, is about to make a decisive putt in the national youth golf championship final. The putt is 3 meters long, with a slight left-to-right break. He takes a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the hole. The stroke is made, the ball rolls slowly, touches the edge of the cup, and drops. Applause erupts from the sparse stands – only about 200 people, mostly parents and coaches. But to me, that moment means more than any trophy. It is proof that Vietnamese golf is on the right track, though the road ahead remains long and fraught with challenges. The current landscape of Vietnamese golf has changed significantly compared to two decades ago. According to data from the Vietnam Golf Association (VGA), the country now has approximately 40 internationally standard golf courses, concentrated mainly in key economic zones such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Binh Thuan. The number of amateur golfers has increased from about 20,000 in 2026 to over 100,000 in 2026. However, these numbers remain modest compared to regional peers like Thailand (over 1 million golfers) or South Korea (over 5 million golfers). This growth has not come from any breakthrough policy but rather from quiet investments by major conglomerates like Vingroup, Sun Group, and BRG, along with growing interest among the youth. But what truly captures my attention is not the number of courses or golfers, but the quality of youth training. Over the past five years, I have closely followed national and regional youth tournaments. I have noticed a clear shift: young Vietnamese golfers are no longer relying solely on innate feel; they are beginning to embrace modern coaching methods, from swing data analysis to on-course strategic management. A prime example is Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, a 22-year-old female golfer who won a gold medal at the 2026 SEA Games and broke into the top 100 of women's world golf. She is a product of the youth development program run by VGA in collaboration with international golf academies in Vietnam. However, looking at the bigger picture, I see a paradox: we have many beautiful courses and professional tournaments, but the youth training system remains fragmented and lacks depth. Most talented young golfers come from economically privileged families who can afford training at private academies costing hundreds of millions of dong per year. Meanwhile, public or semi-public training programs are virtually non-existent. This creates a significant gap in access to golf across social strata. Another issue I have observed is the severe shortage of internationally qualified coaches. According to VGA statistics, the country has only about 200 certified golf coaches, of whom only about 30 hold international certifications from PGA or equivalent organizations. In contrast, Thailand has over 1,000 internationally certified coaches. This shortage leads young golfers to either figure things out on their own or learn from experienced but pedagogically untrained individuals. I recall my meeting with Rohan Browning, the Australian 100m sprinter, in 2026. He told me, "Running is about feeling the track." I have pondered that statement deeply. In golf, the same holds true: playing golf is about feeling the grass, feeling the body, feeling the breath. But that feeling cannot arise spontaneously; it must be cultivated through thousands of hours of systematic practice. And that system is lacking in Vietnam. Consider the case of Nguyen Anh Minh, the 14-year-old I met at the national youth championship. Minh started playing golf at age 8, thanks to his father – a businessman – who took him to the driving range. His father hired a Filipino coach for 15 million dong per month. Minh trains six days a week, four hours a day. His annual training costs amount to about 500 million dong. That is a sum that 99% of Vietnamese families cannot afford. And Minh is one of the few fortunate children with such conditions. But even with such good conditions, Minh faces significant barriers. He lacks regular international competition opportunities because travel and entry fees are prohibitively expensive. Each trip to compete in Thailand or Malaysia can cost between 50 and 100 million dong. VGA provides partial support, but it is insufficient. As a result, young Vietnamese golfers often lack high-level competitive experience, leading to mental fragility under pressure in major tournaments. This brings me to a counter-intuitive perspective: the massive investment in professional tournaments and luxury golf courses may not be the most appropriate priority for the sustainable development of Vietnamese golf. Instead, we need to focus on building a systematic youth training infrastructure with reasonable costs that can reach a broader population. An 18-hole golf course worth $50 million can create a tourist destination, but it does not create champions. Champions are forged in small academies, with dedicated coaches, and through frequent low-cost youth tournaments. I have witnessed this model work effectively in South Korea and Japan. In South Korea, public golf academies with low fees have produced golfers like Park In-bee, Pak Se-ri, and many others. They did not come from wealthy families but from systematic training programs funded by the government and corporations. In Vietnam, we can learn from that. We can build public golf academies in urban areas, with reasonable fees, and connect them with schools to identify talent early. Another issue is the lack of coordination among stakeholders. Currently, VGA, golf courses, private academies, and sponsors operate quite separately. There is no unified national strategy for golf development. Each party has its own goals: courses want to increase revenue, academies want students, sponsors want brand exposure. Meanwhile, the common goal – producing world-class golfers – is neglected. I propose that VGA should act as the central hub, connecting all parties, and building a long-term development roadmap from grassroots to professional levels. I also want to emphasize the role of international tournaments held in Vietnam. The Vietnam Open, an Asian Tour event, has been held since 2026 and has attracted many top Asian golfers. However, its impact on domestic golf development remains limited. Vietnamese golfers rarely participate because they lack the required skill level. Instead of merely hosting the tournament, we should leverage this opportunity to organize short-term training camps and exchange sessions between international and young Vietnamese golfers. This would provide far greater long-term value than just selling tickets. Looking back at history, I remember 2026, when I had the chance to commentate at the World Cup in Russia. I witnessed Croatia, a small football nation, reach the final through patience and sound tactics. They did not have many stars, but they had an excellent youth development system. That made me think: why can't Vietnam do the same in golf? We have a young population, passion, and economic potential. We just need the right strategy and persistence. A recent bright spot is the emergence of investment funds for youth golf. Some real estate conglomerates have begun sponsoring youth training programs as part of their community development strategies. For example, Vingroup established the Vinpearl Golf Academy, with a structured curriculum and scholarships for young talents. Similarly, Sun Group offers children's golf courses in Da Nang. These are positive signals, but they remain scattered and lack close coordination. I also want to address gender issues in golf. Currently, the number of female golfers in Vietnam is very small, accounting for less than 10% of all golfers. This is a waste of potential. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao has proven that Vietnamese women can reach international standards. We need policies to encourage women to take up golf, from reducing range fees, organizing separate women's tournaments, to creating successful role models for inspiration. Technically, I have noticed a common weakness among young Vietnamese golfers: poor course management. They often hit the ball very far and powerfully but lack tactical calculation. They choose unnecessarily risky shots, leading to inconsistent scores. This can be improved through tactical thinking training, hole-by-hole data analysis, and learning emotional control. I have seen many international coaches emphasize this, but in Vietnam, it is still not given due attention. Another factor is practice facilities. Most golf courses in Vietnam have driving ranges and short-game areas, but quality varies. Many courses lack dedicated putting greens, or if they exist, they are poorly maintained. This affects the development of short-game skills, which are decisive for scoring. I propose that golf courses invest more in practice areas, and VGA should set minimum standards for these facilities. I also want to discuss the role of technology in golf training. Nowadays, devices like TrackMan, GCQuad, and motion analysis software have become common in developed countries. In Vietnam, they remain unfamiliar to most academies. The cost of a TrackMan device can reach $30,000, a sum too large for most academy budgets. However, we can leverage cheaper technological solutions, such as sensors attached to clubs or video analysis apps on smartphones. This could significantly help coaches and young golfers improve their technique. Looking to the future, I believe Vietnamese golf has enormous potential. With a population of nearly 100 million, over 60% of whom are under 35, we have a vast pool of young talent. If we build a systematic training infrastructure with reasonable costs and close coordination among stakeholders, we can absolutely have golfers in the world's top 100 within the next 10 years. That is not a pipe dream. South Korea has done it, Japan has done it, and Thailand is doing it. Why can't Vietnam? I recall the words of Peter Bol, the Australian 800m runner of Sudanese origin, at the Tokyo 2026 Olympics: "I run so my parents can see their names on my jersey." That is a story of belonging, of asserting one's identity on the international stage. I believe young Vietnamese golfers share a similar aspiration. They want to see their names on world rankings, to see the Vietnamese flag flying over prestigious golf courses. And our task – those in sports, managers, sponsors – is to create the conditions for them to realize that aspiration. The stadium is empty, but the applause still echoes in my heart. That is a phrase I often use when talking about sporting moments without spectators, yet full of emotion. In golf, this is even truer. A decisive putt in a youth tournament, watched by only a few dozen people, can be the beginning of a great career. We need to cherish those moments and invest to create more of them. Finally, I want to emphasize that golf development is not just about producing champions. It is also about building a community, a healthy sports culture. Golf teaches us patience, honesty (since golf is a self-refereeing sport), and respect for opponents. These values are essential for modern Vietnamese society. Therefore, investing in golf is investing in people, in the future of the nation. I will continue to closely follow the development of Vietnamese golf, and I believe that in the not-too-distant future, we will proudly see a Vietnamese golfer standing on the podium at a major championship. That will be the moment when all the efforts, sacrifices, and sweat on the practice grounds are rewarded. And I will be there, with my pen, to record that moment for future generations.