Construction of the new Muong Thanh Resort Dien Lam golf course in Nghe An Province, Vietnam – designed by IMG Golf Course Design – is nearing completion.

Work began in late 2017 on the course that is situated in the new Muong Thanh Ecological Park resort, which also includes a hotel, villas, water park and safari park.

“IMG was tasked to provide a resort course that is enjoyable to play, fair, interesting and a good test for players of all abilities,” said Paul Burley, senior vice president, IMG Golf Course Services. “There is a new hotel on site so the course will be actively used by hotel guests and tourist golfers.

“It’s a very nice site with stunning rolling hills, wooded areas, and a spectacular lake in play on several holes. We have tried to preserve the natural beauty of the site and have designed the course to take advantage of the rolling terrain.

“A stretch of holes I’d like to highlight is the sixth, seventh and eighth, which offer spectacular views across the lake and to the surrounding hills.”

Project manager and lead shaper is Don Bingham, who has worked on several IMG projects including Le Touessrok in Mauritius and the redesign of the Laguna National Classic course in Singapore.

Construction is being handled by the owners - Muong Thanh Group - and although a huge amount of rain slowed their progress last year, nine holes have been grassed with Platinum TE paspalum by Atlas Turf International.

IMG expects the course – the firm’s eleventh in the country – to open in September 2019.