Initially, most of us does not have high expectations of Danang and there were not many interesting info in the webs, except that there are only 2 golf courses nearby.
One designed by Greg Norman called the Danang Golf Club,
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| Danang GC signature hole, Par-3 hole# 16 |
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| Montgomerie Links |
As soon as we landed at Danang airport on 23July, we can't help but noticed that the airport is relatively new and it must have been recently renovated. We were the only flight landed on that afternoon, so the immigration process was very smooth. Best of all, there is no forms to be filled (can't understand why some country still need this, since all data can be obtained from the Imm database???)
Our tour programme:
Mon 23JUL arrival 3PM, free & easy
Tue 24JUL golf at Montgomerie Links
Wed 25JUL golf at Danang GC with free buggy
Thur26JUL full day tour of Danang & Hoi An with complimentary lunch
Fri 27JUL transfer out
Cost per person approx RM1000-1300
Accommodations:
Like all other overseas trip, we have chosen a 3Star hotel, Kay Hotel; and really don't have high expectation of the type of rooms that we will ended up with (the pictures in the web could be misleading, most of the times!!). It looks ordinary and plain from the outside. But to our surprised, the rooms are big, spacious and pretty new. So far so good!
Best of all, it is located opposite the city centre separated by the Han River. There are only a handful of hotels on this side of the river, which looks like a new area just earmarked for development. The river banks are paved and planted with rows of trees. Sitting by the riverside at night, the view across the river was quite spectacular when the city centre is all lighted up. Will strongly recommend this hotel to anyone.
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| Looking across the hotel |
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| Bridge across the Han River |
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Tue 24JUL:
Montgomerie Links - nice fairways and relatively flat but most greens are guarded by bunkers. Many bunkers strategically located along the fairways as well. Water are in play in most cases. One of the longest par-3 is above 200yds. In conclusion, none of us are able to play under par!
Wed 25JUL
Danang Golf Club - Personally, even better than Montgomerie Links. The fairways and greens are in immaculate conditions. Unfortunately, most of us did not played well in the first round. How can that be? The course is beautiful, the weather fantastic and the caddies so very cheerful, hence it does not take too much convincing to go for another 18 holes after lunch. This is a very rare occasion that we played 36 holes in a single day! True enough, during the 2nd round Dennis was charging ahead the leader board followed closely by Kim Sun. They ended up with -4 and -2 respectively. Do you know Dennes was playing to +7 after the 1st round?
However, we had a little episod at the end of the game. Goh noticed that Khoo's caddie was crying near the caddie station. She has done an excellent job caddying for Khoo. Not only she would line up all his tee shots, she would hold the putter head to the intended line of putt before allowing him to make the putt. She would not hide her disappointment or happiness after Khoo's putting is done. It's all shown on her face. She even get emotional when I made a score, which she thought should be less than what I have written. Men, I have to convince her by recounting the strokes before she settled down. As such, I had advised Khoo to give her extra tips. At the end, he did but on the other hand, he forgot to pay her the normal tips thinking that one of the flightmate had done so. Now, that's the reason she was crying...well just a little misunderstanding. Anyway, she ended up being the best tipped caddie although she had to shed some happy tears at the beginning.
Mini Tournament:
Just to add some fun and excitements to the game, we organised mini tournament for each game basing on stableford points. To minimise run away winners, handicaps are adjusted on a daily basis according to pre-determined rules. And the overall big winners are:
Mr Lim KS - 650,000DN
Dennes - 550,000DN
Alex - 250,000DN
Lee - 150,000DN
Food:
We heard so much about Vietnamese food, so how can we missed the opportunity. Vietnamese beef noodles, pork noodles, vietnamese salad, spring rolls... we had it all...maybe almost.
After a sumptuos meal, you must have Vietnamese coffee. It is served in a very small cup or glass, just black or white with condensed milk. Make sure you smell the aroma before drinking. Coffee kow, kow..It beats all the big brands..You have not been to Vietnam unless you have drank the coffee....
Then, what about fresh avocado juice....mmmm
Montgomerie Links - nice fairways and relatively flat but most greens are guarded by bunkers. Many bunkers strategically located along the fairways as well. Water are in play in most cases. One of the longest par-3 is above 200yds. In conclusion, none of us are able to play under par!
Wed 25JUL
Danang Golf Club - Personally, even better than Montgomerie Links. The fairways and greens are in immaculate conditions. Unfortunately, most of us did not played well in the first round. How can that be? The course is beautiful, the weather fantastic and the caddies so very cheerful, hence it does not take too much convincing to go for another 18 holes after lunch. This is a very rare occasion that we played 36 holes in a single day! True enough, during the 2nd round Dennis was charging ahead the leader board followed closely by Kim Sun. They ended up with -4 and -2 respectively. Do you know Dennes was playing to +7 after the 1st round?
However, we had a little episod at the end of the game. Goh noticed that Khoo's caddie was crying near the caddie station. She has done an excellent job caddying for Khoo. Not only she would line up all his tee shots, she would hold the putter head to the intended line of putt before allowing him to make the putt. She would not hide her disappointment or happiness after Khoo's putting is done. It's all shown on her face. She even get emotional when I made a score, which she thought should be less than what I have written. Men, I have to convince her by recounting the strokes before she settled down. As such, I had advised Khoo to give her extra tips. At the end, he did but on the other hand, he forgot to pay her the normal tips thinking that one of the flightmate had done so. Now, that's the reason she was crying...well just a little misunderstanding. Anyway, she ended up being the best tipped caddie although she had to shed some happy tears at the beginning.Mini Tournament:
Just to add some fun and excitements to the game, we organised mini tournament for each game basing on stableford points. To minimise run away winners, handicaps are adjusted on a daily basis according to pre-determined rules. And the overall big winners are:
Mr Lim KS - 650,000DN
Dennes - 550,000DN
Alex - 250,000DN
Lee - 150,000DN
We heard so much about Vietnamese food, so how can we missed the opportunity. Vietnamese beef noodles, pork noodles, vietnamese salad, spring rolls... we had it all...maybe almost.
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| Noodle shop that we went back again before departure |
Then, what about fresh avocado juice....mmmm
Massages:
So what's next after a good game, a hearty meals and a fresh cuppa??
Do I have to say more? Just look at the happy faces....
The few days spent in Danang certainly changed my initial outlook of the place. It is nowhere near the experience I had in Hanoi, where the town is bustled with people and cyclists. Over here, I can immediately feels the relax atmosphere and the slow pace of live. Often, I can see 2 people on motorcycles chatting while riding alongside each other. However, from the looks of things around and the various new resorts and hotels that are spring up, especially near the beaches; and the two new bridges that are being built across the Han river; it is clear that Danang will soon become another hot tourist city.
We also heard that there will be 2 new golf courses coming up, in fact one should be ready by next year. So Danang, we will be back soon.......
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