What do you do when you’re the youngest and smallest kid on the block, but want to compete with – and maybe even beat – the big guys?
TRAVEL FEATURE BY PAUL MYERS
You match and try to exceed what they offer, ensuring that everyone well and truly takes notice.
So it is with golf tourism to Cambodia.
At present, Thailand and Vietnam are the heavyweights, attracting the lion’s share of foreign golfers from North and South-East Asia, Europe, the sub-continent and Middle East, the Pacific and elsewhere.
Cambodia, a country wedged between the two golf tourism powerhouses, is currently a minor and – outside Korea and Japan – a relatively unknown destination, also well behind Malaysia and Indonesia in golf visitor numbers. But perhaps not for much longer.
While the number of elite courses remains low, Fabrice Ho, the affable general manager of partly-opened Chhun On Golf Resort on the outskirts of Phnom Penh and a long-time golf executive in Cambodia, believes the Khmer nation’s time has come to be counted among the best golf experiences in Asia.
If the Brian Curley-designed Lake Course and the upcoming Palms Course at Chhun On are his validation, it’s hard to disagree.
The ongoing development, set to fully open in mid-2025 with no expense or attention to detail spared, is as appealing as the best 36-hole public-access complexes in Asia.
Think Black Mountain in Hua Hin, Thailand; Danang Golf Club near Danang, Vietnam; The Els Club on Malaysia’s Desaru Coast; Blue Canyon’s twin courses in Phuket, and Spring City near Kunming, China and you have a sense of Chhun On’s pedigree.
Owned by a subsidiary of Cambodia’s Kampuchea Tela oil and gas corporation, Chhun On’s Lake Course opened in April and its Palms Course is set for play in the first half 2025, coinciding with the completion of a huge 20,000 square-metre-round clubhouse which dominates the local landscape.
Chhun On’s name comes from Kampuchea Tela’s founder and CEO, Okhna Chhun On. His investment brings to three the number of top-notch public-access courses in the Cambodian capital, complementing Vattanac Golf Resort (also with two courses) and Garden City, while a private members’ course, Phnom Penh Grand, has serious credentials, too.
Brian Curley, a partner in the esteemed Schmidt Curley design company which designed all Mission Hills’ 12 courses near Shenzhen, China as well as numerous others in China, Vietnam and across Asia, has delivered his solo expertise at Chhun On with stunning results.
So much so that Fabrice Ho, who hails originally from New Caledonia and was formerly general manager at Phokeethra Golf and Country Club in Siem Reap, is aiming for Chhun On to become the best golf complex in Cambodia and among the top half-dozen in Asia.
He is also expecting Cambodia to become a single destination of choice for foreign golfers, rather than only an add-on to Thailand and Vietnam.
“Ten years ago, the only really golfing choice in Cambodia was in Siem Reap, but since the opening of Vattanac and Garden City and now Chhun On, Phnom Penh is on the golf tourism map,” he declares.
“Golf tourists are always looking for somewhere new to play and now they have another choice.”
Further, with the impending opening of Phnom Penh’s new Techo International airport in 2025 (set to be one of the largest in South-East Asia and likely to attract new foreign carriers) and additional courses planned or under construction near Sihanoukville in southern Cambodia, the outlook is promising.
Already, winter golf escapees from Korea and Japan have discovered the attraction of high season (December to March) golf in Cambodia. Others are following, including Australia, from where groups are already booked or planned at Chhun On in 2025.
“Cambodia is like Vietnam 20 years ago,” Fabrice Ho says. “But with only 16 million people [compared with 100 million in Vietnam and 70 million in Thailand], we are more reliant on visiting golfers.”
Fabrice Ho expects visitors to comprise 80 percent of rounds played at the two-course facility in high season, compared with 60pc currently at the Lake course, in low season.
There are many compelling reasons why Chhun On can achieve his goals. There is a visual softness to the zoysia layout (Zeon zoysia fairways and Primo zoysia greens), built on flat land enhanced by man-made undulations and ample, but not excessive, water. Greens on The Lake course are large, most more than 10,000 square feet, designed for numerous pin positions and offering a challenge without being extreme, and speeds of around 9.5 on the stimp meter which don’t cause timidity. Where there is water (on four holes on each nine holes of The Lake layout), it comes into play only due to poor or over-optimistic shot making. The Lake also has an island-green 19th hole, depicting the map of Cambodia, which is accessed by solar-powered boat and can be added to a round if desired. As well, there are lights for night golf on nine holes.
Only 40 minutes by car from downtown Phnom Penh, Chhun On has aspirations of becoming an Asian tournament venue, with plans in place once the clubhouse and adjacent driving range (with its own pro shop, café and other facilities) open. An on-course hotel and private villas will follow in the future.
Green fees at The Lake are currently competitive with top courses in Thailand and Vietnam: USD124 weekdays and USD151 weekends, including single cart and caddie. There are 100 fully trained caddies, most of whom speak good English.
Phnom Penh is an appealing tourism destination in its own right. The confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers boasts a broad riverfront boulevard and promenade, Sisowath Quay, with numerous excellent restaurants and bars, an abundance of temples. the impressive Royal Palace (USD10 entry), nightlife including a casino and a totally safe, friendly, relaxed vibe. English is spoken widely throughout the city.
Tourist visas for 30 days in Cambodia cost USD30 and can be obtained at the airport on arrival.
Golf Courses in Cambodia
SIEM REAP
• Phokeethra Country Club (opened 2007)
• Angkor Golf Resort (2007, Nick Faldo design)
• Siem Reap Booyoung Country Club (formerly Angkor Lakes)
PHNOM PENH
• Chhun On Golf Resort (opened 2024, second course in 2025)
• Grand Phnom Penh (private members club, Nicklaus design, opened 2009)
• Vattanac Golf Resort (Faldo design, opened 2019)
• Cambodia Golf and CC (opened 1996)
• Garden City Golf Club (opened 2013)
• Royal Cambodia Phnom Penh Golf Club (opened 1999)
DARA SAKOR
• Dara Sakor Golf Club, 36 holes casino complex with golf 100km from Phnom Penh.
PLANNED
• Bay 19 Golf Resort, Sihanoukville (Greg Norman design, construction began late 2023)
• A Nicklaus Design course is also mooted for Sihanoukville; details not yet available.
Getting There
There are no direct flights from Australia, but Phnom Penh is easily accessed from Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and other Asian cities.
The airport is 30-40 mins from the city centre. A new international airport will open in 2025.
From Bangkok: Thai VietJet, Thai AirAsia.
Singapore: Jetstar Asia, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia.
HCMC (Saigon): Cambodia Angkor Air, Qatar, Vietnam Airlines.
Phnom Penh has a wide selection of hotels, from inexpensive to 5-star. Stay near Srisowath Quay, where the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers meet and where there are many restaurants, bars, the Grand Palace and other attractions.
Siem Reap, near World Heritage-listed Angkor Wat, is 318km north-west of Phnom Penh and can be reached by ferry (approx. 8 hours), bus or air.
Angkor Wat is only 7km from the city and is worth a full day or half-day visit.
There are numerous accommodation choices of all levels and direct flights from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and other Asian cities.
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