From asiantour.com
Four new venues – Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club in Malaysia, Laguna Golf Lăng Cô in Vietnam, Sapporo Country Club and The North Country Golf Club, in Japan – will host Asian Tour events in the new year.
All four are award-winning venues, with a history of hosting world-class tournaments, and join the select number of Asian Tour destinations, an exclusive network of elite golf clubs with direct ties to the Asian Tour.
In 2020, Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand; Classic Golf & Country Club in India; and Kota Permai Golf & Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, became part of the emerging network.
They joined Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore – which was the first golf club to sign-up in 2015.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO of the Asian Tour, said: “Asian Tour Destinations is flourishing and now boasts eight of the finest golf clubs in the Asia-Pacific region.
“The Asian Tour is delighted to welcome the latest additions to this exclusive membership body.
“The main objective of Asian Tour Destinations is to provide an affiliate membership programme between venues and the Asian Tour to drive sustainable growth and development for the betterment of golf in our region as a whole.”
Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club
Horizon Hills is one of the great golfing facilities in southern Malaysia and has hosted three Iskandar Johor Opens: Ireland’s Padraig Harrington won the event in 2010, Dutchman Joost Luiten in 2011, and Spaniard Sergio Garcia the following year.
“Within a short space of time, since our opening in 2008, Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club has become a household name in the regional golf industry,” said Tang Meng Loon, Director, Club, Townships & Property Management, Horizon Hills.
“It was therefore a logical step for us to become part of Asian Tour Destinations –a platform that will allow us to further build our brand in the region and beyond.”
Laguna Lang Co Resort
Laguna Lăng Cô Resort boasts the distinction of having Sir Nick Faldo’s first signature design open for play and it is the home of the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final –hosted by Sir Nick himself every year.
The Asian Tour has been a long-time supporter of the Faldo Series, which has helped to grow the game of golf globally.
Laguna Lăng Cô is an integrated golf and beach resort and is part of the Banyan Tree Group. It is the first golf course in Vietnam to be Earth Check Gold Certified.
Said Adam Calver, Director of Golf, Laguna Golf Lăng Cô: “Vietnam continues to be at the forefront of golf expansion and development in the region and we are very proud that Laguna Golf Lăng Cô is a contributor in this evolution.
“We appreciate the work the Asian Tour continues to do to grow the game here and Asian Tour Destinations is a perfect fit for us and supports our resorts future plans and ambitions.”
Sapporo Country Club/North Country GC
Sapporo Country Club and The North Country Golf Club, in Hokkaido, are the first golf clubs from Japan to join the Asian Tour Destinations fold.
“This is an exciting development for Sapporo Country Club: to align ourselves with the Asian Tour Destination programme,” said Yamazaki Shigeki, president of Sapporo Country Club.
“And to have the opportunity to network and exchange ideas with some of the other premier golfing venues in Asia will prove invaluable.”
The North Country Golf Club has been the home of the Shigeo Nagashima Invitational Sega Sammy Cup on the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO) since 2005.
The championship course was designed by Japan legend Isao Aoki – the winner of 51 titles on the JGTO and the first player from Japan to win on the PGA Tour, at the Hawaiian Open in 1983
Said Yasuhiro Ota from The North Country GC: “The North Country Golf Club is proud of its long association with the Shigeo Nagashima Invitational Sega Sammy Cup.
“It demonstrates the club’s desire to connect with the game of golf at the highest level.
“Our involvement with Asian Tour Destinations provides us with a similar pathway for us to improve and reach the highest standards, operationally and commercially.”
Being a part of the Asian Tour Destinations network means that each venue is certified Tour calibre and operates a comprehensive range of facilities and services under tournament-ready conditions through the year.
Among other benefits, Asian Tour members get to play and practice at each venue, allowing for the members at each club to enjoy direct engagement with the region’s best golfers.
Also read: Here are five of the most challenging golf holes in the world
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