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

When Nguyen Anh Minh made the decisive putt on the 18th hole at the Asian golf tournament held in Thailand, the entire stadium seemed to hold its breath. The gentle stroke rolled into the hole, securing the first victory for a Vietnamese golfer at a regional-level event. That moment was not just his personal joy, but a signal that Vietnamese golf was ready to step out of the shadows. Over the past two decades, Vietnamese golf has developed quietly, but now, the pieces are gradually falling into place. The context of this rise began in the early 2000s, when the first golf courses were built in major urban areas like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Initially, golf was reserved for the elite and tourists, but gradually, junior golf academies emerged, attracting talents from well-off families. However, it was not until Nguyen Thuy Chau won a gold medal at the 2026 SEA Games that Vietnamese golf truly gained attention. Since then, investment in youth training has surged, with the arrival of foreign coaches and training programs in the US and South Korea. Looking at the data, the progress of Vietnamese golf is clear. According to statistics from the Vietnam Golf Association (VGA), the number of junior golfers under 18 registered for professional competition has increased from 50 in 2026 to over 300 in 2026. On the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), Vietnam currently has 5 golfers in the top 500, with Nguyen Anh Minh ranked 120th – the highest ever. But these numbers are still modest compared to Thailand (12 golfers in the top 200) or South Korea (30 golfers). This shows the gap remains, but the pace of narrowing is faster than ever. Interestingly, the development of Vietnamese golf does not come from major cities, but from suburban areas. The golf academy in Da Nang, founded by former national champion Le Khac Dung, has produced 3 of the current top 5 young golfers. Their secret is focusing on fundamental techniques and physical fitness, rather than chasing short-term results. In a training session I witnessed, students had to perform 200 putts daily, and were only allowed to move to swing techniques when achieving 90% accuracy. This method, widely applied in South Korea, is creating a solid foundation for young Vietnamese golfers. However, there is a paradox that few recognize: the lack of infrastructure is not the biggest barrier, but rather the psychological fear of failure. Many young Vietnamese golfers have good technique but lack competitive composure under pressure. At the 2026 Asian Championship, two Vietnamese golfers led after round 2 but lost their advantage in the final round, finishing 7th and 9th. Data analysis from those rounds shows their putting success rate from 3-5 meters dropped from 75% to 55% when playing in the final groups. This is not due to technique, but psychological tension – a problem that current training programs have not fully addressed. Another counter-intuitive perspective is that Vietnam should not blindly follow the training models of South Korea or the US. While these countries have dense professional tournament systems, Vietnam only has about 10 national tournaments per year. Instead of trying to increase the number of tournaments, we should focus on the quality of each event, inviting international golfers to participate to raise the level of competition. Experience from Thailand shows that hosting high-ranking tournaments on the Asian points system has helped them create a generation of confident and experienced young golfers. Looking ahead, Vietnamese golf stands at a major opportunity as the 2027 SEA Games will be held at home. This is a chance to assert its position, but also a significant pressure. If we turn pressure into motivation, and invest properly in competitive psychology, there is no reason to believe that Vietnam cannot have a golfer in the world top 100 within the next 5 years. The question is: do we have enough patience to build the foundation, or will we again chase short-term achievements? The answer will shape the future of Vietnamese golf for decades to come.