Golf In A Garden Setting In Phnom Penh

Cambodia is fast becoming one of South East Asia's golfing paradise.

- David Bowden

As the region opens up for tourism, more and more golf courses are becoming accessible to Malaysian golfers. While still a fledgling golf nation, Cambodia has a wealth of tourism and hospitality facilities to ensure it is a vibrant and lively destination for golfers seeking a venue to play golf while having a fascinating few days in another culture that is so close to Malaysia.

While there are a handful of golf courses in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, the one considered the most prestigious is Garden City Golf Club located on its outskirts in a riverine location beside the Tonle Sap River.

Developed by LYP Group Co. Ltd., it is a course that is tough enough for the professionals but kind enough to golfers of more modest talents. The challenge for the golf architect was to develop a dead-flat riverine site close to the Tonle Sap River (a tributary of the Mekong River) into a 7,300 yard-long, 18-hole, par 72 course off the championship tees.

It opened April 2013 and in the same year was a top ten finalist for the Asia Pacific ‘Best New Golf Course’. Once things were in place the next step was to partner with IMG to maintain true professionalism and to move the course up a notch in its marketing, sales and promotion.

Water hazards, bunkers and undulating greens are features of the course which is the centrepiece of a 1,000ha development that will eventually house a zoo, exhibition and conference facilities, housing estates, entertainment and retail.