Song Be Golf Club-Desert & Lotus Course
Course Data
Location Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Yardage 6974 yards Par 72
Course Rating 75.2
Playing Date 13 Feb., 2011
Designer Barry Humphrey
Opened 1994
Caddie Yes
Golf Cart Yes
Rating
Overall Rating
4.00
Course Layout
4
Difficulty Level
4
Greens Condition
4
Fairways Condition
4
Landscaping & Views
4
 

Three 9-hole courses, Lotus, Palm & Desert, are laid out on a flat terrain. The 18-hole Lotus & Palm opened in 1994 has tree lined fairways with some strategically placed water hazards and sand traps. The Desert Course added in 1997, almost every terrain, excluding fairways, tees and greens, is desert (waste land) as the course naming suggests. The view of exposed dirt is unique and somewhat frightening. However, hitting from wasted lands is much better than water hazards where you have to pay one stroke. The Palm Course is shortest and easiest. Regarding the 18-hole combination out of 27, Desert & Lotus Course that I played this time is most challenging.



A view from clubhouse

A desert view seen from 1st green

Cactus

Scorecard
 
2nd Par 3 155 yards

2nd Par 4 155 yards
A par 3 with waste lands on both sides and at the back. The green is double-tiered.
 
3rd Par 4 428 yards

3rd Par 4 428 yards (2)

3rd Par 4 428 yards (1)
A slight dogleg to the right with water waiting errant shots all down the right. The green is a little elevated with well-positioned bunkers on front left and right.
 
5th Par 4 388 yards

5th Par 4 388 yards (2)

5th Par 4 388 yards (1)
A dogleg to the right, relatively short par 4. Pay attention to water on the left on the tee shot. The green is surrounded by water on the front & the left. The green slopes steeply from back to front.
 
7th Par 4 446 yards
A dogleg to the right, demanding hole. As the fairway is narrow with waste lands on both sides, the tee shot requires both accuracy and distance. The green is guarded on the front by a deep waste land, so a full-carry to the green is needed on the approach shot.
 

7th Par 4 446 yards (3)

7th Par 4 446 yards (2)

7th Par 4 446 yards (1)
 
9th Par 5 607 yards
A dogleg to the right, long par 5. Waste lands line the fairway, so an accurate tee shot is required. You make a decision on the second shot whether you lay up or go for over the waste land that is placed 100 yards in front of the green.
 

9th Par 5 607 yards (3)

9th Par 5 607 yards (2)

9th Par 5 607 yards (1)
 
10th Par 5 559 yards
A dogleg to the left. A bunker on the left corner is reachable 270 yards off the tee. The green is slight elevated with 2 deep bunkers in the front. The green is wide and slopes to the left.
 

10th Par 5 559 yards (3)

10th Par 5 559 yards (2)

10th Par 5 559 yards (1)
 
12th Par 4 369 yards

12th Par 4 369 yards (2)

12th Par 4 369 yards (1)
A dogleg to the right, beautiful and short par 4. Water comes along all the right sides from the fairway into the green. The tee shot is over the water. The green is narrow and slopes from back to front.
 
14th Par 3 197 yards

14th Par 3 197 yards (2)

14th Par 3 197 yards (1)
A par 3 over a lake. Two bunkers in front of the large but shallow green are in play.
 
15th Par 4 397 yards
A slight dogleg to the left. The tee shot needs to be accurate as trees line the narrow fairway. The second shot is over water and a large bunker. The green is swung to the left and left side of the green face the water, so a too much right to left ball should be avoided. The green slopes to the right.
 

15th Par 4 397 yards (3)

15th Par 4 397 yards (2)

15th Par 4 397 yards (1)
 
19th hole
It is a 45-miunte drive from Ho Chi Minh City and a 30-minute drive from the international airport. A handicap of 10 or below is required to play from the blue tees. The distance shows in meters. Hotel is adjacent.


Caddie

Restaurant

Swimming pool

The province of the golf club is called “Song Be”, which is famous for a production area of potteries. The designer is Australian.