Danang, Vietnam: Paul Stringer believes the staging of the Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF) Danang Conference in conjunction with the BRG Danang Open is a recipe for future success.

Stringer, President of Nicklaus Design, attended last month’s inaugural AGIF Danang Conference, participating in a panel discussion on Sustainable Golf Design.

Staged in conjunction with the BRG Group and Danang Tourism, the conference formed part of a week-long golfing festival that also saw the Nicklaus course at BRG Da Nang Golf Resort play host to a 54-hole event on the Asian Development Tour, the Asian Tour’s feeder circuit.

“This was a winning combination with the players and attendees of the conference,” said Stringer, who has built a reputation for developing business strategies and securing international partners within the golf industry during his 20-year tenure at Nicklaus Design.

Stringer said one of the highlights of the week was ‘a Hollywood-style Gala Dinner production’ for players and AGIF Conference delegates, held in the ballroom at the Danang Sheraton Grand Hotel, venue for the conference and across the road from the BRG Da Nang Golf Resort.

Stringer said he looked forward to seeing the AGIF Danang Conference and the Danang Golf Festival grow over the next two years, helping to underline the city as one of the world’s prime golfing destinations.

Stringer also praised the foresight of Madame Nguyen Thi Nga, Founder and Chairman of the BRG Group.

He said: “BRG Group has seven golf courses open for play in Vietnam and nearly 10 golf courses in planning or construction. 

“Madame Nga is one of the true visionaries for the development of golf and resorts in Vietnam, on the coast and in the country’s major cities.”

In 2009, Vietnam had 32 golf courses open for play with 200 projected to be in operation by 2025.

Underscoring the potential growth, Stringer said: “Today, Vietnam has approximately 78 courses for a population of 90 million people, compared to Korea which has 51 million people and 798 courses.

“Meanwhile, the estimated golf market revenues in Vietnam were US$105 million in 2019. That is projected to grow to US$600 million by 2025.

“We see Vietnam as one of the top emerging golf markets in the world and we have aggressively taken the lead in developing the game across the country in partnership with BRG.

“Vietnam’s mission to expand its tourism industry parallels Madame Nga’s approach to bolster economic growth with the development of resorts, various residential communities and golf courses.”