Phnom Penh, Cambodia: As Sir Nick Faldo focuses his time on his global design firm, he has now officially opened Vattanac Golf Resort, a 36-hole Faldo Design facility.

Testament to the quality of golf course design being brought to fruition by Sir Nick and his team in Southeast Asia in recent years, a number of his creations have achieved international recognition.

Among them are Vattanac Golf Resort where the West Course was named ‘Best Golf Course’ in Cambodia at both the 2022 and 2023 World Golf Awards. The East Course won the same honour in 2020.

“I’ve always looked at each site as a blank slate and envision a true Faldo Design course to reflect the natural surroundings. Giving golfers a sense of place, I have always stived to incorporate and protect the local culture,” said six-time Major champion Sir Nick.

“Vattanac Golf Resort is like no other course in the world, with features throughout both courses showcasing and drawing inspiration from the ancient Khmer temples. When you play this course you have no doubt you are in Cambodia,” added Sir Nick whose Faldo Design company is an Associate Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

Sir Nick has been visiting Cambodia for more than 15 years with his first design there at Angkor Golf Resort in Siem Reap opening in 2008.

Angkor Golf Resort has hosted the Asian Tour’s Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic as well as the Faldo Series global junior golf tour that provides an equal opportunity platform for girls and boys seeking a pathway to elite professional golf.

As Faldo continues to be a trail-blazer in creating new golf markets, his formula of designing courses and introducing junior golf programmes aimed at crafting the champions of tomorrow has a proven track record of success since the mid-1990s.

He said: “I never saw the point in simply building golf courses in new regions if there was no opportunity to introduce the game to the next generation.

“The Faldo brand is not just about designing courses; it’s about expanding the game of golf in a sustainable manner. Therefore, it’s only reasonable to provide opportunities to the clubs and the communities to create junior and amateur pathways once a course is operational.”

*Angkor Golf Resort and Vattanac Golf Resort are both Facility Members of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.