Lang Co, Vietnam: Laguna Golf Lang Co is going back to school to boost engagement with golf among local juniors in the run-up to this year’s Faldo Series Asia Grand Final.

Established by six-time Major champion Sir Nick Faldo, the Faldo Series is one of the world’s most celebrated circuits for junior golfers.

Notable alumni include Major winners Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett and Tseng Ya-ni, as well as other familiar names including Tyrell Hatton, Joaquin Niemann, Eddie Pepperell, Li Haotong, Mel Reid, Carly Booth and Nasa Hataoka.

Laguna Golf Lang Co, the home hub for the Faldo Series in Asia, is staying true to the founding principles of the series by having its expert coaches nurture interest among Vietnamese kids from communities near the club in the months preceding this year’s Grand Final, which will be held over the Faldo Signature Design in April.

Stephen Banks, Director of Golf at Laguna Golf Lang Co, and a long-term accredited British PGA member, will be visiting local schools in the company of coach Dang Anh to educate kids about the Royal and Ancient game.

They’ll guide children on golf basics using the SNAG Golf System, which utilises tennis-style golf balls and targets for fun, effective and fast skills development. This introduction to the game will be followed by free coaching sessions at Laguna Golf Lang Co for those who are interested.

“The future of golf in Vietnam is in the hands of the juniors, and we are determined to be at the vanguard of efforts to help their development,” said Banks.

Indeed, efforts to increase domestic engagement with the game are paying off. Last year’s Faldo Series Asia Grand Final leaderboard had a decidedly local flavour. A final round of 67 saw homegrown Nguyen Anh Minh take top honours. Minh made history by becoming the first Vietnamese to emerge as the Faldo Series Asia champion.

Further back, Vietnamese youngster Le Khanh Hung was tied for third place. Other Vietnamese in the top 10 were Nguyen Dang Minh (eighth) and Nguyen Duc Son (ninth).

Banks said: “The outlook for golf in Vietnam is exceptionally promising, something that was showcased by the leaderboard at last year’s Faldo Series Asia Grand Final.

“Our continued role as the host venue for the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final underscores our commitment to fostering junior golf in Vietnam and across Asia.”

This year’s Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, the culmination of the Series, will see the best junior golfers from more than 20 Asian countries battle it out over the stunning course at Laguna Golf Lang Co.

Inaugurated by Sir Nick after his victory at the 1996 US Masters, the Faldo Series is recognised as the only global amateur series for boys and girls. Competitors from ages 12 to 21 can test themselves against the best juniors around the world.

*Faldo Design (Associate Business) and Laguna Golf Lang Co (Facility) are both members of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.