Phnom Penh, Cambodia: The PGA of Great Britain & Ireland (PGA of GB&I) has announced a landmark partnership with Chhun On Golf Resort.

The resort will be recognised as Chhun On PGA National Cambodia and will become home to the PGA National Golf Academy Cambodia, representing The PGA of GB&I’s first formal presence in the country and a significant step in its international growth strategy, to become a leading golf destination.

Chhun On Golf PGA National Cambodia is home to two championship courses designed by Brian Curley. The Lakes Course opened in 2024, followed by The Palms Course in May this year. The resort holds ambitions to become Cambodia’s premier golf destination and, in time, to host significant international professional golf events.

The partnership aims to support a successful golf landscape which, in Cambodia, means investing in careers from the outset. The partnership will create an immediate employment opportunity for PGA of GB&I Members with an imminent announcement of a Head Coaching role at the PGA National Academy. Recruitment is expected to begin in the coming weeks.

A longer-term ambition of Chhun On is to support the development of local talent. With support of the Cambodian Golf Federation and the wider golf eco-system, the partnership aims to help create opportunities for more people across Cambodia to access pathways into golf.

Oknha Chhun Chetna, Managing Director of Chhun On PGA National Cambodia, said: “The first step of this co-operation is to let people know about our country’s potential. We now have an international standard golf courses and coaching facilities recognised by The PGA, and this opens a major gateway for golfers from different countries to come and play in Cambodia, which will help promote tourism and generate revenue for our country.”

Duncan Rougvie, PGA of GB&I Head of Commercial, said: “Southeast Asia has become one of golf’s most exciting destinations and Cambodia represents an incredible emerging market for golf tourism as well as domestic adoption of the sport. 

“We are proud to be establishing a formal PGA presence there for the first time through this partnership with Chhun On Golf Resort. Our role is not only to lend our name to a world-class facility, but to bring expertise, standards and Members to help build the professional infrastructure that a growing golf industry needs to thrive.

“It was a great pleasure to meet with HE Dr Chea Bora (Secretary-General of The Cambodian Golf Federation) as well as Oknha Chhun Chetna to discuss how The PGA, Chhun On PGA National Cambodia and the CGF could work collaboratively to grow the game and create long-lasting economic benefits through golf tourism to the region.”

Dr Chea Bora added: “The PGA’s recognition of Chhun On PGA National Cambodia is as an international-standard course is a matter of national pride.”

*The Professional Golfers’ Association of Great Britain & Ireland is a member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.