BRG Da Nang Norman Course is Southeast Asia's first true seaside links, designed by 'Great White Shark' Greg Norman in 2010. Built on the sandy soil of Da Nang Beach, it blends British links with the feel of Australia's Melbourne Sandbelt; par 72, roughly 7,160 yards. It has been ranked in Golf Digest's 'World's 100 Greatest' (around #94) — the most acclaimed course in the area.
| Designer / opened | Greg Norman / 2010 |
|---|---|
| Layout | 18 holes · par 72 · ~7,160 yards (rating 74.6 / slope 135) |
| Style | Seaside links · firm & fast · no OB · minimal water |
| Signature | Par-3 16th — backed by Ha My Beach, the East Sea & Cham Islands |
| Location | Coast midway between Da Nang and Hoi An, ~30 min from city |
| Sister course | Jack Nicklaus course (combine for 36 holes) |
What a links is — your starting point
The Norman Course is not the 'fly it high and stop it on the green' golf most of us know. The fairways are firm and fast, and sea wind is a constant. True to links form, big bunkers and natural dunes (waste areas) frame the wide fairways, and with no out-of-bounds the sand and rough do the punishing. The keys are low running shots and putting or bump-and-run from off the green.
Signature — the par-3 16th, played toward the sea
The course's icon is the par-3 16th (about 148 yards). Behind a slightly raised green, Ha My Beach, the East Sea and the Cham Islands spread out like a postcard. Don't get lost in the view, though — this hole often plays into a stiff headwind that makes club selection very tricky. Trust the caddie's wind-adjusted club and aim for the centre or front of the green, not the pin.
Wind = half your yardage
On a coastal links, assume the wind is there. Into the wind, don't force it — take one or two more and keep the ball low; downwind, take less. Check direction and strength with your caddie on every shot.
Off the green: putt or bump-and-run
The firm surrounds make a lofted stop hard. From a clean lie, putt it or bump-and-run with a 7–9 iron. Reviews note the greens can be 'a little slow', so calibrate your pace early.
- On the tee — game plan
With no OB, swing confidently toward the wide side, but pick the safe side away from the wind with your caddie. The line that avoids the big bunkers and waste areas is where scoring lives.
- From the bunkers
Links bunkers are deep with high lips. Rather than forcing distance, the rule is to get out to the fairway first. The caddie will suggest the right club and escape line.
Common threads in the reviews: (1) overwhelming praise for the layout and the 'real links' experience — everyone names the seaside par-3 16th as a shot of a lifetime; (2) the mix of wide fairways and strong wind is compelling (windy vs. calm days play worlds apart); (3) lots of praise for caddie service; (4) some note the greens can be a bit slow at times, alongside the odd remark on conditioning/operations. Bottom line: befriend the wind and it's the best round in Da Nang.
Norman and the Nicklaus course share one resort, so if your legs hold up you can play 36 holes in a day (Norman in the morning, Nicklaus in the afternoon). There's a 300-yard range, an academy and a rooftop sunset restaurant. Wind tends to build through the afternoon on the coast, so if you're chasing a score, play Norman in the morning.
In sum: the Norman Course rewards a thinking game that reads wind and firmness. Resist the urge to fly everything high; embrace the links grammar of low runners and running the ball up from off the green — and trust your caddie — and you'll have one of the finest rounds in Southeast Asia.