Khmer Times: World’s largest club mgt firm tapped to manage golf course in Cambodia

Mon 06 July 2020

Troon, the world’s largest professional club management company, has been tapped to manage one of Cambodia’s leading golf courses.

A recent report in Golf Course Industry magazine said Troon International, the global arm of the United States (US)-based company has been selected to oversee golf and club operations, club membership, marketing, F&B operations and golf course agronomy at the Vattanac Golf Resort.

Located 45 minutes away from Phnom Penh city centre, Vattanac Golf Resort is notable for hosting an 18-hole golf course (East Course) designed by British golfing legend Nick Faldo. The East Course is part of an integrated resort development which will later include another 18-hole golf course (West Course).

Vattanac Golf Resort opened in May last year. In just a short time, it was able to earn a place among the best golfing destinations in the Kingdom. Vattanac Golf Resort is among the five Cambodian nominees in the World Golf Awards 2020.

“We’re excited to usher in phase two of the development project for Vattanac Golf Resort in addition to Troon managing the Club on a full-time basis,” Sam Ang Vattanac, the owner of the resort, was quoted as saying in the report.

“The addition of these two world-class courses helps us in delivering our vision of positioning Cambodia as a true golf destination,” he added.

Cambodia has long shed off its former reputation as a conflict-torn country and has become one of Southeast Asia’s leading tourist destinations.

Foreign golfers have been flocking, not only to see Angkor Wat and other tourist destinations, but also to play a round or two of golf in several world-class golf courses in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. In addition to Vattanac Golf Resort, the other high-end courses in Cambodia include the Angkor Golf Resort, Cambodia Golf & Country Club, Garden City Golf Club and Phokeethra Country Club.

According to the list of locations found on the Troon website, Cambodia is one of the two countries in Southeast Asia where Troon has a presence. The other one is Malaysia, where Troon manages three golf resorts: Els Club Desaru Coast-Ocean Course and Els Club Desaru-Valley Course, both in Johor Bahru, and Els Club Teluk Datai in Langkawi.

In a press release, Troon International president Mark Chapleski said they are happy to be in Cambodia working with Vattanac Golf Resort.

“Vattanac Golf Resort is a stunning property in one of the most welcoming countries I have visited. Our team is thrilled to get started and looking forward to working with ownership to take the club to the next level in terms of playing surfaces, member and guest services, exquisite dining, and overall experience,” he said.

“Later this year, the second phase of the development will finish with state-of-the-art practice facilities and the West Course will open which will allow us to position Vattanac Golf Resort as one of the best golf resorts in all of Asia,” he added.

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Troon has grown from one facility in 1990 to a company managing close to 500 golf courses all over the world. Troon-managed golf courses can be found across the US and across the world, including, Norway, Bulgaria, Panama, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Spain, United Kingdom, Bahrain, Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Australia, Greece, Russia, Switzerland, Germany, Malaysia, Bahamas, Maldives, Sri Lanka, South Korea, India, Mexico.