PGA Ocean Golf Course NovaWorld Phan Thiet: A Guide for Golfers (2026)

🏖️ This article is part of the NovaWorld Phan Thiet On-Site Guide cluster.

Aerial view of a fairway at the PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet golf course

Before booking a tee time, there's one thing worth knowing since it shapes both the experience and the cost: this is actually two different golf courses, and most articles online treat them as one.

Course complex

36 holes — Ocean & Garden

Designer

Greg Norman

Ocean Course

Par 72, about 7,400 yards

Turf

100% Zoysia & Primo Zoysia

Ocean opened

April 2021

License

Exclusive PGA of America license — only one in Vietnam

One complex, two golf courses — don't mix them up

The golf complex at NovaWorld Phan Thiet is made up of two 18-hole courses designed by Greg Norman: PGA Ocean and PGA Garden, totaling 36 holes. It's the only golf complex in Vietnam with an exclusive license from the PGA of America to host tournaments within that organization's system.

Ocean Course

The signature, ocean-facing course

A hybrid design — parkland style on the front nine and coastal links on the back nine — running through red sand dunes and native grasses, with a stretch of holes looking straight out at the East Sea. This is the more talked-about course, and also the harder one.

Garden Course

Set further inland, with more water features

Located deeper inside the resort, defined by lakes and large bunker clusters mid-fairway. No sea view, but a more open layout with less wind — usually more forgiving for newer players.

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About the photos in this article

The photo set we have on hand is from the Garden Course — visible from the developer's own watermark on each image (hole number, par, and yardage). We've kept them as-is and captioned them accurately rather than using them to illustrate Ocean. If you're looking for photos of Ocean's sea-facing holes, check the club's official website.

Ocean: design and the holes worth remembering

Ocean opened in April 2021, running about 7,400 yards from the back tees, par 72. Greg Norman designed it around a minimal-impact philosophy — keeping the natural coastal dune terrain rather than flattening and reshaping it. That's why the fairways here roll naturally instead of running flat like many courses in the region.

The whole course is planted with 100% Zoysia and Primo Zoysia grass — a salt- and drought-tolerant variety suited to the sea wind and sandy soil here.

Hole 12 — Infinity Green

An infinity-edge green facing straight out to sea, with a rest stop behind it. The most-mentioned hole on this course.

The Ocean Loop — holes 13 to 15

A run of three holes along the coastline. This is the stretch where wind direction shifts most unpredictably — the same shot can play completely differently in the morning versus the afternoon.

Hole 19 — Starfish

A five-pointed star-shaped green sitting in a lake, not counted in the par-72 total. Used to break ties and as a hole-in-one challenge.

Wide fairway on the par-5 hole 12 at the Garden Course, PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet — Garden Course — hole 12, par 5, 517 yards. A wide, open fairway typical of the inland course.
Photo: NovaWorld Phan Thiet / Ai Van Real Estate

Par-3 hole beside a lake at the Garden Course, PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet — Garden Course — hole 14, par 3, 132 yards. A shot over water with bunkers guarding the green.
Photo: NovaWorld Phan Thiet / Ai Van Real Estate

Tee box chart and picking the right one for your level

The gap between the front and back tees on this course is almost 2,000 yards — picking the wrong tee doesn't just hurt your score, it turns the round longer and more exhausting.

Tee Box	Yardage	Course / Slope	Suited for
Shark (Black)	7,381 yards	CR 75.4 · Slope 145	Professionals, single-digit handicap
PGA (Blue)	6,776 yards	CR 72.7 · Slope 139	Skilled amateurs
White	5,975 yards	CR 69.1 · Slope 131	Average recreational male players
Red	5,394 yards	CR 72.1 · Slope 124	Women, seniors, junior players

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How to read the Slope rating

A Slope of 113 is the standard average. The 145 rating at the Shark tee sits near the top of the scale (155) — meaning this course punishes an average-level player far more than it punishes a strong one. In other words: if your handicap is at a recreational level, playing the Shark tee isn't a challenge, it's a very long afternoon.

Practical advice: play one tee back from your usual choice the first time, then adjust on your next round once you've got a feel for the wind.

Afternoon sea wind — the biggest variable

The waters off Phan Thiet are known for strong, steady wind — the same reason this area became a windsurfing destination, and the reason this golf course has a character of its own.

For golfers, the sea wind creates three separate problems, and many players only account for the first one:

Headwind and tailwind throw off distance

The one everyone knows about. But on the coastal holes, the wind changes direction hole by hole since the dune terrain blocks it unevenly — you can't apply the wind reading from one hole to the next.

Crosswind pushes your shot off line

More dangerous than a headwind, since it amplifies whatever spin is already on the ball. A slight fade caught by a crosswind in the same direction can turn into an out-of-bounds shot.

Wind builds through the afternoon

This is the deciding factor when picking a tee time. An early-morning round plays noticeably calmer than an afternoon one. Book early if you want a good score; book in the afternoon if you want the challenge.

Cost: green fees and add-ons

Green fees here change based on season, time slot, and booking channel, so every figure below should be read as a rough range for budgeting — not an official price list.

Player type	Weekday	Weekend & holidays
Members	900,000 VND	1,100,000 VND
Guests of a member	1,500,000 VND	2,000,000 VND
Domestic visitors (individual)	1,650,000 – 2,100,000 VND	2,600,000 – 3,100,000 VND
International visitors	2,000,000 – 2,460,000 VND	2,980,000 – 3,490,000 VND
Children (under 16)	1,900,000 VND	1,900,000 VND

These rates usually include green fee, caddie, and a shared golf cart. But the actual total often includes a few extras that first-timers tend to forget:

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Club rental: 830,000 – 1,100,000 VND

The single biggest add-on cost. If you play often, bringing your own clubs saves a meaningful amount.

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Shoe rental: 150,000 – 200,000 VND

Cheap, but your own broken-in shoes are still better — especially on a course with this much elevation change.

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Umbrella rental: 150,000 – 200,000 VND

Worth it here more than on most courses — the sun turns harsh from around 10am onward.

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Caddie tip: around 400,000 – 500,000 VND

Not part of the official price list, but standard practice. Bring cash.

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A simple way to budget

Take the green fee and add about 1.5–2 million VND for extras if you're renting clubs and shoes. Booking through a golf agency is often cheaper than booking direct, especially on weekdays. Traveling as a group? Ask about group rates — the discount can be significant.

Booking, hours, and the cancellation policy

Operating hours

The golf course runs 6:00am – 6:00pm. The clubhouse restaurant and sports bar stay open until roughly 8:00pm.

Booking

Individual golfers can typically book up to one month ahead. For weekends and peak season, book even earlier.

Cancellation policy — read this carefully

Free cancellation if you cancel 9 or more days ahead; within 8 days of your tee time, the penalty can run up to 100%. This is stricter than many other courses, so be sure of your schedule before booking.

Academy and practice facilities

The PGA Academy has a driving range of about 350 yards and Trackman equipment — useful if you want to get a feel for the wind here before heading out to the course.

Living beside the fairway: PGA Golf Villas

Running along the fairway is a row of PGA Golf Villas — villas and townhouses that typically come with golf membership privileges. Prices below reflect the resale market and vary by unit and by timing:

Property type	Reference price	Typical privilege
Golf townhouse	13.7 – 14.8 billion VND	5–20 year membership card
Semi-detached villa	14.8 – 20.2 billion VND	Membership card up to 35 years
Detached villa	From 28.5 billion VND	Long-term VIP membership card

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A few things to verify before you commit

For any property bundled with a membership card, verify three things in writing rather than by word of mouth: how many years remain on the card and whether it's transferable, which course it covers (Ocean, Garden, or both), and the annual maintenance fees. The card's real value lies in those three details, not the number of years printed on a flyer.

Want to golf every morning — a home right on the fairway?

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Frequently asked questions

How many golf courses are at NovaWorld Phan Thiet?

Two 18-hole courses designed by Greg Norman — PGA Ocean and PGA Garden — totaling 36 holes. This is the only golf complex in Vietnam with an exclusive license from the PGA of America. Many articles treat the two courses as one, so when booking a tee time, confirm exactly which course you're booking.

What makes the Ocean Course special?

Ocean opened in April 2021, par 72, about 7,400 yards from the back tees. It's a hybrid design — parkland on the front nine, coastal links on the back nine — built to preserve the natural red-dune terrain under a minimal-impact philosophy. Highlights include hole 12 with its ocean-facing infinity green, the Ocean Loop (holes 13–15) running along the coast, and hole 19, a star-shaped green sitting in a lake.

Which tee box should I choose?

The gap between the front and back tees is nearly 2,000 yards. The Shark tee (7,381 yards, Slope 145) sits near the top of the difficulty scale and suits only single-digit handicaps. Recreational players should choose White (5,975 yards) or play one tee back from their usual choice on the first round, then adjust once they've got a feel for the wind.

How much is the green fee?

For reference: members pay 900,000 VND on weekdays and 1,100,000 VND on weekends; individual domestic visitors pay around 1,650,000–2,100,000 VND on weekdays and 2,600,000–3,100,000 VND on weekends; international visitors pay more. These rates usually include green fee, caddie, and a shared cart. Prices vary by season, time slot, and booking channel — confirm directly before you book.

What other costs come on top of the green fee?

Club rental runs 830,000–1,100,000 VND, shoe rental 150,000–200,000 VND, umbrella rental 150,000–200,000 VND, and the customary caddie tip is around 400,000–500,000 VND. If you're renting clubs and shoes, add roughly 1.5–2 million VND to the green fee when budgeting.

Should I play in the morning or the afternoon?

Early morning is noticeably calmer. The sea wind here builds through the afternoon, especially on the coastal holes, where it changes direction hole by hole because of the uneven dune terrain. Book early for a better score; book in the afternoon for more of a challenge.

What's the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation with 9 or more days' notice; within 8 days of your tee time, the penalty can run up to 100%. This is stricter than many other courses, so be sure of your schedule before booking.

📚 Sources & notes

Nova Golf Clubs — official Ocean Course page: course specs, tee chart, and booking information.
Greg Norman Golf Course Design — project profile for PGA NovaWorld (Ocean Course): par 72, about 7,400 yards, hybrid parkland/links design, dunes and native grasses.
Novaland — NovaWorld Phan Thiet completes its exclusive 18-hole PGA golf course.
Muine Explorer, Alegolf, Gabygolf, Golfbooking — the two-course Ocean and Garden complex designed by Greg Norman, Vietnam's only complex with an exclusive PGA license; 100% Zoysia and Primo Zoysia turf.
Green fee tables, equipment rental fees, operating hours, and cancellation policy: compiled from booking agencies and information published at the time of writing.

Green fees, rental fees, and the cancellation policy change by season, time slot, and booking channel — the figures in this article are reference ranges for budgeting, not an official price list. PGA Golf Villas prices reflect the resale market and vary by unit and by timing. Photos in this article are from the Garden Course, captioned according to the developer's own watermark.

Photos courtesy of NovaWorld Phan Thiet and Ai Van Real Estate, used for promotional purposes. Article updated 30/7/2026.

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