Europe’s Ryder Cup skipper channels champion’s mindset at Vietnam layout
DANANG, Vietnam (Oct. 9, 2025) – The cheers may have echoed loudest at Bethpage Black, where Luke Donald cemented his legacy as one of Europe’s greatest-ever Ryder Cup captains.
But reverberations from Team Europe’s historic 15-13 triumph over the United States were felt thousands of miles away on the Vietnam Golf Coast, home to Ba Na Hills Golf Club, Donald’s first and only golf course design.
Donald’s consecutive Ryder Cup victories have underlined his reputation for meticulous preparation, tactical clarity, and quiet authority. Those same hallmarks define his work as a designer, most notably at Ba Na Hills Golf Club, where every fairway and green reveals a measured balance of challenge and beauty.
“I’ve always believed that strategy is the heart of golf whether you’re leading twelve players into battle or designing a course that tests decision-making on every shot,” said Donald. “At Ba Na Hills, the idea was to create a layout that rewards patience, creativity, and precision. It’s not about power, it’s about thinking your way around the course.”
Across the golf world, Donald’s leadership has drawn universal praise. Members of his own team hailed his preparation and calm authority, while opposing captain Keegan Bradley went so far as to call him “probably the best European captain ever.” Analysts and players alike have lauded his ability to blend composure, emotional intelligence, and tactical genius, qualities that have redefined modern team golf.
Nestled in the lush foothills west of Danang, Ba Na Hills Golf Club unfolds across dramatic terrain shaped by mountains, ravines, and streams. Designed in collaboration with IMG, it reflects Donald’s cerebral playing style: elegant, strategic, and quietly fierce.
“The topography of Vietnam is just unbelievable,” said Donald. “You’ve got mountains, forests, and ocean all within an hour’s drive. The land gives you so much to work with, and at Ba Na Hills we tried to make every hole feel distinctive, every round feel like a journey.”
The par-3 8th, a downhill short hole framed by forest, is one of many highlights, while the closing stretch — including the island-green 16th and water-guarded dogleg 17th — delivers a thrilling finale amid sweeping highland views.
“Luke’s design philosophy is all about intelligence and restraint,” said Simon Mees, General Manager at Ba Na Hills Golf Club. “Like his Ryder Cup leadership, it’s about making smart choices and playing the long game. You see the same calm control and tactical awareness that made him such a brilliant captain.”
Since opening, Ba Na Hills Golf Club has been a cornerstone of Central Vietnam’s rise as a world-class golf destination, attracting players from across Asia and beyond. Together with other acclaimed courses along the coast, it has helped cement the region’s reputation as one of the most compelling golf and leisure hubs in the world.
Donald said the project remains one of the most satisfying achievements of his career.
“There’s something very special about Ba Na Hills,” he said. “When I see people from all over the world come to play it, to test themselves on a course that asks them to think, to adapt, to stay patient, it feels like a small reflection of what I love about the game.”
Press release by: Duncan Forgan, Balcony Media Group. Email: dforgan@balconymediagroup.com
